The Topeka state journal., 1903-02-09
THE wAvEsRAN RIGHTovER HER

We We're compelled to widen the dis
tance between US to prevent accident
through the lubbery manner in which
the brig was Steered, but we reduced
sail so IS to keep abreast of her, and
the captain and his officers descended
to the ca bin for consultation. I don I
know whether they questioned then
right to interfere or discussed the best
method of recapturing the brig, but they,
were not absent over a quarter OF all
hour When they came on deck, we got
the order to load with solid shot, and in
ten minutes every man and gun was
ready for action, One of the conVict-
was aloft with q glass and could plainly
note every movement aboard of US, and
our ca1tain. who was likewise posting &
Us, Helsol TED Tnat the fellows had armed
themselves with rifles and revolvers and
were erecting shields against the bull
WerlSs
SOLID shot was fired across her bows
as a summons to heave to and as a
warning of what was in store for her II
she did not. but the roar of the gun
was aOIOWed by chorus of yells, anC
three or four bullets came whizzing over
our heads The brig widened the gab
until out of rifle range, and the captain
then sa3c to the crew of Long Tom:
Aim to strike her above the water
line A few shot may take the fight
out of them"
The first shot passed between her fore
and mainmast without touching any
thing. but the second smashed her bull
Warks and killed two men. A third and
fourth were fired. both of them Great
ing havoc aboard, and we were looking
for some token of surrender when the
brig ported her helm and came bearing
upon our quarter. We had the weather
gauge, but she HAD been three OF four
points off the wind The fellows were
evidently determined to get near enough
to use their rifles. but with their poor
seamanship they stood no show
We gave the ship more sail, and after
a couple of tacks were off the brig's S
quarter and sending solid shot aboard
/ again. There was great confusion
among the convicts. and we We're hop
! ing for q signal when the wretcles
/ brought two women on deck. We could
see them very plainly without glass,
and their presence put stop to our
/ firing, as the convicts had expected. 1t
was scheme to stop our fire. end every
man grOaned in spirit as he wondered
how cur captain would take it He
must have realized that there was aut
one course open to him, and after a
bit he said to the captain of our big
gun:
Aim at her foremast and try to Grip
pie her She must either surrender OF
I'll sink her"
During the next thirty minutes we
fired six times, and each time the shot
was pumped into her hull, but with
their craft lying a wreck in the trough
Of the seas they continued to shout de-
fance at US. The unfortunate women
must go down if the convicts did, but
death would be preferable to our sailing
away and leaving them in the hands OF
the monsters. We changed our shot tt
shell as we loaded Long Tom again, anc
the gun was pointed to strike the hull
One after another five shells were senf
into the brig. each one tearing a greai
hole and carrying wounds and death
and we had reloaded for the sixth time
/ when it was seen that the craft was set
ting away.
We had our eyes on her as she wa:
heaved up broadside to US by wave
her decks almost awash. There was
wild cheer from the conVicts. half
dozen rifles were discharged, and as tn
brig dropped into the trough the waves
ran right over her. and she settled away
with the heaViness of a block of granite
We ran down TO the spot, but there wa
no one to rescue. Living and dead hat
been drawn down together. Copyright
1903 BY Julius Muler)