Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-11-27
a Drop of Blood


the 18th Of December, and Capt. Ira
Drake, her commander, expected to
eat his New Years dinner on the isl
and. Everything was suspicious, and
with n northwest wind he sailed down
the river. He remarked long after that
he felt unusually Hurried by his part
ing with Mrs. Drake and ms daughter
Emma, ON the wharf. but not being of
an imaginative turn Of mind the im-
pressions passed, and he saw the tall
poplars and red-roofed farmhouscs in
the Neck fade away under the winter
sunset with professional indifference.
The Governor Clinton was only 430
tons, and she left port in company with
twenty-six others, foreign bound, most
Of them square-rigged. At the present
time there are only two ships owned in
Philadelphia and neither sails from
here.
Mrs. Drake and Emma walked up
Second street to their home. which was
in the house, then n two-story, after
ward the tea store of the late eccentric
John Lamond, who died few months
ago. 70 be captains wife In those
days was to hold social position next
UclOW lnt va AoNiNNS AAAAs
and Capt. Drake was reported a pros
porous man.
Mother" said the daughter, do you
feel any unusual anxiety in parting
with father this YoyageY'
mo. my dear. Don't let such things
get into your mind"
Yes, but the Aggy Slade has been
out over sixty days. and she's bound
for Jamaica, too. Poor Mrs. Folsom
is just wild about her husband. How
do wish father would give up the sea
and stay ashore"
ShipmaSterS' wives had to have stout
hearts in those days; there were perils
on the sea then that are unknown now.
A West India voyage meant poor
charts. lodging among the reefs and
keys Of the Bahama banks, northers,
hurricanes and more deadly assaults
from desperate ruffians that infested
the coast of Cuba and were secretly
upheld by the Spanish authorities, who
shared their plumber, and at this time
both Tardy and the La Elites were
known to be cruising in the gulf.
Christmas passed. and as New Years
came on n feeling of uneasiness and
dread entered into the Drake household,
Emma had an additional source Of
anxiety. Sam Spain. although only
a. was first officer IF the Governor
Clinton, and splendid specimen of the
American sailor and before his voyage
he and Emma had exchanged vows.
And so poor Emma fretted and made
her mother anxious.
New Years day, 1916. was cold, blus-
tering and sleety, and after attendance
Mt early mass Mt st. Joseph's, both
i en- InNvn 10 hI,na EfuGt
For the Lords sake. Emma. don't
tell me anything about your dreams.
You make me nervous. Your father
and the brig are all right. and when
the Quickstep comes in we'll hear from
| Spanish Town. She sails from there
to-day"
But, mother, there is something in
dreams, and l never had such dread
full ones before. and you know-goOd
God. what is that?' And the girls
voice arose to a scream. "Oh, mother!"
On your hand. ON your handH
The mother looked and grew pale as
death. There, on her plump. white
hand, was drop of ruddy blood. She
murmured. Maybe l pricked myself
with the fork?" And with a shudder
she wiped away the dread token. But
there was no wound, the skin being
unbrollen. "There. there, it has come
again. Oh mother. let's pray! My
dear father and San are in peril.
know it. I feel it,
And they knclt, and with heads bow
ed down, prayed to Him who rules the
winds and tempests to spare their loved
ones on the sea.
The Governor Clinton was an old
tub and did her best when she reeled
ISDfT s,Enr &c h hut &c
time, under fair northeast wind. she
was cutting a feather through the
waves of the Bahama banks on the
10th of December. Here her good lucI
ended A northef set in, driving then
200 miles off their course, and tier
head winds blew for a week. so that
it was the last day in the year before
they came in sight of the Cuban coast
and not over ten miles If Cape st
Antoine the wind failed. And there
came one of those dead calms peculiar
to those attitudes. The sails hung
without a SILVER, and the penant was
as straight down as a yard of pump
water. But this was not the worst
| Capt. Drake knew that it was in the
track of the pirates. and was practical
ly helpless to keep away from them
and this moment he was doubtless sig
nailed off shore to some of their vessels
Everything depended on keeping ;
stout heart.
His six 24-peHnd earrenades were
loaded with grape and kentledge. tht
arm chest was opened, cutlasses an(
pistols were served to the crew, mus
kets were loaded, and the cook fillet
his coppers ready to repel boarders
All hands kept watch that night. anC
in the morning Mate Spain went alof
with a glass. He at once hailed thu
deck There is n topsail schooner
lying behind that point of land of thu
starboard quarter. l can't make gu
any sail on her.
All right Come down. Wen hav,
breakfast. There's trouble ahead. Blu
there are twenty-three of us, all gOot
men, and we ought to make It'd,
fight for our lives
A strict watch was kept at the mast
head. and at 10 O'Clock a hail came
There's boat full of men putting of
shore. It is yawl with a tug. She
coming fast under sweeps
The ensign was seized union down u
attract some passing vessel, and al
waited and watched. There were no
less than forty men In the yawl
When 1t was within about twent,
yards of the boat, the captain cried
"Firew But, as usual, two Of the car
ronades missed fire, the other scattere.
ten feet wide of the boat, and next
swept under the bow, the leader,
white man, springing into the chains
followed by gang OF mulattoes, ne
! q =