The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-09-16
A THUNDFRBOLT AT SEA
Copyright. 1904. by c. B. Lewis.l

ago: y Dig English sailing ship called
the Kangaroo, one of the last of the
Australian packets. was lying becalm-
ed off the African coast to the south
of st. Helena, and three miles away
was a rakish brig. also without move
coast during the night under the influ-
ence of airs too light 10 flare candle.
AS was afterward known, she was a
Spanish rover called the Celeste.
The Kangaroo would not have been
put in state of defense but for the
passengers. Many of them became
nervous at the sight of the brig and to
quiet them and at the same time eXer-
else the crew the guns We're cast loose,
small arms served out, and the peaceful
packet was turned into a man-Of- war.
There was a providence in it. When
the stranger saw that he was suspect
ed he threw off all disguise. OF sud
den his decks were alive with men run
ming about, and later on four boats
were lowered and filled with armed
men. They were coming to attack the
Kangaroo. They must have known
that she was armed and had Il strong
crew aboard, but the pirates of old
We're men 10 take long chances. When
the boats left the briggs side we count
ed iifty-twO men IN all, and it seemed
as if as many more were left behind
The black flag was hoisted, and there
could no longer be question as to the
sort of men we had to deal with.
The passengers of the Kangaroo to
man volunteered to assist the crew,
and we were presently prepared to
give a good account of ourselves. We
could note long before the pirates
reached us that they comprised several
natiOnalities and that they were des-
perate lot. The bouts divided as they
came on, and when within a mile of us
the fellows began cheering.
Our first shot was from one of the
big guns and could not have been bet
tered. II struck one of the boats fair
on the stem and split her open full
length. and of those not killed outright
only two or three were picked up. The
disaster only made the rascals the
more desperate. Raising yell, the
three remaining boats dashed at us
and We're soon so close that the big
guns were Of no further use.
We met them with bullets and buck
shot, and we hove cold shot into their
boats as they hooked on, and no gang
of pirates ever got harder drubbing.
Although we lost two men killed and
several wounded, not an enemy got
aboard and only two boats and eight
cen men returned to the brig
That night the damaged spars were
replaced. shot holes plugged up, and
there was no reason why we should
not safely make the Cape.
When daylight came we cOngratu-
lated each other over our victory, and
the captain had just decided to make
II sort OF holiday in honor of the event
when IL thunderstorm came racing up
behind us, and in the midst of the
black cloud was the pirate brig In
stead of sailing away in search of
haven or other prey when she had re
paired damages she had picked up our
trail and was going to give us another
brush.
Such grim persstency at first brought
place to one of grim determination to
fight her 10 the death and show her no
mercy. When we had her crippled the
night before we could have destroyed
her, but Captain Wilson simply sailed
away. He now promised the crew to
sink her If he could. and there was
cheering as the men went to the guns.
Down came the black cloud, and with
ii down came the pirate with his black
flag flying, and as he ranged up on our
port quarter ut half rifle shot he
opened fire. His first shot struck a gun
and killed three men, and his second
wounded Ave men. Then the storm
broke. the sea increased, and, although
the firing continued, no great damage
was done on either side.
Daylight was turned into evening
by the storm. There was heavy rain,
with gusts of wind and the keenest of
lightning and the loudest of thunder.
Our decks were ankle deep, but every
man stood TO his gun and continued to
fight As the darkness increased the
brig crcpt closer to us, and during the
1 - h., G,r1,
have heavcd a stone aboard of her
One saw her in the play of the light
ming and for an instant could almost
look into the eyes of the men aboard,
and then for few seconds she would
be lost in the darkness. So terrific
and continuous was the roll of thun-
der that the reports of the guns were
You felt the conclusion along
the deck, but the report was lost in the
war of the elements.
LOading and firing every gun which
would bear as fast as possible, the
rushed forward on her
course and, hanging to her quarter like
u bulldog to his prey; followed the
Celeste. OF sudden there was
great crash aloft, and down came fore
and main topmasts together. The men
were called from the guns to clear the
wreckage, and the ship was in danger
of brOaching TO and being swept when
there came such flash of lightning as
seemed to burn the eyeballs. This
was followed by n thunderclap which
seemed to lift the ship out of the wa
ter, and then fifty pairs Of eyes saw
great spout of flame shoot up out Of the
sen. In the midst of the fame were
masts. yards and sails and flying OBJ
jeCts.
The brig had been struck by light
ming. and her magazine had blown up
Chrra was Il Duff n boom n gust of