The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-05-27
THE RESCUE
OF
A "PIRATE.r

rive days out from HOnSKOHS, with
a cargo of tea, the good ship sea
Horse OF Baltimore scraped an UNI
charted reef tearing away big patch
of copper sheathing and punching an
ugly hole in her bow.
There was nothing to do but TO
put back to Manila for repairs. Ameri-
ykan sailors we're not fond OF Manila
Under the Spaniards-this was in the
year 1S55-but as the sequel will show
the accident to the Sea Horse was
very lucky thing for another Ameri-
can, who lay at that very moment I'M
der sentence of death.
AS the Baltimore clipper dropped
anchor, her men caught sight OF
rakish little topsail schooner lying
close under the guns of Spanish gun
ASSHp't '
She flew no ensign, and from her
position was evidently prisoner. But
her rig Enthusiastically proclaimed her
nationality, and even in the hurry OF
getting away the captains boat ne
took occasion tC remark upon it.
American, for farm he said to
his first officer wonder what COCK
and-bull story they patched up to JUS
tify her seizure? Not but that we'll
have plenty of time to find out" he
added, gloomily. "Slow as these Ma
Hnila workmen are, it'll take weeks to
make US seaworthy."
That was indeed the verdict passed
upon her Injuries. But, once the Sea
Horse was safely locked, it became
question what to do with her crew dur
ing the weeks of detention.
Jack ashore" in the east is always
more or less irresponsible, and the
chances were that the dozen energetic
Aaericans would promptly take
.Gharge of Manila. BY the time the
ship was ready for sea, most of them
would be in Jail Then 1t would take
money to get them out-if indeed their
release could be effected-and the cap
tain decided that rather than pay that
money to the Spaniards, mis- own men
should earn it.
He consulted the authorities. They,
too, were apprehensive of the lively
tars, and hailed with enthusiasm a
plan he suggested. Then he spoke 10
his crew.
Boys" he said "to keep you out
OF mischief and make sure that III
nave you when l want you, I'm going
to put you on board of that Spanish
gunboat For every day you stay
there I'll pay you double wages when
we get TO New York"
Naturally the sailors baked at this
at first; but they knew their own
weaknesses, and the money argument
was weighty, and finally they agreed.
Captain Randall and his mates saw
them on board the gunboat, and went
happily off to the hotel where they
had taken up their own quarters.
This satisfactory state Of things
TASTED just about IS hours. Bright and
early the next morning the command
-er of the Spanish gunboat gorgeous
in gold lace but almost bursting with
fury, appeared at the hotel. The
American sailors had mutinied, lie
~ajd, and captured the gunboat.
1t first glance it did look like it..
The men of the Sea Horse, armed
with pistols and cutlasses wrested
from their unfortunate hosts. were for
ward. They had run in the forward
guns and trained them aft, where the |
Spaniards huddled in fear of death.
Yet the Americans did not look very |
ferocious. In fact, they grinned and |
winked as their own officers came |
Ga the side.
drop your arms!" roared Captain
Randall. What does this mean, any
way?"
Thereupon the Americans calmly ex.
planned that they were hungry! First |
they had waited to be fed, they said;
then they had asked for food; but the
Spaniards could not or would not I'M
derstand So finally they had done
this to make it clear to them that
they wanted somethin'."
OF course the authorities pronounced
The explanation ridiculous. 1t would
not account for, much less justify,
such high-handed proceedings. Doubt.
less the Americans had meant to seize
thu gunboat and turn pirates, and
thewAshould be punished accordingly.
Here was q serious situation. 1t
might lead to the confiscation of the
Sea Horse and the Imprisonment of ali
with her. But Captain Ran
dali was a diplomatist, and his ex-
plantations were finally accepted, on
the understanding that his crew
sa1upId be imprisoned on land until
- d. LIorca was raadv IN coil