The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-02
PORTUGUESE PIRATE
HOW BARTHoLEMv CAPTURED 4
HUGE SPANISH MERCHANTMEN.

Then Lay within short Range. and with
Ride the Spanish Force was Reduced
and FINALLY Conquered
A series of sketches by Frank h.
Stockton OIL 1.-THE Buccaneers Of Our
Coast 10 one Of the features Of St
Nicholas Mr.. Stockton tells Of the ad-
ventures Of Bartholemy Portuguese.
who with q small crew in a small YES
sci, captured huge Spanish merchant
man in the Caribbean sea. Mr.. Stockton
says: The little pirate sailed boldly TO-
ward the big Spaniard, and the latter
vessel, utterly astonished at the audac-
ity Of this attack-for the pirates flag
was fiying-lay TO, head TO the wind.
and waited, the gunners standing by
their cannon. When the pirates had
come near enough to see and understand
the size and power Of the vessel they
had thought of attacking they did not,
as might have been expected. put about
and sail away at the best Of their ves-
sells speed, but they kept straight ON
their course, as II they were about to
fall upon a great, unwieldy merchant
man manned by common sailors
Perceiving the foolhardiness OF the
little vessel. the Spanish commander
determined to give it lesson which
would teach its captain to understand
better the relative power Of great ves-
sells and little ones. so as soon as the
pirates vessel was near enough he or
dered broadside fired upon 1t. The
Spanish ship had . great many people
on board. 1t had a crew Of 20 men, and
besides these there were some passen-
gers and regular marines. and. know
ing that the captain had determined to
fire upon the approaching vessel every
body had gathered on deck to see the
little pirate ship go down.
But the ten great cannon balls which
were shot out at Bartholemy's little
craft all missed their aim. and before the
guns could be reloaded or the great ship
be got around SO as to deliver her other
broadside the pirate vessel was along
side Of her. Bartbolemy had fired none
of his cannon. Such guns were useless
against 90 huge foe. What he was aft
er was a hand to hand combat on the
deck Of the Spanish ship.
The pirates were all ready for hot
work. They bad thrown aside their
coats and shirts, as il each Of them we're
going into prizefght, and with their
cutlasses in their hands and their pis- |
tolls and knives in their belts they |
scramS led like monkeys up the sides Of
the great ship But Spaniards are brave
men and good fighters-there were moro
than twice as many Of them a. there
were of the pirates-and IL was not
long before the latter found out that
they could not capture that vessel by
boarding IL. So over the side they tum.
blsd a. fast a. they could go, leaving
some Of their number dead and wounded
behind them. They jumped into their
own vessel, and then they put of TO .
short distance to take breath and get
ready for different kind Of fight. The
triumphant Spaniards now prepared to
get rid of this boatload Of half naked
wild beasts which they could easily do
il they took better aim with their can
non than they had done before.
But 70 their amazement they soon
found that they could do nothing with
the guns nor were they able 70 work
their ship 40 rs to get IL into position
for effectual shots Bartholemy and biz
men laid aside their cutlasses and theft
pistols and took up muskets with which
they were we'll provided. Their vessel
lay within very short range OF the Span
ish ship. and whenever q man could be
seen through the portfolios or showed
himself in he rigging or anywhere else
where it was necessary to go In order
TO work the ship he made himself tar
get for the good aim Of the pirates. The
pirate vessel could move about as 1t
pleased. for II Sequired but a few men
to manage il, and 80 1t kept ont Of
the way Of the Spanish guns, and Its
best marksmen, crouching close 70 the
deck, fired and fred whenever . Span
ish head Wis TO be seen.
For five long hours this unequal con-
test was kept up. II might have re-
minded one Of man with q slender rod
and . long, delicate line who had
hooked big salmon. The man could
not pull in the salmon. but, on the other
hand, che salmon could not hurt the
man, and in the course Of time the big
nsh " ould be tired out and the man
would get out his landing net and scoop
him in
Now. Bartholemy thought he could
scoop in the Spanish vessel. So many
Of her men had been shot that the two
crews would be more nearly equal. So
he boldly ran his vessel alongside the
big ship and again boarded her. Then
there was another great fight ON the
decks The Spaniards had ceased to be
triumphant. but they had become des-
perate. and in the furious combat ten
Of the pirates were killed and -four
wounded. But the Spaniards Jared
worse than that More than half Of the
men who had not been shot by the pi-
rates went down before their cutlasses
and pistola and IL was not long before
Bartholemy had captured the great
Spanish ship.
II was fearful and Q costly victory
he had gained. A great part Of his own
men were lying dead or helpless on the
Il - - L.