Canyon City news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1903-1908, 1904-08-12
A THUNDfRBOLT AT SEA

Copyright 1904 ~ {. Z Lcwlsl
This Was the situation ut 10 o'clock
of n fine June morning many years
ago: y big English sailing ship called
the Kangaroo. one Of the last of the
Australian packets. was lying beca!n-
ed off the African coast 10 the south
Of 81. Helena. and three miles away
was a rakish brig. also without move
ment. The brig had crept out from the
coast during the night under the intiu-
cnce Of airs too light TO flare a candle.
AS was aftcrward known. she was a
Spanish rover called the Celeste.
The Kangaroo would not have been
put in a state of defense but for the
passengers. Many of them became
nervous Al the sight Of the brig. and to
quiet them and at the same time eXer-
else the crew the guns were cast loose.
small arms served out. and the peaceful
packet was turned into a man-Of-war.
There was Il providence in it. When
the stranger saw that Be was suspect
cd he threw off all disguise. OF q sud
den his decks We're 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 a strong
crew aboard. but the pirates of old
were men to take long chances. When
the boats left the briggs side we count
ed fifty-two men in ali. and it seemed
as if as many more We're left behind.
The black flag was hoisted. and there
could no longer be Il question as to the
sort of men we Lad to deal with.
The passengers Of the Kangaroo to
a man volunteered 10 assist the crew,
and we were presently prepared to
give Il good account of ourselves. We
could note long before the pirates
reached us that they comprise several
n%atlonalities and that they We're a des-
perate lot. The boats 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 runs 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 a yell, the
three remaining boats dashed at us
and were soon so close that the big
guns were Of no further use.
NJ. ,r,,t tI,,,, ,y-f.I I, ly.lI,-a ovl l..,l-
shot. and we hove cold shot into their
boats as they hooked on. ana no gang
of pirates ever got a harder Grabbing.
Although we lost two men killed and
several wounded. not an enemy got
aboard, ana 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
n sort Of holiday in honor Of the event
when Il thunderstorm came racing up
behind MS. and in the midst of tie
black cloud was the pirate brig. In
stead of sailing away IN search Of a
haven or other prey when She had re-
paired damages She had picked mp our
trail and was going t. give US another
brush.
Such grim persiStency Ut first brought
n feeling Of fright, but this soon gave
place Ia One Of grim determination to
fight her 10 the death ANA show her no
mercy. When we had her crippled the
night before we could have destroyed
her. but Captain Wilson simply GlileG
away. He now promised the crew 10
sink her If ho could. and there was
cheering ms the meH went 10 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 mt half rife shot he
opened fire. His first shot struck a gun
and killed three men, and his second
wounded five 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 kocnest of