New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-29
SAVED FROM PIRATES.
HOW UNITED STATES MAN-OF-WAR
RESCUED a SPANISH GUNBOAT.


In the beginning Of the present century the Gulf
OF Mexico ewarncd with piraies. proving on the
comneree OF s'cty n"Io oi ies r oy - Xxx
great IA" pcrlls OF soy mans calling in those
crrs and crews. and It may be years after that
some ,spc.ute sea rover. brought 10 Inc glbbet,
told the Story ~ capture and destruction The
SHE OF tho Island = cuba Nero lies the Isle o.,
Pines and succession OF low keys that afforded
All merchantmen went armed I'm those days. put
the pirate schooner, carrying one heavy 2i-pound,r
could cut vessels spars to pieces and thus make
her defcnceless.
In & an ak Ens G@ s s fom n Ia5 5er 'S ed%
mas s,crod and the vessel beached on the coast of
British Government started an investigation, and Il
Wa found 10 be- the work Of spanish lrlshinan
named Cain. who had "A fast topsail schooner called
nj mi untinnaII,ies among them two Philadelphians
named Brent and Supple. II was also found mat
wcssI Ind conveyed most Of il 10 Havana Tor sale
and that many Spanish officials were Interested In
tho affair. getting share OF the plurder.
Tho British Government went for the Spanards
IN vigorous manner. demanding Indemnity
for the past and security for the future The span
iards yielded and agreed 10 equip force 10 cruise
\ fast-saiiing brig Of war. III Toridor. carry
tain Hcrnani He was n fine sailor and honest
man, and soon made II very unpleasant for the
At this time the United states had feet Of small
vessels doing police duty In the Gulf one OF which.
the Enterprise commanded by Lieutenant White,
was very active and had captured several pirate
craft and cut up their crews. II was on the same
station as the Toridor; and Lieutenant Whltc ar
ranged with Captain Hermann TO cooperate With
him. and II In want Of assistance at night to show
IL light AT the mainmast head as signal.
THE sPANIARDS KEPT POOR WATCH.
Information had come to the Spanish captain
that a consort Of the Esmcralda, fast sailing
schooner called the Bonita. commanded 10y "a negro
h Kew at HIT " sHS had been on cruise away
south and reported full Of pIunder. The negro
captain WAS boOdthirsty ruilan. about nfty, ana
Was badly wanted by the Spanish authorize ), as he
had murdered "A brother of Captan.General GalviI
IN ~ his raids ashore. So the Torldor lay out
about three miles away from the pats between tho
Isle Of Pines and Cayo Largo. tossing and heaving
and keeping her copper bright under short sail IL
was said by English captains I'm those days that
you might make STANDARDS fairly good scamen. but
cent watch. No sooner was the watch set than
one-haf went TO sleep and the other half 20 play
cards and gamble. leaving the ship TO itself Such
must have been the case ON the Toridor on ms
quarterback were doing. while the captain was
below. asleep. The at the wheel was the only
came a bright flash. and then tn" boom OF gun
and "A shot whistcd through the rigging, and then
a cry itom the hclinsman Alloy, there; mere TWO
boats alongside
In those days muskets were kept In racks under
the break OF the poop overhead. covered with tar
paulin and the boarding pixies were dashed to the
mainbocn. To these the startled crew rushed and
the sides were alive with men coming aboard yell
ns KIN! kir. There is no want OF courage
among spaniards. and the crew fought desperately.
The captain deck and at sent man
to the masthead to light the signal lantern and
shore party had got iirsi blood and they fought like
tigers. while the heavy shots from big schooner
not over three hundred yards away came fast. The
Toridors rctredted 10 tho quarterback. and encour
aged by their officers made desperate fight but II
was evidently a losing game The schooner had her
sweeps and In few minutes would board the
brig with a crowd OF fresh assaIlants.
Fortunately the Enterprise not more than
twelve miles away, In the southwest. The watch
had been changed. and the new lookout had Just
gone aloft when he called out: Deck ahoy. There
goes a gun right more east off the starboard bow
IN a minute all In commotion. one OF the
officers sprang into the rigging with night glass
nd ailel NOOn
The commander was dock Thank fortune.
here comes the wind from the west. Make all sail.
Mr. Hamilton Wen down and see what II IL.
That's a heavy gun. The Toridor has ouly Is
Founders They would not make flash like that.
Beat 10 quarters and cast of the starboard battery
Ram In a round shot over grape!"
Tho breeze had freshened. and the Enterprise