The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-25
A THUNDERBOLT AT SEA.
BY NJ. QUAD.

By NJ. QUAD.
This was the situation at 10 o'clock
of a fine June morning many years
ago: A big English sailing ship call
ed the Kanaaroo"one of the last of
the Australian packets-was lying be-
Gained off the African coast to the
south of St. Helena. and three miles
away was a rakish brig, also without
movement. The brig had creDt out
from the coast during the night under
the influence of airs too light to flare
a candle. As was afterwards known,
she was 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 sight of the brig, and to
quiet them. and at the same time
exercise the crew. the guns were cast
loose, small arms served out. and the
peacefut packet was turned into
man of-war.
There was a Providence in it. When
the stranger saw that he was suspect
ed he threw off all disguise. OF a sud
den his decks were alive with men
running 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
cd fltty-twO men in all, and it seemed
as II as many more We're left be-
hind. The black flag was hOisted and
there could no longer be a question
as to the sort of men we had to deal
with.
The passengers of the Kangaroo to
a man volunteered to assist the crew
and we were presently prepared TO
give good account Of ourselves. We
could note. long before the pirates
reached Us, that they comprised sew
eral nationalities. and that thew were
UeEDPT9TH re
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
bettered. It struck one of the boats
fair on the stem and split her omen
full length. and of those not killed
outright only two or three were pick
ed 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 buclx-
shots. and we hove cold shot into their
boats as they hooked on, and no gang
OF pirates ever got a harder drub-
ping, Although we lost two men kill
eu and several wounded not an enemy
got ABOARD. and only two boats and
eighteen men returned to the brig.
We knew they would not make an
other attack, and it was generally he
pirates would sail away. II was 4
o clock in the afternoon before the calm
was broken, and to our surprise and
Inuch TO our anxiety the Celeste did
not snow her heels. On the contrary.
she began working down towards US.
ana as soon as within cannon shot she
opened fire.
She mad four guns in broadsitle. the
same as the Kangaroo. and for an hour
we haa a square fight of it. Her OBJ
Ject was 10 cripple us aloft-ours 10
damage her wherever we could. she
salled much better than we did and
was more easily handled but in spite
OF an her tricks we gave her the worst
OF II, ana hnally drove her out OF
You can judge how hot it was when
tell you that in the running febt
which lasted for about seventy min,
utes, we were hit in hull and rigging
"A times. We had nine men Killed
and twelve wounded among the mas
sengers and emigrants. What the loss
of the stranger was we could not toll
but we battered him below and aloft
until he had to draw off We left him
astern as we headed our course and
no one supposed that we should set
eyes on him again.
That night all the dead aboard of lis
were buried, and the ship put to rights
as far as could be, and only the wo-
men and children slept. The damaged
spars were replaced shotholes 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