The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20

shot crashed through the bulwarks OF the
lugger, another rent and ripped a sail,
bat still she gained. The pirates cannons
were now at work with terrible speed and
accuracy. The Flora's mizzenmast
went by the board, cut off about ten feet
above the deck Soon after the MAIN
topmast came down with all the raffle
and rigging about II. The Flora mas bare
ly moving, while the lugger seemed to fly
through the water. At last she came up
with the bark. Great iron hooks at the
end Of ropes were thrown to the Flora.
They caught in the rigging and bulwarks
and soon the two vessels we're grating
sides.
Oh, what frightfui work then took
place. Those sixteen brave Newporters
with pistol and cutlass, and with Dir.
Crapston at their head, dashed boldly at
the swarthy cutthroats who swarmed
over the side of the vessel. Hand to hand
they fought, pistol shots rang out and steel
met steel in that awful fray. But the
brave little band fought nobly. Four
to one against them, but they battled on.
Blood flowed until the decks were dark
with the crimson flood. But i cannot
dwell on that fearful strife. Enough that
every man on the Flora went down before
the press OF superior numbers, but not
before they had avenged themselves on
their savage foes. Some were dead, Others
dying. Ii was indeed ghsstly sight, the
deck OF the Flora that bright summer
day.
When the butchery was over the
pirates began to ransack the bark. Every
thing OF value they took, including the
gold that Mr.. Cranston had brought with
him, with which to buy cargo at ia
maics. The booty was transferred to the
lugger and then the blood-thirsty
wretches made ready to fire the bark.
How il happened never knew, but for
some reason Mr.. Cranston, who had
fallen, desperately wounded. was carried,
while unconscious, board the pirate craft,
and so it was that he'wss the only one to
escape the final catastrophe, for no sooner
had theSvalua bles been transferred than
the torch was applied TO the Flora with
her Is brave Newporters, dead or
wounded, still aboard OF her. In short
! time she was enveloped in fame from
stem TO stern. and as the pirate lugger
| disappeared on the horizon the bark went
down, leaving not trace of the horrible
| deed behind.
Mr.. Cranston slowly recovered from
his wounds, and when he was able To-
| walk about, the pirates, who had taken
him to their rendezvous on a small island
F! in the Carribesn sea, forced him TO serve
| them more like slave than anything
else. He was treated with the greatest bru-
tslity, and were he not truly brave man
he would have ended his life rather than
endure the tortures OF body and mind
to which he was subjected. After long
debauches on the island, the pirates would
sally out again on errands OF murder and
plunder, and on these cruel expeditions
Mr.. Cranston was forced TO accompany
them. Whenever a sail was sig hted, he
prayed most fervently it might be that
OF vessel large,enough to capture the
lugger and its desperate crew, but he was
always disappointed. For seven years this
horrible torturing life continued, and he
was yet no nearer liberty and the dear ones
in Newport, for whom his heart yearned so
sadly and almost hopelessly. Many plans
did he form for making his escape, but
so closely was he watched that he never
! succeeded in carrying any Of them out.
At length he determined on a bold
stroke. The pirates had captured Span
ish vessel from which they had taken
large quantity OF liquor. With this they en-
tered on carouse and soon the entire crew
was in a besotted slumber. This was the
chance Mr.. Cranston had watched seven
years for. Very cautiously he gathered