Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-04-24


starboard quarter. 1 can't make out
any sail on her.
"Ali right. Come down. Wen have
breakfast. There's trouble ahead. But
there are 23 Of rs, all good men, and
we ought to make q tidy fight for our
lives. +"
A strict watch was kept az the mast
head. aud ut 10 o'clock q hail came;
"Thero's a boat full Of men putting OF
shore. It is a yawl WITH n tug. She's
coming fast under sweeps"
Tho ensign was seized onion down to
attract sonie passing vessel, and al
waited and watched. TtCr3 welo not
less than 40 men in tao ytwl.
When twas within about 20 yards q
the boat, tho captain cried, "lilcl' Bus
as usual two CT the carrOradgs missed
FIRE, the other Gcatte-ed ten laot wide Of
the boat, and next it sycps under the
bow, tho leader a white man, spsiagi.g
into tho chains, followed ~ q galc II
mulattoes, negroes and Spaniards, all
big men. Their captain Is head jIgt caiAe
above tho bow, when ho was Iuu through
the neck by q pike und dropped over
board, but his mon managed to get Oh
the bowsprit and como aboard. Two OF
the pirates mounted The channels and
tumbled into the waist. The cook, q ne
gro giant weighing 800 pounds, RUSHED
at them with u c~utlass, beat down thor
guard and hewed them down. A third
had graspod tho swifter to help him up,
when his arm was cut clean OFF at the
shoulder by the negro. A splash in the
water told the rest.
III the bow tho defenders had done
good work, but Captain Drake was
stretched on the bits covered with blood.
The last pirate had run out on the jill
boom aud fred his pistol just as n mus.
ket ball took his life, but he had done
his work, for poor Spain got his bullet
in the head and never spoke after. They
were beaten, and under a parting volley
tho rufians sprang to their sweeps and
with the loss Of half their crow made
for land.
Suddenly tho nainsail gave a Top.
No orders were neoded. The topsail hal
yards were manned. Cup with the fly.
ing lib, trim sheets, round in starboarC
bracesl ~ was the CRY, and tho little brig
began to surge through the water.
"See, seoi The schoonor's making
sail. Up go her gaff and forosail. Tit
fights not over, monl She'll cut Us t.
pieces with her long Tomb just thel
camo the sound Of a heavy gun, and 81
intent were the crew watching tho pi
rate vessel that they had not seen, hal
a mile away, n British coryet pilin.
ON sail up to royals. She was a hier
too, and inside Of five minutes swep
down on the brig, hailed and was toll
b what had occurred.
The pirate craft was intent only O.
saving her men in the yawl, but it wa
too late. The corvet ran her down an
at 100 yards gave the marauders
+, shower of grape that tore the boat an
S crew into splinters. The schooner mad
i off, followed by the man-o'-war, an
both disappeared in the southern board
o Tho second mate took command of til
o brig. Her captain had a broken thig
e and a shot through his body, while til
mate and four of the crew lay deaC
s Tho breeze kept steady, and on the At
Of January they came to anchor in Spal
ish Town harbor. Captain Drake lived
: get well and quit the sea. But befol
S the Christ Church chimes rang for al
1 other Christmas poor Emma Drake la
4 followed her lover to a better land. =
4 Philadelphia Times.