Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-07-20

OGc OF our thoughts, tOr one morning
Capt. Morgan's fleet was sighted. In
u moment there was the liveliest sort
of stir and excitement. Flags were
taken from the ships and hoisted on
the castle and forts, and the guns were
made ready to fire salutes. Everyone
furbished up his arms and harness, and
the ships were cleaned and made trig.
At first the wind was contrary, but
finally one craft and then another
beat its way in, and before nightfall all
had fetched the mouth of the river.
Here a rather serious misfortune hap
pened, for, what with our rejoicing
and their own pleasure and tumult,
the people of the first four of the ships
steered upon the dangerous sunken
rock, and their crafts were wrecked.
The north wind coming on to blow
completed the mishap, and it was only
by considerable exertion that all the
men and contents of the ships were
landed, the vessels themselves being
hopelessly wrecked. At last Capt.
Morgan himself stepped on shore, hav-
ing till now stuck to his ship, and at
once our men broke out in a great
cheer, and, rushing down, caught him
up and placed him on their shoulders
and bore him up to the castle.
My companions and I fell into the
wake of the crowd and continued on to
the castle, where at last the painting
and shouting buccaneers set Morgan
down. At the same time final salute
of all the cannon about the place was
let off. Morgan removed his headpiece,
giving flourish of acknowledgment,
and in few words thanked the COM
pany for this cordial display and as
surance of confidence.
There was nothing more of note
done that day, and l saw no more of
Morgan, though l was once or twice
again on the mountain. In the morn
ing orders were given to build up the
barricades, and all the crews were
mustered and set to work. We found
the chiefs design was to make this
strong place, that we might have
haven of refuge in case things went
wrong at Panama.
By the end of the next day we had
the place in a very fair posture for de-
fense, whereupon Morgan had us
knock off, and preparation was forth
with made for the great expedition.
There were at this time in the river
some small Spanish vessels named, l
think, chatten, and these, with the four
little ships that had been there at
first, Morgan fetched up close to the
quays and armed with cannon. The
object was to strengthen that APP
proach to the castle. a fleet of canoes
that likewise had been captured, to-
gether with the greater part of our
boats, were then brought up to the
main quay, and when 500 men had
been told off to garrison the castle and
$50 more left on the ships, we entered
the boats and the gun was fired for
starting. Capt. Brodely was still left
to keep San Lorenzo, as the castle was
called, and looked n bit rueful as he
saw the rest of us so gayly setting
forth. Little did he know what was to
happen to us, or what a desperate
thing the expedition was to be, or he
had scarce worn SO long a face.
Our command numbered just 1909
men, including Morgan himself, and
for conveyance we had five barges, ten
ships boats and 80 canoes. However
we knew that we were not to cover.the
whole distance by water as there must
be some leagues OF march from the
head of navigation to the city. Every
plan save one was carefully made, but
that one proved of passing Importance
II he m nf rornviSinnc Viii oh
Capt. Morgan thought we should take
but light supply of, as he conceived
we must be able to find sufficiency on
the way. On bright and not over
warm morning, then, with flags flying
from the stern of the boats and two
trumpeters blowing merry blasts,
while those on shore waved their hats
and cheered, the oars were set going
and we started up the river.
My companions and / were still In
Pradey's command, not having found
a sufficient excuse for transference,
though indeed it made little difference.
for all the companies were as one
large one, with Morgan at the head.
That day nothing of special note
happened. We all greatly relished the
empowering of the woods and green
cry, after SO long dwelling about the
sea, and for n time the men sang and
laughed and splashed their hands in
the water like so many joyous chill
dren.
That day we made only six leagues,
and then, as the men complained of the
crippling of their legs consequent upon
so long crouching in the boats, Morgan
gave the order to land, the place being
an attractive little savanna with a
bend of the forest all about.
The woods were now dense and the
marching soon grew so bad that Nor
gan made US halt, and after little
talk with his captains decided to take
again to the canoes, sending along a
few hundred men at time, and this,
though with great labor, was dore,
aud the reserve force then being