The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-01-13
A PORTUGUESE PIRATE.
How Bartholemy Captured Huge
Spanish Merchantmen.

A series of sketches by Frank r.
Stockton on The Buccaneers of our
Coast" is one of the features or the
new volume of 'sSt. Nicholas" In the
January number Mr.. Stockton tells CT
the adventures of Bartholemy Portu-
guez, who, with a small crew in small
vessel, captured a huge Spanish mer-
chairman in the Caribbean Sea- MT
Stockton says The little pirate sailed
boldly toward the big Spaniard, and
the latter vessel, utterly astonlshed al
the audacfty of this attack-for the pl-
rates flag was fying-lay to, head to
the wind, and waited, the gunners
standing by their cannon. When the
pirates had come near enough TO ses
and understand the size and power OF
the vessel they had thought of attack
ing. they did not, as might have been
expected, put about and sail away at
the best of their vessels speed, but they
kept straight on their course, as if they
were about to fall upon a great, I'M
wieldy merchantmen manned by COM
mon sailors.
Perceiving the foolhardiness of the
little vessel, the Spanish commander
determined to give it a lesson which
would teach it's Captain to understand
better the relative power of great yes
sells and little ones; so as soon as the
pirates vessel was near enough, ne Or
dered a broadside fired upon it. Inc
Spanish ship had great many people
on board. 1t had crew OF seventy
men. and besides these there were some
passengers and regular marines; ana
knowing that the Captain mad deter
mined to fire upon the approaching yes
sci. everybody had gathered on deck
to see the little pirate snip 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
alongside of her. Bartholemy had fired
none of his cannon Such guns were
useless against so huge a foe. "hat
he was after was a hand-to-hand COM
bat on the deck of the Spanish ship
The pirates were all ready for hot
work. They had thrown aside their
coats and shirts, as if each OF them
were going into a prize fight, and WIN
their cutlasses in their hands, and their
pistols and knives in their belts, they
scrambled like monkeys up the SIDES
of the great ship. But Spaniards are
brave men and good fighters. there
were more than twice as many of them
as there We're of the pirates; and II
was not long before the latter found out
that they could not capture that vessel
by boarding it. So over the side they
tumbled as fast as they could go. leav-
ing some of their number dead and
wounded behind them. They jumped
into their own vessel, and then they
put off to a short distance to take
breath and get ready for different
kind of fight. The triumphant Span
fards now prepared to get rid Of this
boat-load of half-naked wild beasts,
which they could easily do if they took
better aim with their cannon than they
had done before.
But, to their amazement, they soon
found that they could do nothing with
the guns, nor We're they able TO work
their ship so as to get it into position
for effectual shots. Bartholemy and his
men laid aside their cGtlasses and their
pistols. and took up muskets, with
which they were will provided. Their
vessel lay within very short range of
the Spanish ship, and whenever a man
could be seen through the port holes, or
showed himself in the rigging or any