The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-06

sailors held a conference with the Negro
cook, in which the old salt who spun me
this yarn held a foremost place as orator.
1t was concluded that nobody wanted the
ship to be taken and burned by the Ala
bama. Such contingency would be espe-
cially hard On the seamen, who would be
sure to lose their dunnage and their wages.
The sailors determined to take the mattel
into their own hands and settle it by an
old superstition OF the sea.
The cook obeyed the behests of his ship
mates He sharpened his knife on his
steel. Two of the sailors caught hold of a
razor backed hog that was in the pigsty
and hauled him out On deck. The cook
stuck him after the most approved way
and his squeals were drowned In the thun-
der of gun whose projectile whistled
ominoUsly near the Blue Rocket.
AS the blood of the pig ran down the
scupper and reached the sea sudden pun
smote the ship. 1t was so strong that the
topgallant stuns,,il booms snapped OF
short like pipestems.
Lee main bracei' yelled the skipper. as
be 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 ID humming breeze, and
with the lee rail awash the disappointed
Alabama was left far behind. The stun
sails were taken IL at leisure and all hands
rejoiced.
Ny 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 didn't believe the yarn, but it
had so much verisimilitude that seized an
early opportunity Of looking up my Ala
bama literature. In lively little volume
entitled 1.-The Cruise of the Alabama, by
One of the Crew." on page 116, found the
following, which seems to me to be strik-
ing continuation of the yarn of my South
street friend:
"We were not out more than two hours
when we took bark, and on the Goth of
December 1868, captured two more and
burned them all. On the afternoon of the
27th, about eight bells, our lookout hailed
Ship ahoyv and we saw in few minutes
from the deck the topmasts of large ship.
She had the wind abaft, and her flag, which
was unusually large, was standing out fiat
as a board, showing the broad stripes and
bright stars of the American ensign.
I'VE were off the northern point of Su-
matra and fairly out of the lee of the land
and the wind was blowing from the north
east. We were on the starboard tack and
the other on the port, and we had the
weather gauge. We went about, and with
the American flag flying went straight for
the chase. But the Yankee was evidently
tiled, and changing her course SO as to
bring the wind abeam and on the starboard
made her course due west. She was about
five miles away and evidently clipper
''She was splendidly handled and it made
our old square rugged sailors stamp with
approval to see how quickly she sheeted
home her canvas. Out went her weather
studdingsails up to royals. Now these
last are troublesome to handle with deal
of gear and overhaul, but it was evidently
no trouble to the Yankees, for in about
five minutes their ship was pile of can
vas from gunwale to truck.
''For a time our old bark, with all sails
set that would draw, seemed to gain, and
when we were about four miles off the
order was given to clear away the pivot
gun. l was captain, and the commands
came: 'Sponger Load shotp Ram her
homer Give her full elevationp Now, l
was sure we were out of range, and was
as good a gunner as was on board; but
determined to help the brave Yankee a
little if / could, so gave her turn less
and then came, 'Fire!' Bangi The solid
shot few, cutting the crests of waves 3,GGO
yards away and buried itself fully SEQ
yards from the stern of the clipper.
'She was fairly flying now and the
breeze was freshening, and her lee rail
must have been almost awash.
'The chase was now sinking her courses,
and was giving us the towrope every min
ute, but I let her alone, after fumbling
about the screw. 1t was good line shot,
but fully 1000 yards from the Yankees
stern. Night was coming and the men
stood about the deck in groups and dis
cussed the chances.
sighting along the gun l could see that
she was leaving U.s. Again we loaded
with solid shot and again | was ordered.
Full elevationP when the boatswain's pipe
was heard and we were ordered to Stand
by to tack ship
1--WE lost more than we made by the gun
practice, losing way by the huff necessary
to bring the gun to bear fairly.
"We had been fairly outsailed, and in
common with most of the crew, wished
the gallant Yankee captain luck forever
for the splendid pluck and seamanship he
had displayed"
After this who will be bold enough to
deny that the sacrifice of a pig to the gods
Of the wind and the sea is not always fol-
lowed by stiff breeze?-A. J. K. in New
York Recorder