Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-12-26

ciaiiy hard on the sGafn6il, who womb -be
s =. 70 lose their dunnagc and their wages.
Ine saslon determined to take thu matter
INTO tneir own hands and settle 1t by an
Old superstition ofthe sea- =
Inc cook obeyed the behests OF his shin
mates. He sharpcned his knife on HE
steel. Two Of the sailors caught hold az 4
razor backed hog that was in the piosAy
and hauled him out on deck. The caof
STUCK MIN after the most approved way
ana his squeals were drowned In the tbun-
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 q sudden nun
smote the ship. It was 80 strong that the
topgallant stunsail booms snapped "a
short like pipestems.
Lee main bracey' yelled the skipper, az
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 a hummine 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. - 1880 Z :
My informant, the old salt, assured ma
that II the pig hadn't been slain the Ala
Dsma would have captured the ship. The
Blue Rocket arrived safely in New York
after ALL and extra pay was given the
sailors.
The old salttoot his sixth "nobbler'' and
continued his cruise.
or course didn't believe the yarn, but IL
had 80 much verisimilitude that seized an
early opportunity Of looking up my Ala
bama literature. In a lively little volume
entitled "The Cruise of the Alabama, By
One OF the Crew." on page l16, ! found the
following, which seems to me to be strik.
ing continuation Of the yarn Of my South
street friend:
I'VE were not out more than two hours
when we took a bark, and on the 18th OF
December, 1853, captured two more and
burned them all On the afternoon Of the
9th, about eight bells, our lookout hailed
Ship ahoyp 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 fat
a. 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 splendidIy 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 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 elevationr Now,
was sure we were out Of range, and was
as good gunner as was on board; but
determined to help the brave Yankee q
and then came, Fire. Bang! The solid
cuot new Cuttih9 tlr CEcSbo Vi WAVES c,VJ
yards away and buried itself fully so
yards from the stern of the clipper.
She was fairly fying now and tn,
breeze was freshening, and her lee raj
must have been almost awash..
| The chase was now sinking her courses
and was giving us the towrope every min
ute, but | let her alone, after fumbline
| about the screw. 1t was good line shot
but fully 1000 yards from the Yankee.
stern. Night was coming and the mel
stood about the deck in groups and dis
! cussed the chances.
sighting along the gun could see thai
she was leaving US. Again we loaded
with solid shot and again | was ordered
Full elevationr 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 hs
had displayed"
| After this who will be bold enough Il
deny that the sacrifice of pig to the god
of the wind and the sea is not always fol
lowel by {. a.;# hreeze:-A. J. X. in New
York Recorder.