The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1907-03-16

- outSlflIP.as our adversary, whsn
W. saw the smoke OF another sto.S
en- eFla 7nt}y intending to intercea.
| US aud directing its course nv ~
boom OF the cannon. We mad
shSAt deviation in our course wh;.s
we resumed in All hour, CLOSELY NJ
sued by two Federal steamers ~.
iast SNIP was the United States m.n
ol-"at San Jaciato, famous for ~.
captafe OF Mason and slidel. Con-.
, ,,'e ministers to England and
| / rance II the sea had not satt,oa
ao"A as calm as q lake the San T..
| clnto would have soon oyertaxan :.
ior It was vessel Of great sneed ~
power, and in spite of every effort N
| our part, it gained on us. A. :
STOOD calculating our chances :
caught the odor of the Bahama.
ehoush nifty miles away. The spicy
| breath OF the fragrant isles, stea]ino
over the sea, whispered hope and
encouragement On we went. MILNE
on tuel, until the engineer renortod
the coal running short. This was
appalling.
Pile it on while it lasts" or.
dered.
wv hat then, Captaino"
| answered in the desperation a.
despair. Burn everything, and
then III blow her up, before she
shall be captured,"
On We went at terrific rate q,
speed, all the power Of the engine
being exerted to its utmost capacity.
/ Land no." shouted the man a.
i the lookout, a sound that thrilled orr
hearts with JOY. | examined NV
chart and found I was in sight Of
one of the Bahamas known as Green
Turtle Key. As | called up the
pilot, Arnlbrister, the name suggested
my dream, and | asked him if he was
familiar with the coast around Green
Turtle Key. He replied promptly
that he knew every nook and corner
about it, and if We could only hold
| out to reach it, ne could carry a vesl
| sci OF Jour draft through a channel
in reef where no large ship could
follow. We could land at the village
where there was a small garrison Of
British troops and magistrate ap-
pointed by the crown for the gov
eminent of the island. Again it was
reported that the coal was nearly out.
Every piece of timber that could Be
spared went as fuel. AS we neared
the island the San Jacinto began I'd
| fire, shot after schot falling near.
One passed through our rigging, taxi
| ing off a bit from our masthead. We
were near enough to shore to have
| claimed the protection Of British
waters, but the San Jacinto was not
| noted as respecter of international
law.
AS we neared the reef through
which we must pass to insure our
safety. | TUNED the ship over to the
Bahama pilot, saying in a whisper,
'Armbrister, are You sure You can
take the steamer through yon reef"
I would bet my life on it." he re.
piled confidently.
/ pointed to my revolver. Then
know that your life is the stake, for
l dreamed that Your confederates
We're awaiting you il q schooner, and
that you intended to set this vessel
L., RI, II
moment it strikes. and feed the
sharks on your carcass. Go ahead,
row. anl be CAREFUL
lie turned pale, but took the wheel
with 2 firm hand, and in few min
utes more We were in the white.
capped foam of the tre2cherous reef.
The sailors all seemed to hold their
breath until we passed out o. the
foam into beautiful sheet Of
water. The captain of the San ia.
cinto. closely following, watched our
passage through the reef, and think
ing he could pass through the same
channel, followed in our wake, when
his vessel struck rock with crash,
then slowly settled down amid the
breakers
Wild eXultins cheers went up from
the deck of the Little Hattie as we
glided along the shore greeted by the
waving of handkerehiefs OF the cltl'
zens, who like ourselves, watched our
enemies take to their life boats. Inc
San Jacinto had scarcely settled on
| the reef before a small schooner
pushed out from an island cove anu
made full sail toward her. AS
passed by US, Armbrister shouted ~
them through speaking trumpet III
| a vernacular peculiar to the Wreckels
of the West Indies, which has been
handed down to them from BlacK'
beard and his followers. was
| forcibly reminded OF my cream W
the prompt appearance OF the schoon'
er, which went directly to the ASSIST
ance of the San Jacinto, lot "hi.n
they were entitled to salvasA " heln.
| - -, 80. rot tho vessel d1OdL