Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1904-07-28
A THUNDFRBOLT AT SEA
IcopyrIght, 1904. BY G. B. Lewis

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 rakish brig, also without move
ment. The brig had crept out from the
coast during the night under the infiu-
ence of airs too light to fare candle
AS was afterward known, she was a
| Spanish rover called the Celeste.
The Kangaroo would not have been
put In q 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 were cast loose,
small arms served out. and the peaceful
packet was turned into man-ofwar.
There was providence in 1t. 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 filed with armed
| men. They were coming to attack the
Kangaroo. They must have known
II tnd1 BIC Wu1 0EkuCA anu huI u 6lLOu6
crew aboard, but the pirates of old
We're men to take long chances. When
| the boats left the briggs side we count
ed flfty-two men In all, and 1t seemed
as II as many more We're left behind.
The black flag was hoisted, and there
could no longer be a question as to the
sort Of men we had to deal with.
Il tta x1P fho 40
man volunteered to assist the crew,
and we We're presently prepared to
| give good account of ourselves. We
| could note long before the pirates
reached us that they comprised several
| nationaiities and that they were 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 guns and could not have been bet
! tered 1t 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.
/ 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
a sort OF holiday I'm honor of the event
when a 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 a
haven or other prey when she had re-
/ paired damages she had picked up our
trail and was going to give as another
| brush.
Such grim persistency at first brought
feeling Of fright, but this soon gave
place to one of grim determination to
| fight her to 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 IL he could, and there was
cheering as the men went to the guns.
Down came the black cloud, and with
1t down came the pirate, with his black
flag flying, and as he ranged up on our
| port quarter at half rife shot he
opened fire. His first shot struck 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 crept closer to us. and during the
last ten minutes of the fight one could
have heaved 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,
land then for few seconds she would
be slost In the darkness So terrific
and continuous was the roll OF thun-
der that the reports Of the guns were
| unheard You felt the concussion 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
Kangaroo rushed forward on her
course and. hanging to her quarter like
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 dash OF lightning as
seemed TO burn the eyeballs. This
was followed by thunderclap which
seemed to lift the ship out Of the wa.
| ter. and then fifty pairs Or eyes saw