Alexandria gazette. [volume], October 01, 1834, Image 2

About Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974

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THE GAZETTE.
By EDGAR SNOWDEN.
CUTTING OFF A FIGURE HEAD.
To the Editor of the Alexandria Gazette.
There is an incident related in the amusing
life ol Peter Simple, which bears so stiong an
analogy to a recent transaction in this country,
that I am surprised to find that it has not been
copied into any of our newspapers. Had this
transaction at Bostoi. taken place a year soon
er, it might be supposed that the author had ta
ken the hint from it. t
In order that those who have not read the
book may understand the point of the story, it
is necessary to say that Peter was first lieuten
ant of the brig Rattlesnake; her commander,
Captain Hawkins, was a natural son of Peter’s
uncle, whose wrath Peter had incurred, and
Captain H. was instigated by his father not on
ly to render Peter uncomfortable, but to get him
out of the service, by fair means or loul.
The Rattlesnake'was ordered up the Baltic,
to convoy merchantmen, and while on her way
there encountered a Dutch brig, with which she
had an engagement, and the Dutchman was
ready to hauf down his colors when Captain
Hawkins ordered the Rattlesnake to be put
about.
The description of the battle is contained in
the 3d volume, chapter 13, and is worth publish
ing entire; but if you cannot spare room for it,
portions of the 11th chapter will suffice to ex
plain the incident alluded to. Spi n Yarn.
“I mentioned before, that when Swinburne
> joined us at Plymouth, he had recommended a
figure-head being put on the brig. This had
been done at O’Brien’s expense—not in the
cheap way recommended by Swinburne, but in
a very handsome manner. It was a large snake
coiled up in folds, with its head darting out in a
menacing attitude, and the tail, with its rattle,
appeared below. The whole was gilded, and
had a very good effect; but after the dock-yard
men had completed the repairs, and the brig
was painted, one night the head of the Rattle
snake disappeared, it had been sawed off by
some malicious and evil-disposed persons, and
no traces of it were to be found.
I was obliged to report this to the captain, who
was very indignant, and offered twenty pounds
for the discovery of the offender; but, had he
offered twenty thousand, he never would have
found out the delinquent. It was, however, ne
ver forgotten; fbr he understood what was im
plied by these manoeuvres. A new head was
carved, but disappeared the night after it was
fixed on.
The rage of the captain was without bounds:
he turned the hands up, and declared that if the
offender was not given up, he would flog every
hand on board. He gave the ship’s company
ten minutes, and then prepared to execute his
threat. “ Mr. Paul, turn the hands up for pu
nishment,” said the captain, in a rage, and de
scended to his cabin for the articles of war.
When he was down below, the officers talked
over the matter. To flog every man for the
crime of one, was the height of injustice; but
it was not for us to oppose him: still the ship’s
company must have seen, in our countenances,
that we shared their feelings. The men were
talking with each other in groups, until they all
appeared to have communicated their ideas on
the subject. The carpenters, who had been
slowly bringing aft the gratings, left off the
job; the boatswain’s mates, who had come aft,
rolled the tails of their cats round the red han
dles; and every man walked down below. No
one was left on the quarter-deck but the ma
rines under arms, and the officers.
Perceiving this, I desired Mr. Paul, the boat
swain, to send the men up to rig the gratings,
and the quarter -masters with their seizings. lie
came up, and said that he had called them, but
that they did not answer, Perceiving that the
ship’s company would break out into open mu
tiny, if the captain persisted in his intention, I
went down into the cabin, and told the captain
the state of things, and wished for his orders, or
presence on deck.
i ne captain, wnose wrain appeared 10 ren
der him incapable of reflection, immediately
proceeded on deck, and ordered the marines to
load with bull cartridge. This was done; but,
as l was afterwards told by Thompson, who
was standing aft, the marines loaded with pow
der, and put the balls into their pockets. They
wished to keep up the character of their corps
for fidelity, and at the same time not fire upon
men whom they loved as brothers, and with
whom they coincided in opinion. Indeed, we
afterwards discovered that it was a murine who
had taken off the head of the snake a second
time.
The captain then ordered the boatswain to
turn the hands up. The boatswain made his
appearance with his right arm in a sling.—
“ What’s the matter with your arm, Mr. Paul?”
said I, as he passed me.
“ Tumbled down the hatchway just now—
can’t move my arm; 1 must go to the surgeon
as soon as this is over.”
The hands were piped up again, but no one
obeyed the order. Thus w as the brig in a state
of mutiny. “Mr. Simple, go forward to the
main hatchway with the marines, and fire on
the lower deck,” cried the captain.
“ Sir,” said I, “ there are two frigates within
a cable’s length of us; and would it not be bet
ter to send for assistance, without shedding
blood? Besides, sir, you have not yet tried the
effect of calling up the carpenter’s and boat
swain’s mates by name. Will you allow me to
go down first, and bring them to a sense of their
duty?”
“ Yes, sir, I presume you know your power;
but of this hereafter.”
I went down below, and called the men by
name.
“ Sir,” said one of the boatswain’s mates,
“ the ship’s company say that they will not sub
mit to be flogged.”
“ I do not speak to the ship’s company gene
rally, Collins,” replied 1; “ but you are now or
dered to rig the gratings, and come on deck. It’
is an order that you cannot refuse. Go up di
rectly, and obey it. Quarter-masters, go on
deck with your seizings. When all is ready,
you can then expostulate.”
The men obeyed my orders: they crawled on
deck, rigged the gratings, and stood by.
“ All is ready, sir,” said I, touching my hat
to the captain.
“ Send the ship’s company aft, Mr. Paul.”
« Aft, then, all of you, for punishment,” cried
the boatswain. „ . ,
“ Yes, it is all of us for piinishment,” cried one
voice. “ We’re all to flog one another, and then
pay off the jollies
This time the men obeyed the order; they all
appeared on the quarter-deck.
“ The men are all aft, sir,” reported the boat
swain.
* Marines.
“ And now, my lads,” said the captain, “ I’ll
teach you what mutiny is. You see these two
frigates alongside of us. You had forgotten
them, 1 suppose, but 1 hadn’t. Here, you scoun
drel, Mr. Jones”—(this was the Joe Miller)—
“strip, sir. If ever there was mischief in a
ship, you are at the head.”
“ Head, sir?” said the man, assuming a va
cant look; “ w hat head, sir? Do you mean the
snake’s head? 1 don’t know any thing about it, j
sir.” i
“ Strip, sir,” cried the captain in a rage, “ I’ll ;
soon bring you to your senses.”
if you please, your hononor, what have I
done to be tied up for?” said the man.
“ Strip, you scoundrel!”
“ Well, sir, if you please, it’s hard to be flog- ,
ged for nothing.” , „ , 1
The man pulled off his clothes, and walked
up to the grating. The quarter-masters seized
him up. , , _
“ Seized up, sir.” reported the scoundrel of a
sergeant of marines, w ho acted as the captain’s
spy.
The captain looked for the articles of war to
read, as is necessary previous to punishing a
man, and was a little puzzled to find one, where
no positive ofTence had been committed. At
last, he pitched upon the one which refers to
combination and conspiracy, and creating dis
content. We all took off our hats as he read if,
and then he called Mr. Paul, the boatswain, and
ordered him to give the man a dozen.
“ Please, sir,” said the boatswain, pointing to
his arm in a sling, “ I can’t flog—I can’t lift up
I my arm.”
“Your arm was well enough when 1 came
onboard, sir,” cried the captain.
“ Yes, sir; but in hurrying the men up, I slip
ped down the ladder, and I’m afraid I’ve put my
shoulder out.”
The captain bit his lips; lie fully believed it
was a sham on the part of the boatswain, (which
indeed it was,) to get off flogging the men.
“ Well, then, where is the chief boatswain’s
mate, Miller?”
“ Here, sir,” said Miller, coming forward; a
stout, muscular man, nearly six feet high, with
a pig tail nearly four feet long, and his open
breast covered with black shaggy hair.
“ (Jive that man a dozen, sir,” said the cap
tain.
The man looked at the captain, then at the
ship’s company, and then at the man seized up,
but did not commence the punishment.
“ Do vou hear me, sir?” roared the captain.
“ If you please, your honor, I’d rather take
my disrating-1-don’t wish to be chief
boatswain’s mate in this here business.”
“ Obey your orders immediately, sir,” cried
the captain; “or, by G—, I’ll try you for mu
tiny.”
“ Well, sir, I beg your pardon; but what must
be, must be. I mean no disrespect, Captain
Hawkins, but I cannot flog that man—my con
science wont let me.”
“ Your conscience, sir?” i
“ Beg your pardon, Captain Hawkins I’ve al
ways done.my duty, foul weather or fair; and
I’ve been eighteen years in his Majesty’s ser
vice, without ever being brought to punishment;
but if I am to be hung now, saving your plea- (
sure, and with all respect, I can’t help it.”
“ I give you but one moment more, sir,” cried
the captain; “do your duty.”
The man looked at the captain, and then eyed
the yard-arm. “ Captain Hawkins, I will do my
duty, although I must swtng for it.” So saying,
he threw his cat down on the quarter deck, and
fell back among the ship’s company.
The captain was now confounded, and hard
ly knew how to act; to persevere, appeared use
less—to fall back was almost as impossible. A ,
dead silence of a minute ensued. Every one ;
was breathless with impatience to know what
would be done next. The silence was, howe
ver, first broken by Jones, the Joe Miller, who
was seized up.
“ Beg your honor’s pardon, sir,” said he,
turning h;s head round; “ but if I am to be flog
ged, will you be pleased to let me have it over? |
I shall catch my death a-cold, naked here all :
day.” I
This was decided mockery on the part of the ,
man, and roused the captain.
“ Sergeant of marines, put that Miller, and .
that man Collins, both legs in irons, for mutiny. '
My men, I perceive that there is a conspiracy
in the ship, but I shall very soon put an end to
it: I know the men, and by C»— they shall re
pent it. Mr. Paul, pipe down. Mr. Simple,
man my gig; and recollect, it’s my positive or
ders, that no boat goes on shore.”
The captain left the brig, looking daggers at (
me, as he went over the side; but l had done my j
duty, and cared little for that.
DRAWS TO-MORROII'
Literature Lottery of the State of Delaware,
Class No. 40 fur 1834,
Will be drawn in Wilmington,Del.on Thursday,
October 2
HIGHEST PRIZE $*,000'
Tickets 82 25; halves 1 12; quarters 0 56
| To be had in a variety of numbers of
J. W. VIOI.ETT,
Lottery and Exchange Broker,
Near the corner of Kins’ and Fayette Streets,
Alexandria. I). C.
DR A IFS TO-MORRO\\
Literature Lottery of the State of Delaware,
Class No. 30 for 1834,
To be drawn at Wilmington, Del. on Thursday,
October 2
HIGHEST PRIZE $8,000.
Tickets 82 25; halves 1 12; quarters 0 56
To be had in a variety of numbers of
J. CORSE*
Lottery $ Exchange Rroker. Alexandria.
DMA IIS TO-MORRO \V
Literature Lottery of the State of Delaware,
Clast No. 30 for 1834,
To be drawn at Wilmington, Del. on Thursday,
October 2
HIGHEST PRIZE $8,000.
Tickets 82 25; halves 1 12; quarters 0 56
For sale, as usual, in great variety, by
JOS. HI. CLAKKK,
(Signof the Flag of Scarlet and Gold,) King st.
Alexandria. D. C.
DRAWS TOMORROW
Literature Lottery of the State of Delaware,
Class No. 30 lor 1834,
To be drawn in Wilmingtan, Del. on Thursday,
October 2
HIGHEST PRIZE $8,000!
Tickets $2 25; halves 1 12; quarters 0 56
On sale in great variety by
JAS. RIORDAN.
33* Uncurrent Notes and Foreign Gold pur*
chased.
TIMOTHY SEED! TIMOTHY SEED!
THE subscriber has just received from the
upper country a supply of New Timothy !
Seed, very clean and heavy, which he offers for '
sale, sept 24 JAMES D. KERR.
CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL. 1
The following information is cheering in pro
portion as the prospects of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal Company have lately been gloomy.
From the 117Ilia insport ( Md.) Banner, Sept. 27.
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. The late
loan to the Chesapeake and Olio Canal Com
pany has been promptly improved by the
necessaiy arrangements for the earliest com
pletion ot the work to Dam. No. 5 at Middle
kaufPs mill, 8 miles above this place. A com
mittee of the Board of Directors, consisting of
Col. Abert and Dr. Gunton, accompanied by the
clerk of the company, .A P. Ingle, Esq., paid a
visit to this town in the beginningof this week,
and succeeded in re-letting all those portions of
the Canal and its works, which are in an unfin
ished state, and had been abandoned. The
principal of these is an extent of about two
miles of the difficult rock excavation, and one
or two culverts. The remainder of the unfin
ished work under contract, including Dam. No.
5, is in an advanced state, and probably will not
require mone than six weeks for its entire com
pletion. But the time limited for the comple
tion all the constracts is the first day of March
next; when the public may most confidently
calculate upon the whole Canaf, to the point be
fore mentioned, a distance of 110 miles, being
opened for navigation. Dam. No. 5 will I a.k
the water of the Potomac to the vicinity of Han
cock, where the constant navigation of the Ca
nal will be connected with the National Hoad.—
The communication of the city of Baltimore
and the District cities with the Y\ est will be thus
greatly facilitated, and an active and profitable
trade curried on, which will at once prove Hie
importance of the Canal, and stimulate to its
further extension.
With the Canal in use next spring, the coal
trade of Allegany can be commenced and con
tinued with advantage to the public; and the
company will begin to realize, what they have
not yet had a fair chance to do, a large revenue
from tolls. These circumstances are of an inter
esting character to all concerned in the pros
pectsand success of the Canal, and are the more
interesting since their fulfilment is at hand. We
congrutulatethe public upon the favorableevents
which have enabled the company thus oppor
tunely to secure to them the advantages of so
great a portion of the Canal. We look upon these
things too as the sure presage of more successful
operations in future.
We are authorized to say that immediate
employment can be given to five or six hun
dred laboring hands on the parts of the Canal
recently re-let, in the neighborhood of this place.
From llte Pittuburg Atlcocate, Sept. 24.
It is stated in the Baltimore papers that the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company have
succeeded in negotiating a loan of $200,000
with the Bank of the United States, to enable
the company to complete their great underta
king to a point about eight miles above the town
of Williamsport, in Washington county, Md.—
But for this timely extension of aid, this great
work must have been inevitably suspended, per
haps in view of the inauspicious aspect of the
times, entirely abandoned. Perhaps no work
now in progression or in projection is of such
vital importance to the interests of the west,
and more particularly to Pittsburg. Its ultimate
success we regard as certain; but it can only
be accomplished when a more liberal policy
shall govern the councils of the country and
some other aid shall be given than that o( mere
private subscription to its stock. There is no
work which has a stronger right to the fostering
aid of the government, and none to which a
congress governed less than the present by par
ty spirit and more by extended and liberal
views, would sooner extend that which was
promised at its commencement.
We are glad to perceive that the city of Bal
timore is beginning to awaken to a full sense of
its importance to their own city, and that a de
termination is growing thereto press it forward
in despite of all the obstacles winch may inter
pose. The resources of that city are great, and
the energy and public spirit of the inhabitants
are a sure guaranty for their prosecution of the
work, until such a reaction in public sentiment,
may take place, as will ensure that encourage
ment from the government which must one day
or other be extended. Irr the meantime it is
equally incumbent upon ns of the west to se
cond the efforts making in the east—we cannot
remain passive or indifferent spectators of exer
tions in behalf of a work which is destined to
open a new channel for the products of indus
try and enterprise, and render our city the great
depot for the commerce and trade of the west
ern world.
The Western Hank of Philadelphia, has been
robbed of several thousand dollars in specie, by
its late porter. By an advertisement published
to-day, it will be seen that a handsome reward
is offered for the apprehension of the robber.
Halt. Pat.
Daring.—A lad on Monday last was bantered
by a companion to descend from the cornice of
Washington Monument to the base by the light
ning rod. He performed it in perfect safety— ,
the height is about 190 feet.— Hall. I 'is.
—
Mr. Mitchell Potter is about to establish in
New York an agency for negotiating marria
ges. a la demade dr Paris. In his advertise
ment he says, seriously—
“ The present mode of advertising for wives
is attended with many difficulties and embar
rassments, which the establishment of an agen
cy office would effectually remove. With these
views on this subject, 1 think the experiment
ought to be made. I shall therefore proceed
without delay to make such arrangements for
opening an agency in this city, (of which due
notice will be given) as he feels sure will afford
every satisfaction to those who are disposed to
patronize, what he firmly believes to be a mer
itorious and useful undertaking.”— N. Y. Guz.
Broom Corn— Mr. Shipman of Hadley, Mas- j
sachusetts, we suspect is the greatest Broom Ma
nufacturer in New England. He will make not
less than two hundred thousand this year. Broom j
corn is the staple commodity of this rich and
thriving village, even to a greater extent, we
suspect, than its neighbor just over the Connec
ticut, the goodly town of Hatfield. The mea
dows belonging to these two villages, present a
rich and beautiful landscape just at this time.
The crops are principally removed, with the ex
ception of the Broom corn, and the immense
field of this rich commodity, with its extended
surface of tassel and brush, are altogether pret
ty to behold. Broom corn grows to the height
!)f eight or ten feet, the stalk slender and the j
eaves but few*. At the top comes out the brush,
ike an inverted broom, furnishing a rich and
anique sight, where extended fields of half a I
mile in extent are found, to an eye unused to !
such a spectacle. The price is in advance of
ast year and a fine crop is anticipated.
[ Northampton (Mass.) Cour. *]
FORECASTLE YARNS.
From a Sailor’# Journal of hi» First Cruise.
Captiie of the Cyane and Levant—So Jack
stowed away the old soger in the north-east cor
ner of his tarpaulin, took a fresh bite of purser’s
plug, and tying an overhaul-knot with his fists,
athwart his bread-bag and mooring himself
snugly, he began his yarn, as he did every thing,
butt end foremost.
‘ Sail ho!’ sung out the look-out on the fore-top
sail yard of the Constitution frigate, Commo
dore Stewart, about four bells in the forenoon
watch, of the twentieth of February, 1815, Ma
deira bearingsouth-east by east, distant two hun
dred miles. , . , .
< Where away?’ hailed the officer of the deck.
‘ Right nhead, sir,’ replied the look-out.
‘ Gentleman-of-the-watcb!’ hailed the lieuten
ant. ‘report to the commodore, sir, a strange
sail right ahead?
‘The middy made his report, and came up
again, with orders to make all sail in chase.
* Aha!’ thought we, as we set stu’n’-sails alow
and aloft, though the breeze was rather too stifl
for them, ‘ now for some fun.
‘Old Ironsides took the hint, and gathering
way, we were off in no time at all, south-and
by-east, at ten knots an hour.
‘The look-out hailed in five minutes, ‘Ano
ther sail, right ahead, sir; close aboard the first
one.’
‘ This was reported to the commodore, and he
repeated the order to pull a heel after them; and
after them we went at a great rate, right before
the wind, which was so strong that the stu’n’-sail
booms bent like nothing, but the old man did
not care for that. ‘What she can’t carry, let
her drag.’ was his rule, and he stuck to it well.
‘After he had been spanking along about an
hour, the officer-of-the-deck hailed:
‘ Fore topsail-yard, there! What do you make
them out to be?’
1 Men-o’ war, sir, going large, stu n sans set,
says the look out.
‘This report, ‘two men-o’-wnr ahead’ then
spread thro’ the ship, in less in no time, and all
the idlers, watch-below, and every body came
on deck to have a squint at them; and the com
modore took a devil of a shot at them, through
his long spy glass, to make out where they hail
ed from. They were so far ahead that ire
couldn’t make out anything, so we watched old
Stewart, to see what he. thought.
‘He stood on the starboard cathead, squint
ing and squinting, till we thought he never would
knock-off. After a long spell at it, he shut up
the glass, and went along aft, talking to himself,
as if he was working up his dead-reckoning and
came to, at the horse-look. All of a sudden,
he brightened up, went down into the cabin, and
was on deck again in no time ut all, in full uni
form.
‘There,” says we, the old man has got his
fighting traps rigged, swabs and all. Now, then,
look out for hard knocks ank prize money.” j
“The officers took the hint, and, in ten mi
nutes, all hands of them were in fighting-togs,
and things began to look a little man-o’-wur
fashion.
‘ Well, we cracked on her, ring-tail, sky-scra
per, jib be-jib, and the d—I knows what not, and
went spanking off, at twelve knots an hour; but
tiie fellows ahead did their prettiest too, so that
it was three bells, in the first dog watch, before
we got near enough to make out much.
‘ We could then see very plainly, that one of
them was a cravatte, and t’other a sloop of war, 1
and they looked like Johnny Bull’s craft; so the
old man ordered a bow chaser to be fired, just
to make them look at us, for they were along
way out of shot; and when he had waked them
so, he sent up the old grid iron at the fore sky- ,
sail-mast head, so that they could see it plum. '
They answered a minute after, each a gun, and
sent up British colors!
* Now, boys,’ says we, ‘ for a brush;’ hut John
ny Bull did not think so, blit pulled heel all the
harder; but we gained on him, and ’twas very
plain we should overhaul him, so the word was
passed
‘Fore-and-aft, both sides, and amid ships, all
hands! Turn to and clean yourselves, white
frocks and trowers, to muster.’
‘Avast, Jack Dennison,’ says I, ‘what did
you put on your muster-clothes to fight in, for?
Get them spoiled and dirty, and some ugly holes
drilled in them, yire-haps.’
‘Short yarns youngster,’, growled Jack, ‘we
were going to meeting, as you Yankees say;
and so we rigged ourselves to put Johnny Bull’s
eyes out, if he looked our way.’
‘ Well, we cleared up decks, and got every
thing in fighting trim; arm chests on ceck, cut
lass-racks at the capstan, and forrad, put on the
gratings, rove preventer-sheet’s and braces,
slung the yards in chains, lashed the topsails,
sanded down the decks, and got every thing
ready in regular built style. When we were
within about 4 miles of the Englishmen, we
trained one of our bow chasers on them, and
let drive, just by way of opening the conversa
tion, ns my sweetheart used to say, but that did
not do much; but Johnny Bull, as if lie had just
thuugbt what we wanted of him, began to short
en sail, as if he was coming to us.
We were glad enough to see that motion, and
began to think he might lm a clever fellow after
all, and so shortened sail ourselves. But John
ny Hull was playing us a trick for when we got
under fighting canvas, and lost some headway,
he threw his men aloft and his sail being only
stopped up. and not half stowed, In* was under
all sail again in a minute. Hut old Stewart saw
what they were at, and they fom d that Yankees
could loose sail too, upon a pinch, for we were
under all sail almost as soon as they were, and
after them we went.
‘ The cravatte (we afterwards found she was
the Cyane, and t’other the Levant, and I’ll call
them so ’cause it’s shorter) began to blaze away
at us with her stern-chasers, but we told her no
thing, for firing bow-chasers deadens a ship’s
way, and we determined to put off that part of
the business till we got them alongside. So we
went on gaining on them ateverv plunge, when
all of a sudden, they began to shorten sail again.
‘ We began to take in sail too, for stu’n’ sails
are no things to go into action with, keeping an
eye on them for fear they would trick us again.
And, sure enough so it was; for, when w*e got
under topsails, topgallan’-sails and courses, they
both came up into the wind, gave us each a
broadside, and then made all sail to get away.
‘ That did not please us much, and we swore
some petty tough ones at them, and then gave
chase. This time we gained on them the same
as before, and coming nearer and nearer, they
saw they could not get away, and then they
shortened sail; and like true English bull-dogs,
got ready for whatever we chose to give them,
and to do their best to be Scotch prizes to us,
after all.
1 We shortened sail, stowingevery thingsnug,
for we saw they meant to fight it out this time,
and sent up ensigns at the fore, main and mi
jen, at the peak, and on the bowsprit; so that if
some were shot away, we should have some
hing to fight under still. But Commodore
Stewart, knowing the spunk of ns fellows, gave
^articular orders, not to nail them to the mast;
for he knew, as any one with brains would, that
way ot doing business was all folly. It was
he knew, an impossibility for Johnny Bull to
beat ns in fair fighting, yard-arm to yard arm
but then some accident might happen, and *
should be in a bight, il the signal-halyards '
would not render.
‘ The order wa9 obeyed by all except Pat
Flanagan, an Irish fore-topman, who was sent
aloft to set the ensign at the fore. He took up
some nails, and a marlin-spike for a hammer
and nailed the ensign to the flag-pole, in three
places.
‘ ’There,’ says Pat, as he came down into the
foretop, I’ll be d—d il that flag shall be struck
unless the mast goes by the board.’
‘ Then the drums beat to quarters, and as soon
as they had done, the saucy Englishmen repeat
ed the call with a full band, and rolled off with
‘ Rule Britannia,’ and, both luffing suddenly jn
the last strain, the music was drowned with the
thunder of two broadsides fired altogether
plump at us. I never heard such music belore!
and I hope I never shall again, especially in a
moonlight night.
* Then came the orders for bringing the ship
to action. Both batteries were cast loose, tom.
pions out. aprons off and loaded, with each a
round shot, a stand of grape and cannister.
Man both batteries!’ sung out the first luff;
! thev were manned.
1 Depress your puns for a close fire; wait for
the word of command; silence, fore-and-aft!’
* He stopped, and hardly breathed; ourdedi
were as still as death, and ns 1 was only about
eighteen years old and had never been in ac
tion, I began to feel a little streaked. I wassta
Honed at one of the quarter deck guns and n|
course could see every thing, and standing still
alongside my gun, l had nothing to think of,
but the question w’hether the flat fish would’nt
be dubbing their ugly noses into my carcass, at
the bottom of the sea, before long: and, I can tell
you, I felt a little queer, as the shut from the En
glishmen flew' around us: I did’nt like standing
still to be shot at.
‘ Right ahead, about a mile off, were thr
Cyane and Levant, under easy sail. The Levant
was a little a head of the Cvane, and as it was
bright moonlight, we could see every thing as
plain as day, and they blazed away at us with
stern chasers and quarter-deck guns at the same
time, hut we took no notice of it.
‘Wait for the word of command,’says the
first lutr, again; ‘ not a shot must be thrown
awa.y- .
• as we neareo iriern, meir mtr uuire
and hotter, till, when we were on the Cyane'
larboard quarter, the sea was all in a blaze.
•‘Port!’ hailed the first luff, in a voice so loud
that we heard it plain in spite of the English
men’s broadsides. Their game was to keej
both on our larboard, so that we shouid he obhg
ed to divide our larboard battery between them,
but Commodore Stewart knew better than that
‘ We passed the starboard side of the Cyane,
and lulled too, so that we should not rake them,
and then the first lieutenant hailed again,
•‘Mind the weather-roll-fire!”
“ Every cun aboard was fired the minute th<
word passed his tops; the larboard-battery inn
the Cyane and the starboard into the Levant
and as the kick of one battery met the kick ol
the other, the ship didn’t heel an inch, but
trembled like a leaf, from the keelson to th<
trucks. 1 never shall forget how I felt then: th<
noise of our batteries was enough to split a
man’s head open; but the most awful sound to
me was the crashing our shot made aboard the
Englishmen; it was as if every mast had gone by
the board; every shot told; and the yells of the
wounded! it makes my blood run cold to think
of it!
‘ They gave us as good as we sent, and tried to
rake us, but they found we could fight both
batteries, and work ship too; so at it we »epi
hammer and tongs; and shot and splintcisfie*
well, fore and aft.
‘I was loader of my gun, and as it vai
in the larboard battery, my mark was the Cyan?.
After we had been at it a little while, a round shot
took the man next me in the head, and dashed
his blood and brains all over me: but a*l my skit
tishness was gone after the first broadside, and
I did not mind this trifle at all.
•The next minute, as I had finished loadini
her and was stepping back, my left arm dropped
numb by my side. I felt of it, but there wasno
skin broken, nor so much as the sleeve of my
frock singed, but still I could not lift it; and I
’spose ’twas the wind of a shot passing close toil
‘ The Lieutenant of my division seeing some
thing was foul, told me to go below to the Doc
tor.
‘‘Iff do. I’m be d—d,’says I, touching my
hat so that he needn’t call it insolence, but I to<*|
my station at the train-tackle, for I could h :»»»■•
in and run out the gun with one hand, as wella«a
dozen; and the man I relieved took my po>ta>
loader, and in minute after a round shot cu<
him in two; so there was my luck.
‘ Well, after a while, the enemy’s fire bega*
to slack a little, and that made us workaway a
the harder, and pretty soon the Cyan** ban."
down her ensign, (guess ’twasn’t nailer! to
mast!) but the Levant made sail to get away.
old Ironsides fell ofrfrom the wind to bring
larboard broadside to bear on her. and gave ■
to her so solidly, that she, too, hauled down W
Hag.’
\V o gave them three cheers, and then.
being lowered, the Commodore sent a liruP'
ant and a prize crew aboard each of them.'
take possession of them, and receive their •'
render; for neither of them had a boat
would float, to send their captains aboard of91
‘ Well, we bore away towards Madeira.13 '
ing along easy, repairing damages; and
that was done, we spliced the main brace, i'
ll grog erer tasted well, it did then.
‘ About six bells, in the first watch, the
nant in charge of the Cvane hailed, to say tt^
he wanted the carpenter and his gang, lor
ship wassinking.
‘ Commodore Stewart answered the hail h.a
self, ‘ Tack ship, sir, and crowd all sail.’
‘This was just the thing. She had fought'
starboard battery, and that was the side cut »•
by our shot; tacking, and crowding ah
threw it clear out of water; so that the carp
ter had a fair chance at it, and old Nipton ,
chance at all. In an hour the lieutenant r. J^
report that every thing was snug again, a no
sailed quietly till morning; and then took ;
half of their men, and brought them aboar ■
Constitution, and manned them with our
We didn’t steal their dunnage, though, nor
se them, as I)ob says they did inthekn.
on, but let each man have his bag and hanu *'
the same as in bis own ship. . J
‘ We made Madeira in a couple of a*)*.
came to an anchor in Porto Praya. ana
to refit, and man thp Cyane and Levant j1’ ^
as we could, and still have men enough' ^
Ironsides. In a week we were ready 0 ^
and were lying quietly at anchor, when on
gy morning, a small craft arrived, anc\n(i
an English fleet ouside, coming in- e t
well enough that the English would no ^
straw for the Spanish neutrality, so we' ^
cables, and as the English prisoners j
in the way in a fight, we «cnt them ashore,