Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-12-22
A YANKEE PRlvATEER.
An Action in Which "Lons Tom" Did
 Some Effective Shooting.

An Action in whioh "Lons Tom" Did Some Effective Shooting.
 Late one September day in 1914 the Yankee priyateer General Armstrong anchored in the har5or of Fayal, port in the Azores, Tie new young cap- tain on her deck, Samuel Chester Reid, had fighting reputation to sustain for his vessel and one to make for him. self. Although bred to the sea, he had always sailed a merchantmen and was on his first cruise es a privateer.
 As night closed in three British men, of-war, carrying 136 guns and 2,000 men, entered the harbor. One Briton, the Carnation, anchored within pistol shot of the privateer and began to throw out boats and take on busy airs. Clearing his decks for action, Reid ae- cepted battle in spite of the enormous odds. His vessel carried seven guns and 90 men. One gun was the now famous Long Tom" which is among the relics in Washington. It is long, large cannon, mounted on pivot. Seeing four launches loaded with men pull from the Carnation toward his ship, Reid opened on them with the long tom and with muskets. Instant ly the whole fleet was astir. After returning the volley with spirit the boats backed away. Then the three British ships sailed up and hemmed the General Armstrong in in the mar row harbor.
 A ffotilla of launches made ready be- hind ledge of rocks and at midnight paraded in one long line They were rowed steadily toward the privateer. On coming within gunshot they re- ceived a stunning volley which threw the line into confusion Soon the Brit ons rallied and answered the Yankee fire. Cheering wildly, they dashed forward until their boats touched the side of the ship The British officer shouted "Board!" and "No Quarter!"
 Reid hurried his men to the bul- warks with their bikes, pistols and blunder- -busses, and the boarders were beaten off by blows, stabs and shots de- livered in their faces. The boarders fought back with their howitZers, car ronades and muskets. Reid's lieuten- ants fell, and many sailors were shot down. The Yankee fire began to slacken and Reid led his men forward with shout, followed by fresh vol ley of balls, into the thickest of the boarders
 That ended the struggle. All the boats hauled off but two, those manned with dead only. Next day the three ships attacked, but in order to spare the town which lay behind his ship from bombardment Reid scuttled and abandoned the General Armstrong. However, his battle delayed the British fleet in the Azores until New Orleans, It's intended prize, was securely de- 1 tended.
 Brigandage still fiourishes in Italy. AS Signor Romanin-Iacur, well known Deputy, and dozen other men were going toward Grossetto the other day for the purpose of inspecting a newly constructed aqueduct they sud- denly met man, dressed like hunts man, who leyelled his rife at them and ordered them to halt. They obeyed,
 whereupon the brigand commanded 1 them to empty their pockets. Strange to say not one of them made the least
 resistance, and as result the brigand obtained a few thousand francs, Dep uty Romanin-Iscur's involuntary con- tribution being five bank notes of l0H- each Having secured this booty the fearless robber disappeared, and no trace of him has since been found. On
 the following day a wealthy landed proprietor was stabbed and robbed by
 brigand within few miles of Rome, l but fortunately the police were near at hand, and they arrested the miscreant before he could escape. As his victim 1 is said to be mortally wounded, the chances are that the criminals career ] is practicafy ehLed.