Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-04-10

lied out IN response. 4 ne men WI hoA Alho
beavers The ship was cloud OF canvas,
and a little ripple under her forefoot
showed that she had just begun to feel the
wind. The yards were trimmed for quar-
terinp breeze-the vessels favorite point
of sailing in light airs-and she soon gath
cred way on her
But every minnie the black hull of the
Alabama grew more and more distinct. 1t
was evident that she was fast gaining on
the Blue Rocket. The captain strobe the
deck like one possessed. With his own
hand he hosted the American ensign to
the monkey gaff Then he called all hands
aft He told his crew that he would never
surrender to the id pirate that was
chasing him. If she came up with him he
would try TO sink her, knowing that one
of Donald McKay's clippers must be far
stronger than any "contraption" built in
Birkenhead
He piped all hands to grog, and the boys
gave him three cheers.
Presently the Alabama came within
range and opened fire. The shots fell
harmless on either side. Meanwhile the
sailors held a conference with the negro
cook, in which the old salt who spun me
this yarn held foremost place as orator.
1t was concluded that nobody wanted the
ship to be taken and burned by the Ala
bama. Such a contingency would be espe-
cialy hard on the seamen, who would be
sure TO lose their dunnage and their wages
The sailors determined to take the matter
into their own hands and settle 1t by an
old superstition Of the sea.
The cook obeyed the behcsts Of his ship
mates. He sharpened his knife on his
steel Two of the sailors caught hold Of a
D 81 in, no MID Y
and hauled him out on deck. The cook
stuck him after the most approved way
| and his suueals were drowned in the thun-
| der Of a gun whose proiectile whistled
| ominously near the Blue Rocket.
| As the blood Of the pig ran down the
scupper and reached the sea a sudden puff
smote the ship. 1t was so strong that the
topgalant stunsail boOms snapped of
short like pipestems.
Lee main brace" yelled the skipper, as
he fairly danced with glee on the poop
The Yards were trimmed for the wind
abeam. which was the Blue Rockets best
| point Of sailing in a humming breeze, and
with the lee rail awash the disappointed
| Alabama was left far behind The stun
sails were taken in at leisure and all hands
rejoiced.
NV informant. the old salt, assured me
that if the pig hadn't been slain the Ala
bama would have captured the ship. The
Blue Rocket arrived safely in New York
after all. and extra pay was given the
sailors.
The old salt took his sixth ''nobbler" and
continued his cruise.
OF course I didn't believe the yarn, but il
had so much verisimilitude that | seized an
early opportunity Of looking up my Ala
bama literature. In a lively little volume
entitled Tho Cruise Of the Alabama, by
One Of the Crew" on page ll6, found the
following. which seems to me to be strik
ing continuation Of the yarn Of my South
street friend
ave were not out more than two hours
when we took a bark, and on the Goth o.
December, 1863 captured two more anc
burned them all. On the afternoon Of thu
9th. about eight bells, our lookout hailed
Ship ahoyp and we saw in a few minute
from the deck the topmasts of large ship
She had the wind abaft, and her flag, whicl
was unusually large was standing out fla
as a board, showing the broad stripes ant
bright stars of the American ensign
I'VE were of the northern point of Su
matra and fairly out of the lee Of the Liant
and the wind was blowing from the north
the other on the port, and we had tn
weather gauge. We went about, and wit
the American flag flying went straight 70
: the chase. But the Yankee was evidentl
r tiled, and changing her course so as
bring the wind abeam and on the starboar
e made her course due west. She was abou
y five miles away and evidently clipper.
T "She was splendidly handled and it mad
r our old square rugged sailors stamp wit
r approval to see how quickly she sheete
home her canvas. Out went her weathC
u studdingsails up to royals. Now the'
L last are troublesome to handle, with de-
. of gear and overhaul, but it was evidentl
e no trouble to tine Yankees, for in abor
Z five minutes their ship was pile of ca
Z vas from gunwale to truck.
: "For time our old bark, with all sal
u set that would draw, seemed to gain, an
when we were about four miles off I'll
order was given to clear away the piv
d gun. l was captain, and the command
p came: 'Spongep Load shotr Ram b.
II homer Give her full elevationp Now,
was sure we were out of range, and W
IA as good "A gunner as was on board; but
Z, determined TO help the brave Yankee
~ little if | could. so gave her a turn lie
ie and then came, FIRE. Bangl The sol
shot flew, cutting the crests OF waves 81
Is Yards away and buried itself fully
{ yards from the stern of the clipper.
er "She was fairly flying now and t
> breeze was freshening, and her lee II
~ must have been almost awash.
- "The chase was now sinking her cours
W and was giving us the towrope every M
~ ute, but / let her alone, after fumbli
ne about the screw. 1t was good line sh'
ne but fully 1000 yards from the Yanke
% stern. Night was coming and the m
ne stood about the deck in groups and d
!, cussed the chances.
VI sighting along the gun could see Il
"' she was leaving us. Again we load
, with solid shot and again l was order
u; Full elevationp when the boatswain's p
gu was heard and we were ordered to sta
~ -, by TO tack ship
-, "a eve lost more than we made by the &
~ practice, losing way by the luH necess'