The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-16
IA PIRATE STORY.


der 10 sail. BET now that both Dutch and
English cruissrs we're on the lookout for
him he thought II was about time he had a
smoke not Of his own. needn't go over
the nshbing Of the Hija dc la Mar She
was only 60 foot. Barrow built launch,
sent out for Pareras of Manila fought to
know"
ayes. You were her engineer, weren't
your
Engineer of a hooker like thatl Not
likely. But was going to Mindanao my.
self, and Jose Perera asked mo to run the
Hija down for him. And how Crooky
nailed US, and marooned 'em all but me,
Of course you know"
"Yesl But why did he except your"
Because there were fixtures about the
steam gear that puzzled hin--newfangled
touches that made him think he'd got hold
of 30 knotter or Whereabouts. Sixteen
she was credited with on the measured
mile, but IA was all could knock out Of
her, with Crocky 3 pistol at my ear to help
me-"
"'And that's her top notch, il itf' says
he at lust.
"'With better COAL I told him, 'and
few notches more down by tho stern,
might squeeze another knot out Of her
not more
"'Call 1t 10 as a general thing, he says.
TOO much for the Dntchie or for any
thing the Britishers hey got in these hyar
waters.
"'Yes. But what about the Spaniards9'
says
" 'ShuokF ho says and walks away aft.
II could SEQ Dixon knew something OF
the new Is knot cruiser that had arrived
at Manila the day VIC left It, She'd DO
after us by that time, expected. But, Of
course said nothing to Crocky. Sixteen
OF his men he had with h;m-the best, I
suppose, in his estimation, which meant
pretty we'll the biggest scoundrels. And
the nearest thing to white man among
'em was n big cross eyed Portuguese with
a touch of the war brush.
i"We fell In with little green painted
brig heading nor west ocoanut oil, I
heard afterward, she had--from the Islands,
for Canton, and Crocky runs alongside and
boards her with all bis cuttbrosts but two.
What happened In the brig's cabin don't
exactly know, but when we had cast off
and the brig had filed her main topsail
again the skipper runs to the taffrail and
shakes his fist at Crocky. You Kankee
robber,' he yslls, you'll pay for this, as
sure's my name's'-What his name was
didn't hear, for just then Crocky fired.
"Tlo old chap stood for bit with his
fist stretched out, then down he went In
heap.
Presently he walks up to the chap at
the wheel-n half caste Dutchman by the
look of him and not we'll used, could see,
to have the spokes of steamer in his fin
pers Dixon just looks at the compass
and without single word catches the man
q crasher on the head with bis revolver
butt. Then he looks round, the smallest
man aboard, with pleasant little smileo
his smooth little face Take the wheel,
Miguel, he says to the big Portuguese,
and heave this thing over the side, cou-
plo Of you.
"Well, sir, there must be some such thing
as fate after ALL believe !twas this mans
doom that drove him into sudden ferocity.
At all events twas the shooting of the red
faced skipper that brought the cruiser down
on us.
1.-THE mate Of the brig kept her away
from the Philippines to report the matter,
and what does he drop across six hours
later but the Spanish warship.
"Sure enough, next morning at sunrise
there was little inky smear going up out
Of the blue behind us. Crooky hardly took
his eye of 1t for IN hour, ard when he
found it was rising and spreading he comes
to me and says Drive herr Not word
more, but you bet did drive her for all
she was worth.
1.-THE misunderstanding for our smoke,
Of course-hove herself up so fast over the
horizon that knew she must be the new
cruiser, the Cid Campeador
"Tbe way the don overhauled us was
caution, and as soon as she was near enough
to show us the wilderness about her fore
foot she let drive ct u.s. Long way short,
my boyP I Gays to myself, but hadn't
reokoned on the latest touch In guns
the shot pitched o COOP half mile ahead
of usl
Cup comes Crocky when he hears the
boom, and down he smashes his glass on
deck when he makes out the strangers en-
sign Great Jeffersonp he says. yellow
bellies, after air.
81 noticed that his pockets were bullying
with something that made him very heavy
In the walk Then comes another shot
not ten feet from our smokestack-and at
the soreech Of 1t Crocky seems to go clean
mad. He pulls revolver out Of each
breast pocket, fires at Miguel, and as the
big Portuguese falls over the wheel whips
round and pots five Of his other men before
the rest could rush him.
''In the middle Of tho shooting had
stopped the engines, and when turned
round there was niger with the blood
pouring from hissmashed face just forcing
Crocky over the rail. His pockets sunk
him like lead"
what was in themP'
"Dollars fancy he intended to sink
himself with them anyhow after he'd pol
ished off his whole crew. But now there
was nine of 'em left, and when they missed
the throb of the screw they came for me
like one man.
"But fought 'em with what no man
can face steam-and scalded three Of them
go badly that they jumped overheard and
sank within 20 rods of the cruisers boat,
pulling up hard. Two Of the others fired
into her and killed seaman at his oar
That's what made the garrote certainty
for them in any case. l."
Had middling close shave of it your
self by some accounts
mot quito SO bad as that But you see
I'd been seventy odd hours without sleepor
shave-thick with grease and coal dust be-
Sides No wonder the Spanish lieutenant
took me for what looked like. But when
got aboard the Cid 1t was all right. The
captain spoke English, and as soon as I
bad got freshensd upa bit he sent me
back with half dozen of the mariners to
run the Hija into Manila.
"And after I'd given evidence against
the five remaining Ricaroons asked for
this''-he lugged out a long colt navy
las little memento of the last of the
pirates. Exchange.
Pa1isey's Tenacity.