The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1908-01-21
THE BALLAD OF THE BETHELL.


homeward bound was the Bethel, out
from the Midland Sea,
Fast the Strait of Gibraltar into the west
sailed she.
Isaac Freeman, the master, thought of his
cargo sold,
Thought of the wares of Europe laden safe
in the hold,
Prayed for peaceful passage, yet-if fight
he must
Letters of marque he carried, and score
OF guns outthrust
Their menace 20 French and SpaniarCls
m who never would need to know
That six of the guns were wooden-for the
Bethel still should go
SAFE overseas to Boston, with riches
brought from far
To owners that dared the uttermost de-
spite King Georges War.
The sun swung low to the westward, lost
were the hills of Spain,
When far through the golden sun-track
sail rose out of the main
Slowly 1T grew to vessel, blocking the
Bethell's path,
Like beast of prey that waited for the
Cutting of its wrath;
And through the waning. daylight sea-
49,. schooled eye could tell
Twas the flag of Spain that lifted and
sank on the long ground swell
30 great foe for the Bethel, so small and
all unfit
Never. such need had Freeman to summon
his Yankee wit.
"All hands belowl" he shouted SEARCH
every man his chest;
With your Saba day hats and Jackets let
slaves and oars be dressed!
linen range them along the gunwale-good
scarecrows breed good fear!
Make sure that all your lanterns are
trimmed and burning clear;
String them aloft in the rigging; then
heave the guns well out,
'Quakers' .and all-step lively!" "Aye,
aye!" came the answering shout.
Thus did the peaceful Bethel put on
fighting guise,
Thus through the gathering darkness she
doomed for twice her size,
AS under the flag of England to the Span
lard close she drew
Brave with her lights and cannon, proud
of her mighty crew
30 they hove to and parleyed, shouting
across in the night,
Clear sounded Freeman's trumpet: "Yield
while We mayor fight"
What should the Spaniard answer, with
British sloop of war
Full-armed, full-manned, as he thought her,
monstrous of null ar lar,
Rolling there in the darkness, ready to fire
and board?
Bitter the cry, came back: II yield-take
we my ship and sword!"
With the cheer that rang from the Bethel
a Laughing note was blent,
And the Spanish master bewildered won
dering what it meant,
Wondered no more when captive. on Free
mans deck hetstood
And looked on theipaltry cannon, six of
them hewn from wood,
And the Yankee crew redoubled by q
-, muster of empty clothes
Then what torrent of fury what q flood
of Spanish oathsl
For his guns were six and twenty, and his
~ crew a hundred and ten
10 the Bethell's puny complement of seven
and thirty men;
And the Jesus Maria and Joseph, the ship
he had brought so far,
Bound from Havana to Cadiz, lost without
scratch or scar,
Was register ship deep-laden with chests
of silver and gold
Doubloons and dollars by thousands, for
naught to tric1ster Sold
But vain the wrath of the prisoners,
manaeled all by morn;
For pleading they got but laughter, for
. cursing but looks of scorn,
Hill they made Fayal, where the Spaniards,
tuning but now set free,
saw captor, and captive westward fade
over the rounding sea-
And the folk of Boston marveled when
seamen swart and strong,
Armed to the teeth like pirates, bore the
treasure along
Through winding streets to the mansion
r where an oaken cellar door
Swung shut with the owners blessing on
the sea and its golden store.
And pieces, of eight, of goodly weight.
should have lined the captains kit
For the bloodless fight he had won that
night all by his Yankee wit.
M. A .DeWolfe Howe. in Youths Com.
panion.