St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-06
A PIRATE SURPRISED.
The Lady Saved.

making some Roadway through the
water | again hailed the schooner.
"'Hellop was the grutf answer.
"'DO YOU intend To send a boat on
board and give some account Of your
self?' | demanded.
Gay, ay, sir; as soon as we can make
her tight
1.-The answer | did not deem salts
factory, for it seemed to me as though
thes crew were attempting some dodge
that was dangerous TO our welfare. and
l determined to prevent it If possible by
taking them by surprise.
"Mr. Cooper l said, bring one of
the port guns to bear on the fellows
bow, and see how near you can come 10
him. Don't miss If YOU can help it,
1--we are all ready Mr.. Cooper said,
blowing a josh stick, with winch we
used to touch off our guns.
Il looked toward the schooner. and
saw that there was no movement for
lowering boat, and. after listening
quietly for a moment. became satisfied
that desperate quarrel was raging on
board, but what it was all about | could
not guess.
"'Give them the gun, Cooper said :;
had not much more than spoken when
there WAS stunning report, ana the
brig shook from truck to keelsOn.
Il heard a crushing sound as the iron
hail struck the schooner. cutting the
halyards of the lib and letting that sail
down by the run, and | could see nu-
merOus rents in the f0resail through
which the grapesnOt had passed.
Get the other gun ready. Cooper
| said. You have done Splendldly with
the first one. Keep the brig well to the
wind, so that the stranger shan't get
away from u.s. continued to the man
at the wheel
80 fhe gun is all ready, SIR my mate
replied.
"'Well don't fire until | give the
word. l don't want to kill the poor
chaps if can help it. l'll try them
with another hail, and see if thee have
found their senses
Schooner ahoy,' l shouted; do you
intend to send your boat on board, or
must l sink you with brOadSidc?'
"'Again could hear the angry dis
cuSsi0n going N, for we were just
aOeam of the schooner and were hold
ing our own with her, no ate pt hav-
ing been made to hoist their iib. SUD
denly l saw man Spriug upon their
5ulWarks.
"'There is treachery and murder on
BOARD; con desert
His speech was cut short by a blow
on his head. and with loud splash he
fell into the water. But the poor fellow
had strength to swim. for | saw him
It ike out toward our brig, although we
were moving abOht three knots an hour.
Clear away the boat, Mr.. Cooper,
and pick up that man. Mind, and do it
in ShipShape fashion. No confusion or
fear, for we should have had gun from
the schooner if she had been armed
1T was only the work of few min
uteS to clear away the starbOard quarter
boat and TO send four men in it for the
swimmer. | could see that the crew OF
the schooner was watching the proceed
ingS from their vessel, and | managed
to count twelve men, which | supposed
was all they could muster. The boat
reached the swimmer, and took him on
board. and then returned to the brig.
The stranger was helped over the rail,
for lie was quite weak from the effects
Of a cut upon his head, which blSd pro-
fuSely.
SIT" he said. grasping my hand and
speaking with Spanish accent, YOU
have saved my life, | owe you thou-s
sand thanks. My gratitude, however.
shall be more substantial than words.
=
prisoners and in tie power of deSper4
ate man. Save them and we are your
debtors for life.
"'Pll do what | can for you,' | re-
piled, out my force is small, as you can
See.'
lis this not a United States vessel?'
he demanded, looking over the deck in
aStonishment.
ITS United States vessel, but not
q naval one,' l answered.
"'Then, for heavens sake, keep up
the deception, for the schooner is armed,
and the crew will fight desperately.
They suppose that you are bIig-of-
war, and the reason why | bailed was
because half of the rufiianS were adviS-
ing a surrender and the other half
wanted to fight you at all hazards
Here was pretty kettle of fish, and
no mistake. l had supposed all along
that the schooner was unarmed, and
that few discharges from our guns
would be sufficient TO compel a Surren-
der. If the scampS should discover the
deception that we had practiced before
we secured them our lives and our prop
erty would pay for it. lmpudence was
the only thing to carry us through, and
l determined TO exercise little of that
which sometimes answers as we'll as
courage.
"'Sch0oner ahoyr l once more
shouted, If you don't send boat on
board | will blow you out of the water.
Pipe the men to the guns, Mr.. Cooper,
nd aim SO as to sweep the vessels
deck"
"The latter part of my remark was
intended to be heard on board the
schooner, for l spoke loud enough.
INSTANTLY the mate commenced a
series of tootS with his whistle that
would have done honor to the oldest
boatswain i'll the navy. The effect was
beyond my most sanguine expectations,
for heard the pirates clearing away
their boat in Sullen silence.
"'For the love of heaven, sir my new
passenger pleaded, order them to bring
my brother and sister, for l fear every
minute that they will be murdered by
the desperate ruffians. They have al
ready threatened to do so half dozen
times
II saw that the crew of the schooner
were piling into the boat, SO | just told
them to bring the woman and the gen
tleman, and that if they were ill-treated
| would hang every one of them at the
yardarm. 1t was loud talk, but you see
1 had got my hand in and it came nat
ural to speak Big
The fellows muttered something that
| couldn't understand. but ! saw white
dress going over the rail, and it made
my heart jump that the lady was soon
to be out OF danger. l counted seven
persons in the boat, including the girl
and her brother, and, as the boat was
pulled by four oars. it did not take long
for it to get alongside. knew that the
instant the yawl touched the briggs side
the cheat would be discovered. butd
was prepared for the scamps and al
lowed them no opportunity to escape. /
stationed Mr.. Cooper and five of the
crew with loaded muskets on the YES
sells rail, while another hand held a
small graphing iron. for the purpose of
throwing il into the boat for the purpose
of preventing the men from pushing off
and returning to the vessel to reveal
our true character.
Things worked just as l expected.
No sooner had the pirates shipped their
oars when they got alongside than one
of them said: ne