New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-25


teeth OF the wind: and so Captain shaler
tarried on the trembling verge OF the
danger line to await developments.
SquaIl Brings Ships Together.
II was then that the unexpected hap
pened. A squat came smashing across
the waves from windward. caught the
Governor Tompkins fairly and squareiy
under her ears and carried her slap-banS
into the open arms OF the big stranger.
The records are silent as 10 who was the
most surprised at this sudden and uneX-
pected turn in the wheel or fortune, the
Americans In the privateer or the people
In the stranger. IL was a most lucky
circumstance for the privateersmen that
the Squat reached the big stranger about
the time the Governor Tompkins did, for
the formers people were kept so busy
making fast their own Tapping sails that
they could not Immediately devote gun
fire attention 10 the privateer.
Avalling himself OF the strangers many
pressing engagements with his sails, Cap
tain Shaler quickly got his own craft
under control. tackled about and speedily
began desperate race windward mot
Withstandine the fact that this took him
directly past the big strangers broadsidel
q his only avenue OF escape. Ii may as
We'll be stated right here that the biz
stranger was the British 44-Sun frlgate
Laurel, which was reputed TO be one
OF the fastest In the royal navy at the
time-and she fully sustained her reputa-
tion by the activity with which she made
after the fleeing privateer. The Laurel
had been fitted out by the Admiralty with
the avoWed intention OF coping with the
famous American frigates Of the same
class.
Scarcely had tie Governor Tompkius
gained q position about a quarter OF a
mile abeam OF the frigate. when the latter
triced up her painted ports and let go a
broadside from her implanted battery Of
ls-pounders, which killed three and
wounded five Of the privateer's men.
Among the wounded was First Officer
Farnum. OF the General Tompkins.
Down TO this moment the privateer had
been flying English cOlors. but realizing
that further descending" was out OF
the question. Captain Shaler hauled down
that flag and hoisted three American en-
signs and had the audacity TO open his
puny broadside on the massive frlgate
In this manner the two craft ran along
side by side. on the same tack delivering
their broadsides as fast as they could be
reloaded-the privateer gradually forging
ahead. Such tune as was played round
my ears" wrote Shaler. II assure you
never wish to hear again in the same
Key"
Early in the action shot from the
Laurel blew up one OF the Governor
Tompkins's shot boxes. in which were the
two 9-pounder cartridges, which exploded
and set fire to a number OF pistol and tube
boxes lying in the companion way. all Of
which went off in most disagreeabe
manner. In fact, some OF the tubes were
mean enough to creep through a crack in
the companion way leaf and fall TO the
floor of the cabin below, which was near
TO the entrance of the magazine. This
occasioned some distress aboard the pri-
vateer-actual as we'll as imaginary--for
matters aboard were pretty we'll up In the
air as they stood without going any
higher But fortunately for their long
postponed Christmas dinner (Which was
still stewing away In the cooks galley
the precauton OF wetting the floor in the
vicinity OF the magazine and of saturat-
ing with water the woolen screen or
blanket over the hatch leading to the
powder room prevented further explos-
ions.
"Fjre Away" Said Dyinu Neuro.