The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1893-12-08

her.
Next day at noon we were to the west
OF Christmas and running down on our
course, when we suddenly discovered
the bark on our starboard quarter,
standing out from the southeast end Of
the island, whore she had been in hiding
to let us pass. She had not seen us on
account Of a wooded peninsula making
out for several miles, and we felt sure
we had her In box. The wind was from
the west, and it was bit OF a job to get
the brig about, smart as we We're. The
bark was about FIVE miles off as we
headed for her. She couldn't go to the
west; nor were there men enough
aboard of her to turn her on her heel
and beat her back to the northeast, Her
only course was to stand to the south
west, heading directly for us, or to fall
off and run dead to the west. We all
looked to see her head into the wind and
wait to be boarded, but the rascals had
no thought of it. She suddenly shifted
! err course to the west, and hoping to
cut her off we shifted ours northwest.
Each was now the leg of triangle. 1t
was plain from the start that we should
be within a cables length of her at thu
meeting point, even if we did not cut
her off. She would have the shore on
one size ana us ON Jne Otner.
Each craft had all sail set. When With
in three miles of the bark we fired a gun
for her to heave to, but not the slightest
notice was taken Of it. Our two pieces
of ordinance were then shifted over to
the starboard side and loaded with solid
shot. If the rascals refused to surrender
they must take the consequences. Bach
craft held dead to its course, but again
the bark proved her better sailing quail.
ties. Instead of cutting her off as we
hoped for we were still quarter Of
mile away when she passed the point.
Toe three Portuguese were shouting
and cheering, " nile the white man was
at the wheel. Orders were given to fire,
and two solid shot went whizzing at her,
but to pass over her without damage.
We then fell into, her wake and could
not bring a gun to bear, and we had the
furt er modification to see her walking
away from us. Tie Portuguese ran up
the American flag and dipped it three
times, and our crew fairly danced in
their Indignation. The only thing we
coul do was to follow her, but we lost
her early that even. ing and were all at
sea again as to where we should set
eyes on her again.
Three days Later, having had only light
brcezes, we raised Enderbury Island,
which is the eaSternmost island of the
Ph9nix group. The wind had been fair
FIR the bark to lay this course, and this
group also offered the pir les good ref
uge and beautiful climate. We ap-
preached it from the west ran in to
W thin two miles of the beach, and then
worked slowly along the southern shore.
The charts showed no haven OF refuge on
either the south or west shore, but To-
Gated bay on the rorth. We hoped to
trap them, if they were there, by milking
q circuit of the island and coming upon
tn, IN from a direction unexpected, As
the breeze was ght we were all day
working down the south coast and as
The sun went down we anchored in forty
feet If water off the reef Next day We
had to work up the west shore against a
head wind, and night came again before
we had fairly turned the corner and
headed to the east. We came to anchor
gain, tu; such was the impatiencs Of
Mate Cummings and his rlen Il at they
set off in their whalcboat to explore the
coast in a'vance. Ten miles to the east
hey found the bark anchored in the bay
laid d, wn on the chart. She was within
2J0 feet of the beach, her sails furled and
stowet, and was heard of before she was
seen. The Portuguese were drunk as
they were singing and shouting so they
could b heard half !; mile away.
The mate should have returned and re-
ported the case, but he did not. He be-
eyed his party strong enough to recap
ture Il s craft, and he therefore pulled
down TO make the attempt. He did not
surprise the pirates, as he hoped to. and
when he attempt ed to board was driven
h i- hoo 4 Il Il,
every man beng badly hurt by blows OF
capstan bars. 1t was nearly daylight
before the boat returned to the brig, and
as t was perfect calm We decided to
wait until daylight before making any
further move. AS day dawned there was
every prospect of continuance of the
calm, and two boats, each containing
eight armed men, were despatched to
get pos sessicl of the bark. Our first
mate had charge OF one and Cummings of
the other, and | was in the first boat.
Our Instructions were to board at any
sacrifice, but to spare the pirates for the
gallows if possible.
After row of two hours we came to
the entrance of the bay, and there was
the bark before us. She had snug
anchorage, and everything aloft was as
tidy as you please. She wasn't over half
a mile away, as it was not deep bay,
and we were no sooner in sight than we
heard cheer from her decks, followed
by the boom of a cannon and the sound
of round shot over our heads. In rum
maging the vessel the men had discov-
cred an old six-pound cannon which had
| lain in the hold for many years. This
| they had hoisted out, loaded with shot
intended for the feet of a dead man, and
| fired from carriage 50 poorly con-
| structed that the gun dismounted itself.
The bark lay stern toward us, as the
| tide was running out, and we pulled to
board her on either bow Captain and
mate had both left revolvers aboard,
and these were now used by two of the
| pirates. While we were sweeping up
they killed two men and wounded a
| third, and fourth man was wounded as
! we boarded. The Portuguese ran to the
| cabin for shelter, and we found the white
| sailor dead at the foot,of the main-maSt,
| they having dubbed him to death the
| night before. While we were planning
| to attack them In the caoin, they dropped
| from the windows to swim ashore.
| Luckily the alarm was raised in time for
| the boats to overhaul them, but one re.
sisted SO desperately that he had to be
! killed The other two were brought
aboard and made secure, and about noon
the brig came down. They were trans.
Jared to her, and that evening, while in
| cabin to be questioned. one of them
Attacked the Captain and was shot by
the second mate, who had them in
charge week later the other committed
suicide, and thus the vllaina were got rid
of without trial or expense. We aided the
! bark TO navigate down TO Samoa, and
~. ,,I, g,,l f,o IL I.,,- -
charge ard p AIMED Ter future move
ments.-N. Y. Sun.
univ the Sears Remain.