The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-06-20
An Inventive Yankee
A Story Of the Days Of
Pirates
BY DONALD CHAMBERLlN E
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.


anchor and sent boats ashore with
casks for water While waiting their
return two vessels appeared out on the
sea, the one clumsy brigantins, the
other low cut. rakish craft with
enormous sails. Chandler brought his
glass to bear on the TWO ships and
was not long in determining that one
was merchantmen. the other Span.
tsh picaroon, and the picaroon was
chasing the merehahtman. The for
mer dew no flag. but the captain knew
only too well that she was pirhte
and II the wind held would oyertake
the merchantmen.
This was at time when piracy had
been almost entirely swept from the
West Indies, and few merchant ships
had means of opposing the villains
Chandler could see no evidence Of guns
aboard the brigantine. and be had but
one little barker on his own ship. He
had no women aboard. but judged
from the size and build of the mer
chairman that she might have passen-
gers. Ia
!, But the wind was very light. and
what there was was dying down. The
sun was near the western horizon, and
1t had no sooner set than the last
traces Of breeze set with It. The
two vessels. now about three miles
apart. stood still. their sails Tapping
as the swells rolled under them Chan
der began to take thought how be
might save both his own aud the 9TH
err ship from the pirate. He had some
small arms aboard, but no guns ex-
cept the one mentioned. while. though
the portfolios in the picaroon were
masked, he knew that she must be
well armed with cannon, His small
arms would be OF no use against her
Chandler ran over in his mind what
he had aboard that he might Use iu q
fight and remembered that be was
carrying among other things for blast.
ing purposes IN the Mexican mines a
Illuminating powder used In those days.
But what use could be made OF this
against the cannon balls OF the pirates
Chandler was a Yankee. and the
Yankees even at that remote period
were famed for their shrewdness and
inventive genius. He formed a plan u
attack the picaroon with Illuminating
powder, Noting the positions OF The
ships with his compass. he waited I'll
midnight; then. putting crew In each
of two boats. he weighed anchor aud
ordered them TO tow the Wasp out e
sea. his object being to get between
the two vessels. Neither ship displayed
a light. but a faint glimmer OF cabin
lights was perccptible on the pirate
Chandler stopped when he thought ht
might be in the proper position. liz
did not cast anchor. for the sount
| would betray him. and be was no
| ready to let the pirate know OF biz
proximity.
When the first faint dawn cam,
Chandler saw that the Wasp. the ri
rate and the merchantmen oeeupiet
the three angles OF triangle, He wa
| pleased to see that he was nearer til,
pirate than the merchantmen. for !
! the former attacked the latter befor,
attacking the Wasp Chandler could af
! ford no assistance. His plan did no
admit Of this. All three ships bad thel
Sails hoisted ready to take advantag'
| of the slightest breeze. Az soon a
| there was sufficient light the pirat
/ displayed the skull and erossbone
from her peak and sent shot befor
the bow Of the Wasp. Chandler, un
| Outstanding this as demand for sur
render. returned from his popRun sho
no bigger than boys rubber ball. II
did this that the pirate might nttae|
him with his ship instead OF sendinI
beats to take possession without
fight.
i With the rising Of the sun rippl
was seen coming on the water. and
breeze came with 1t. II caught tn
i picaroon first. aud she approached tn
Wasp. running out her guns az sh
did so. but nearing her prey 1t wa
plain that there was no armamen
aboard. and she ran them In again.
i The critical moment had com,
!, Chandler stood on the Quarterdec
awaiting. his enemy. occasionally cas-
ing glance at a man partially cor
cealed aloft on that end OF the ga
swung from the mainmast. The breez
had reached the Wasp and filed be
| sails, enabling the helmsman to kee
the vessel before 1t with some heat
Eway. When the bowsprlt Of the pict
room came within cables length G
the Wasp. Chandler gave an order {
lower the sails The pirate tapped tn
Wasp aud was making ready to graz
2 pie and board when signal was give
, that turned the tables Chandler rail-
, ed his hand Men concealed under N
bulwarks pulled on line fastened
the end of the gaf. swinging II owe
the side next the picaroon. The ma
above. carrying demijohn. nimbl
crawled out on 1t. gaining a positio
nearly over the pirate, now not twent
feet from the Wasp. Giving the dem
john swing, he tossed 1t on the y
rates deck.
:. There was an explosion that BILE,
the little pirate so far apart that III
| v,,otnr v,,chiuo tpfr thu uapu In ke