Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-08-17
AN OXEYE
SQUALL
3 y n. q VA D



ON board. was making a voyage from
Boston 10 Cadiz. The year was 1854.
There had been peace with England
FOR a year. but In granting the colonies
their independence the mother country
had insisted on the right TO search any
American vessel In any water and at
any time. The pretense was that Eng
fish subjects were continually desert.
ing his aiesty's service and shipping
on American craft. II was therefore
Captain RIdeford's plan 10 keep clear
Of any armed vessel flying the British
Tag. He had crew of Nantucket
men. every one Of whom had served in
the cause OF liberty. and he began
worrying about what might happen
before he was 200 miles at sea. His
wife saw that he was disturbed. and
she said:
"Abner. when we left home do be
Heve that forgot To fasten the wood
shed door"
What's that to worry aboutY' he
asked
jest as much as your fear that we
may be oyerhauled. Let's wait until
we see Britisher beariu' down on us
before we git dizzy headed"
But Captain Ahner had just made his
noon observation when sail was
sighted TO the eastward. There was a
feeling from the first that she was
British man-ofwar. Half an hour
later all doubts were dIspeiled. The
stranger was not only man-of-war,
but be had changed his course to meet
that Of the brig
Il told you so.' exclaimed Captain
Ahner TO Mary as he pointed to the dis.
tnut sail
Yes, Ahner: you did" she replied.
And now he'll board and press two
or three % the men. even though we
haven't got a half one TO spare"
WAL. It's uo use 10 give up till we
have to- ! should keep right on aud
pay no 'tcntion to him"
There had been n stiG breeze all the
forenoon. and the few clouds driving
overhead had a squally look TO them.
Captain Bldeford's first idea had been
10 run away, but. realizing thls would
provoke curiosity and pursuit. he de
cided to stand on. As the craft neared
each other the mauof-war kept all
fast and seemed about to pass ON with
cut notice. or sudden. however. he
bred a solid shot across the briggs bows
and hove into the wind,
That means heave TO and be board.
ed"' shouted Captain AbBer as he pre-
pared to give the necessary orders
But don't you do anything OF the
kind" protested Mary. He's no more
right TO stop you than you have 10 stop
him"
by Josh. then, but he'll blow Us out
OF waterr'
Let him blowl Abner. you're no
nan II you give up licked to a Brit
isher who has bin beaten In war;
The Dolphin held her course The
British captain brought his big craft
around In pursuit and opened fire with
his bow chasers. When his shot began
falling about the brig. Captain Abner
and the crew were for bringing her to,
but Mary shut her teeth together and
grimly said:
"Abner. If you let that Britisher board
you before be shoots away a mast III
not go back home to hear you called
coward"
So the Dolphin held on. though be-
fore she got out Of range the shot
splashed water on her deck. She
would have eventually made clear
escape but for loss OF the breeze. When
1t died completely out. the two craft
were three miles apart The man-of-
war promptly lowered boat with an
officer and six armed men 10. pay u
visit
WAL. you see that boat comm.
s'pose." said Captain Abner as Mary
stood beside him. IF you hadn't inter
fered. might have got of without
anybody bein' taken"
IF hadn't interfered. you'd have
gone back to Nantucket TO be sneered
at by everybody in town. Jest you
watch and wait 1t looks bad. but
sunthin' may turn up"
The boat came on with long, regular
strokes and in half an hour was along
side the brig. The lieutenant In charge
came over the rail, followed by three
marines with loaded muskets. He had
hardly touched the deck when he sang
out:
''You impudent BLACKBOARD Of Yam
kee. but why didn't you heave to when
we fired gum
Because we didn't feel like itw an
swered Captain Bideford. who had all
his GOODNESS now that the crisis was at
hand.
What What More impudences
Ny turkeycoek. but you need a lesson
IN manners AS beginning | order
you to douse that ragy'
81 shall do nothln' Of the kind. II
you want to make a prize of this brig.
go ahead and haul down her flag. II
not, then take yourself of"
'0h. you won't muster your crew,
shY' sneered the lieutenant. 1T is as
we suspected--too many British de
serters aboard. Well. I'll soon weed