The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1911-02-23
A Fight on
The Eaglet
Story Of an American
Privateer
Bv LOUISE LA ROSS
Copyright, 1910, by American Press
Association.


~ suf1cient value to make 1t worth
his while to tow her into port or De-
ing prevented from doing so by the
proximity of British cruisers, DECIDED
70 burn her. The crew Of the Boyne
were taken aboard the Eaglet ana
few DAYS later were put ashore not far
from Halifax.
When it became known what was 10
he done with them one of the English
men stepped up to the Eaglet's captain
and said to him:
81 would like to join your crew, cap
tain. I don't care much what flag
sail under. I've been soldier in the
British army, but deserted to get rid
Of a sergeant's wife who wanted to
get me tangled up with her. Thus
took to the sea, and here l am. II |
20 ashore l might be recognized, for
the regiment 1 deserted from Is at
Halifax Besides. would rather re-
main aflOat."
"You don't look rugged enough to
breast ocean storms" replied the cap
tain, eying the youthful figure OF the
man, whose eyes We're blue. hair fax
en- and on whose rosy cheeks not the
slightest sign of a beard had yet ap-
peared. "HOw old ere YOU:
The man hesitatcd. then said that
he didn't know; he he'd never known
his parents and never had been told
his age. 81 can fight, captain" he
added sin the army learned sword
and bayonet exercise"
whats your nameT
Ralph Bronson"
"Well, you may stay with US II yo'i
like"
Ralph Bronson, leaving the captain.
went straight to one of the American
sailors and, with a pleased expression
said to him:
"It's all right, Jack; I'm to be one Of
you"
"Well, Ralph" replied the other,
''since you don't wish to go I'm glad
you're permitted to join u.s."
From the moment Ralph Bronson
had come aboard the Eaglet he had
striven to make friends with Jack
Drury. Drury had neither encouraged
nor repulsed the youngsters proffered
friendship. The two were very differ
emit, Ralph being delicately organized,
while Jack was q stalwart fellow and
something Of leader among his fell
low tars. II don't see what the boy
wants Of me-" he said to them, ''un-
less 1t Is protection, and he seems quite
able to take care of himself"
One morning ship was espied on
the horizon, and the Eaglet's captain
stood over to investigate her. He had
Z breeze which the ship had not, and
by noon was near enough to her to
make her out. He judged she was
British, but could not tell He fired
shot across her bow, whereupon she
broke the blood red banner of Eng
land and, opening ports, ran out sew
sral guns. The Eaglet responded by
breaking flag on which there were
palmetto tree and a snake-the stars
and stripes had not yet been adopted
and the fight commenced. When it
ended by the British vessel striking
her colors Jack Drury had taking
leadership and covered himself with
glory, but he had lost his right arm
and an eye. Ralph Bronson had kept
beside him and when the crew Of the
privateer boarded the Britisher par
ried blow Of cutlass which would
otherwise have split his friends skull.
senseless by blow from a musket,
and before he had regained conscious
ness Drury received the wounds that
cost him his arm and an eye
But Ralph was only temporarily dis
abled and during the next few months
devoted himself when not on watch
to nursing the hero. When Drury was
able to be about again he appeared q
very different man from what he had
been. At first he was honored by his
fellows, but the enthusiasm attending
war heroes after they have become
useless is short lived. Drury could
not do seaman's work, nor was he,
thus disabled, fitted for an officer. He
was invited by his captain to remain
on board as scullion in the galley, and
IN this unwarlike position his glory
faded.
Among q crew made up of heteroge-
ne0us elements it was natural that
there should be enmities. Notwith.
standing the affection the Eaglet's
crew bore Drury there were several Of
them who hated him and one who. no
sooner had Jack got about again after
being disabled, began to show his
spleen toward him. 1t was the old
story Of the sick lion. This man. Par
sons, had been thrashed by Drury and
had suffered the ignominy Of having
his nose rubbed in the scuppers. Upon
Jacks disability he had made up his
mind secretly to get his revenge. But
he knew that with the whole crew be-
hind his enemy he must continue to
threw the responsibility Of a quarrel
upon him. He began by casting a
slur on everything Jack said. One day
when Parsons had virtually given Dru-
~ the lie the latter turned on him and
said: