The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

where revolution was in progress.
1.-THE master of the merchantmen
knew the Dove as soon as he put eyes
on her. He ordered the soldiers below,
that Brodriff might be trapped, and the
pirate had stepped into the trap with
his eyes open. There was a hot fight
on the deck of the Valparaiso, which
was the name of the merchantmen but
it did not last long. The pirates were
so greatly outnumbered that four of
the rascals jumped overheard Brod-
riff had been killed at the first fire. The
men who jumped overheard found that
their boat had departed All that they
could do was to swim after her. Not
one escaped. Sharks caught them all.
THE first officer of the Dove was for
sailing away and leaving the men in
the boat to their fate, but the other
pirates refused to permit him to de-
part until their comrades could be
taken on board. Meanwhile the ner-
chairman had put up her helm and
was bearing down upon us. We could
see that her deck was fairly alive with
soldiers, but we also discovered that
the Valparaiso had no cannon on board.
The pirates We're good marksmen.
The fire from their old-faShiOned can
non annoyed the merchantmen not
little, but the captain was plucky and
kept on. The water was still heaving
and this prevented the pirates from
placing a ball below the Valparaiso's
waterline, although her hull was
struck half dozen times.
ITO the surprise of all the pirates the
four men in the boat uncovered their
howitzer and began to fire at the Dove.
They were men who had been forced to
be pirates and they took their chance
to strike a blow for their own free
dom. The Doves first officer roared
with rage as he ordered the wheel up.
All the pirates were ready enough to
go now. There was a chance that the
Dove might escape. We saw this with
regret.
The pirates were so angry that they
did not seem to notice that Dan
Cheever and 1 were talking together
in low tone. Dan had a sheath-knife
in his belt With one strong stroke he
slashed the main halyards in two. The
Dove was fore and after. Down
came her mainsdil on the run. Sew
eral pirates rushed toward Dan. / took
the chance to slash the fore halyards
The result was that the Dove so far
lost her Roadway that the Valparaiso
soon came in rife range and poured in
a deadly fire at the men who were
serving the guns, driving them off. All
the time the men in the long boat were
using the hoWitZer with great effect.
The pirates. seeing that they were
beaten, thought only of revenge and
rushed toward us, where we had gath
eIeu alt IN a DOQy. LUCKILY their aim
was bad. Three of our men went down,
wounded. The remainder were in fight
ing mood and we found that we were
the equals of the pirates in a hand to
hand encounter. with knives, Delaying
pins, capStan bars and such.
1T was give and take freely. 1 was
Knocked down once with the butt of a
pistol, but managed to pull down the
man who struck me and Dan Cheever
disposed of him before he could deal a
second blow. To that l owe my life
Blood flowed freely on both Sides We
held our own for time. Then we were
reinforced by the soldiers who swarmed
into our rigging and over the side, and
the fight was ended in a few minutes
later.
THE soldiers had no mercy on the pi-
rates. One and all were hanged before
sundown-all except the four who had
used the howitzer in the boat We were
taken by the merchant vessel to port
in Peru and there were landed The
American Consul heard our story and
sent us home after awhile But think
that we were entitled to believe that we
had two close calls on one trip. Don't
your"
We all agreed with Uncle Ben The
veteran of many adventures was
pleased with our verdict.