River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-09-23

castle Their boat would be wanted to
set them ashore. and il was hoisted on
deck. This job had just been concluded
when a sail was sighted in the east. She
had "a breeze with her and was headed
fri Ger direction. She had approached
within two mics before we got the first
puff. She was a coastinr schooner. but
We could not make ont her nationality
until she few her flag. Then We saw
that she was French. and had no doubt
that she was sent in pursuit Of the Gov
vlcts- The men began TO mutter and
curse as they realized her mission. and
. the leader asked for Capt. Bright and
said 10 him:
That schooner has peen sent in pUr-
suit Of us, and is probably aware that
we are on board. We have sis muskets
and plenty of ammunition. and we shall
fight her. You will please order your
crew below that none may be harmed"
The captain nodded to us to dispose Of
ourselves as we saw fit and retreated to
I his cabin without a word. lie probably
hoped. as we all did. that the schooner
would have men enough aboard TO make
. ~AAtA ~ DE n VI Allf- llAHklElS- NtlAEEE MI
Rawins. the chief mate. nor myself left
F the deck for a time. The Comet had
all plain sail on her. and we wanted
( 10 watch the wind rs well as the schoOn-
er. The breeze was light. with no signs
that IL would strengthen right away.
aud as IL reached ms the brig was head
I cd mp 10 lie on the port tack. while ali
the couyicts worked 10 haul the main
sail ward about
This is good" said the spokesman.
ss he rubbed his hands together. II
would rather fight her standing .till
than when running away. See, She is
coming right down on us. but ! don't
believe She has over a dozen soldiers on
her decks"
We then left the decks TO the cor yicts
Those armed with muskets were ranged
along the bulwarks. and those without
were looking for other sorts of weapons.
What followed ve gathered by hearing
instead 81 seeing. The schooner was
satisfied that the convicts had boarded
tie brig. and kn- wing that they would
make a fight for il. she steered boldly
I down ard laid rs aboard There were
II soldiers and seven o. eight sail
ors on her decks. and armt. With cut
laSses and muskets and pistols T. =
. sWarmed over the rails in a fierce at
tack. For ten minutes there was
lively battle above MS. When at last
We heard loud cheering we rushed up
iu belief that the convicts had been
overcome. To our surprise. we found
. -. IL 4
The odds had been heavily against them
but they had fought like demons. One
Of their number lad been killed and
ts,o badly wounded. In addition tho
convicts had secured three more nus
kets and two or three cutiasses and pis-
tolls, and were firing down upon the
schooner'S decks. compelling Ter people
10 keep under cover. Had they desired
they could have boarded her and made
everyone prisoner. When ! saw how
things were. | suggested this to the
leader. but he smi!iIgly replied:
All, no, She is smaller than the brig
and a poor sailer; we do not want her"
For an hour the schooner was held
captive. Then she was Tended off. and
after She had drif,ed half a mile away
her people appeared on deck and were
very brave. They wasted a good many
cartridges in long-range firing. and
finally lowered a boat and sent the
lieutenant of marines to Us with a de-
mend that the convirts surrender They
did not fire upon him, as he was under
a flag Of truce, but they booted ard
jecred; he finally roweG away, but soon
returned with an offer to grant them
immunity if they would return with the
schooner to the colony. This PROPOSE
tion also was hooted at, and the lieu