Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-02-13

saw CnaG gun drop overheard. 6Sia tz1sEe
I Yves, one against twelve, and ] did net
know how many more recruits would ar
rive when word of the seizure reached
along the hostile shore. l had now been
thirty-si1 hours without sleep, and only
cracker or two to eat, which l had fortu-
nately put away in my pocket. | could
not leave the side of the vessel for one mo-
ment, and did not know how long that
state of things would last. The nearest
point from where l could get assistance
was twenty miles distant. TO attempt to
hold the vessel against such odds, with no
prospect of help reaching me, was ridicu-
lous, as must give in in the end, SO de-
ternined to make the best escape could.
The boats crew, seeing that / meant
business, and that any one who attempted
to board the vessel took his life in his own
hands, after hanging around for an hour
or SO, pulled for the shore to renew their
attack in another way. Immediately on
landing they arrayed themselves along in
line, and commenced. a. fusilade of rocks
upon the vessel, smashing skylight and
everything breakable about the deck l
dare not leave the deck for feaR that Sec
ond attempt at boarding would be made,
and to protect myself from the torrent of
stones which were flying about my head I
was obliged to take up a position behind
one of the masts, against which had to
stand in an upright position for over an
hour, as by this time re-enforcements had
arrived, and l can assure you they made it
pretty lively for me for while. After
time, tired beyond endurance, l managed
to get hold of the mainpeak halyards and
raise the gaff of the mainsail few feet
above the deck, which gave me first rate
shelter from the shower of rocks which
was still falling upon the deck on all sides.
now began to think of what was best
to be done. If surrendered now the
chances were that would not get away
alive, or at any rate would receive rough
handling. l must manage to escape IN
known to the crowd on shore, and this
could only be done after nigbtfall If i
could escape by the boat, which lay along
side, and pull along the shore to the near
est settlement without their discovering l
had left the vessel for some time, would
have chance of getting assistance and be
able to return and secure the schooner,
possibly before they had time to unload
her, and certainly before they could get
away from the port. Upon this decided,
and laid my plans accordingly.
In the first place, must cripple the YES
SN1 elS le1i l1oSSiOlSs w pASfSA1C AOi-
taken away Immediately. l found mon
key wrench in the cabin, and set to work
to detach her steering gear. managed to
get the wheel off, which I threw overheard,
and dislocated the rest of the apparatus, SO
as to render it completely unserviceable
for little while at least. Either the
strength or stock of rock ammunition of
my assailants had become exhausted, and
for a while there was suspension of hos
tilities. Of this lull 1 took advantage and
wrecked in every possible way tackle and
rigging, SO that if after I left the craft an
attempt was made to run her out to sea it
could not be accomplished without consid-
cradle delay.
After had carried my work of destruc-
ton to point when thought it ceased to
be further necessary in the eyes of the law
began to think of my departure, which
must be commenced as early after dark
ness closed down as possible. got every
thing ready, oars muffled, and a lantern
hung upon deck, that they might be more
likely to think / was keeping watch after
had left the schooner Before stepping
from the deck into the boat I fred two
shots from my revolver into the air, to let
them see I was still alive, and then quiet
ly showed Off. from the side of the vessel
farthest from the shore, and commenced
my pull along the coast toward the nearest
house, which knew to be about five
miles distant. I arrived there, and at once
making known my mission secured
horse and buggy and drove with all posi-
BILE haste to the nearest town, about fifteen
miles distant, where l knew there was a
tugboat to be obtained.
was not long in securing the services
of this craft, and the assistance of four
well armed men, whom I knew l could
rely upon in case we had to fight. The
tug was soon putting her way toward the
point where had left the schooner which
we reached the following morning about
daylight. AS we steamed around the
point we could see that the smugglers had
taken possession of the vessel and were
landing the cargo upon the beach. Run
ming up alongside we made fast and
jumped on board. The captain and his
gang commenced to show fight but the
sight of our revolvers, five of them drawn
in battle array, quoted the fighting pro-
pensities of the pirates, who, however,
when they saw US manning the windlass
to raise anchor, were disposed to resist,
but concluded not to.
AS we tripped the anchor the captain,
who still remained on board with six or
seven of his crew, asked us if we were not
going to put him on shore, to which I re-
piled no-that we intended taking them
around with us, prisoners.
By this time the tugboat was putting
away ahead Of us, when suddenly we heard
splash, and looking around saw the cap
tain and his crew all swimming for the
shore for dear life. From this out we were
unmolested, and, after a few hours sail,
had my hardly earned prize safely secured
at the wharf beyond the reach of the pirate
captain and her piratical crew, with the
Queens broad arrow" fastened to her
Bulletin.