TRAGEDIES OF THE SEA.
BARQUE PATRICK HENRY
ATTACKED SY A PIRATE— CAPTAIN TUTTLE SHOWS FIGHT.
And Slaughters a Boatload of Cut-throats.
The Patrick Henry, an' American > sailed from ■ New York m 1813, 'bound for Curacoa, an island m the West Indies, When nearingher destination she was attacked by a crew 'of desperadoes. The Patrick Henry was commanded by Captain Tuttle, one qj the old school of shellbacks, and the crew were about as daring as they m ado them m those bad old days. The skipper and m/any of his men fought m the American War of Independence, so they were not exactly tyros m the art of warfare. One passenger only was being .carried, and he also did his share in' rebelling the onslaught of the pirates. The following account was given by him :— I was sitting alone m the cabin .when Captain Tuttle came down' and told me there was a vessel just appearing on the horizon to windward, and asked me to go, and see what she was, for he could not make her out at all. I went on deck, mounted Into the maintop, and BEGAN MY SCRUTINY. "Well, ,what is she ?" asked the captain from the deck. "I can hardly ,make her out, but I think she's a schooner.' 1 "What's her course?"
"South-west by south, I think ; * ahout the. same as ourselves." I remained' in the top for a few minutes, and continued looking at the stranger. "She seems fonder of the sea then I am." I continued, "for she might; have her topsails and topgallants all set, instead of slipping along under her Tower sails." Tuttle made no answer, b.iftf £ poked hard 'at her with his naked 'eye. I now saw through my. glass a white speck above her foresail, flapping against the mast. "Well," I said, "she must have hoard me, for there goes her foretopsail." . The captain now went to the com* panioh for his telescope, and after looking at h't-r for a while, "WHAT'S THAT ? f: HE ASKIED. "Is that her sq.uaresa.il she's setting ? I can't very well soe from the deck." I looked a-gain. "Yes. 'tis rbi squaresail ;*, as I'm alive she's changed her course, and ;is bearing down upon us." But by this time the captain had mounted the rigging, and was standinir beside me ; he was eveinp: the distant vessel keenly. After having sa+isfied himself, he asked me to go with him to the cabin, as he wished to talk with me al^ne. We descended to the deck, and I' followed him to the cabin. He motioned me to a seat, and-, after shutting the' door, said. "I rather expect THAT FELLOW'S A PIRATE."' "Pirate ?" I asked m alarm. "Yes. I say pirate, and I tell you why. In the first place, you see, Irc'd no business to be sneaking along .m tbat do-little sort of a way, as when we first saw him ; whoever,
that bad any honest business to 'do, would allow sucfe a fine breeze to go by without showing more canvas. Next, you see, what the mischief has he to do with us, that, as soon as he clapped eyes on us, be must alter his course, and be so anxious to get out Ms square-sail ? No use talking; the only thing is what shall we do ? The Patrick Henry ain't a clipper, and that 'ore blackguard will walk up to us like nothing. If we let them board, it's most likely well all
WALK THE PLANK, so we'd better try to lceppi 'em out.. We've only got an old rusty carrpn- . ade and two six-pounders, a/nd I don't believe there's a ball on board, we came off m such a hurry. There's two muskets and an old regulation rifle down m my state-room. But our ship's as handsome a looking craft as you'll see ; and couldn't wo try to fripjhten that cuiHthroaiHookifcig rascal ? •I confess . I was at first startled at . the 'captain's opinion of the strange sail ; but bis cool and collected manner impressed me with confidence m his management, and I told him toe x knew best what we should do. "I have it," he cried ; "I'll iust go on deck to put things m order, and m the meantime you'd better amuse yourself looking out your pistols, for if lie won't be content with a look [ at us '
WE'LL HAVE TO FIGHT." I hurriedly took my fowling-piece and pistols from their cases. I -loaded them all with ball, and m eacii of the pistols put a brace ; this done, I went on- deck, where I found the captain surrounded by his crew, telling them his ( suspicions and plan or action. "Mavbe/' said he, "we'll have to fHit ; if them scoundrels have a msnd ,to try us, they'll send a boat o^h^jijrd, and I want to know if vou'li help me to keep 'em off. T&u sec it's most likely they'll make you walk" the pjank ?t whether tou 'fight or not. : "i theyAget gJrlfbaTd; ami 1 calculate, if-yoii d'tf 'lust as I tell WE'LL FRIGHTEN 'EMr Now, we'll , not sho|| stitch of canvass,'/ £ut'; seem*- \io take no more notice ' ! 6'fth'at ! 'fell6yr than if we didn't see him ; and if he does try to come aboard, then .we'l^ s>how 'cm what we can do." The crew were sopn busy, m obedience to his orders, cutting up a spare foretopgallant-mast m logs of about four feet long. These were painted black, with a round spot m the centre of one end, so -as to bear a tolerable resenvblance to pieces of cannon, and with the two old sixpounders, were' placed, one at each port, on our deck, five on a side. The ports were to be kept closed until the captain gave the order to open them., when they were to be raised quickly and the logs thrustout about a foot. 'A platform was then made on the top of the long-
boat, which was fixed between the fore and main-masts, and the carronade, or fourteen-pounder, was hoisted up. These things being arranged, the captain went below.
In the meantime we had been standing on pur course, and had not shifted or hoisted a single sail, but were as nerfectly regardless of the sohooner. Not so with her, however. Onward she.' came right before a snrart breeze, yawing from side to side, at one moment sinking stern foremost into the (trough of the sea, as an enormous wave rolled out from under her, and at the next forced headlong onwards by its successor, while a br«ad white sheet of fpaon spread out around her, giving beautiful relief to the jet-black color of her hull, testifying how rapidly she was going -Rirough the water. J could not help thinking of the captain's expression, for she certainly did "walk up to us like, nothing," and as there appeared not' much time to lose, I went down to the cabin to assume my weapons. The captain was there arranging some papers, and a bottle was before him; • irato which he had put a letter, * 'Maybe," said he, "something' ll happen to me ; for if them 'ere bloods thirsty wretches won't be cheated I shall be the fir§t to suffer ; and natural enough too, for all the mischief they'll suffer will be by my orders, iust because I didn't like to be overhauled like an old tarpaulin by every rascal that chooses to say 'Hfeaveto,' on the high seas. But never mind ; only; should you tescape, just drop the battle and letter overboaxd, if you think you can't deliver it yourself."
I had never seriously considered the probability that I might also be killed, for I though that the captain intended to throw open his ports and show his sham feuns, and that' the schooner would 'take fright. But when he began to talk about death m such a serious strain, I be&an to feel very uncomfortable, and not being naturally a warrior, I wished myself anywhere else than on board the Patrick Henry. There I was, however, without a chance of escape; and 1 suggested to the captain; that it would be as well for me to pu* a letter into the bottle also, m case of any accident to both of us. This was agreed to ; and we arranged that if either survived, and had the opportunity. the letter
OF THE UNFORTUNATE should be safely forwarded, to its? destination. After this little piece of preparation, the captain took me 1 by the hand and said : —
"You are a passenger, and should be under my protection, yet I ask you to share my danger. I wish someone to stand by me on the platform and help me to manage the swiw? Hands are scarce, and I don't lciiow where else*to place von."
I instantly agreed., We .went on deck, and the men were still' hanging about waiting for orders. They •were soon given. The cooper and the, carpenter were ordered to bring up all hatches and other ojfensive and defensive weapons and with the muskets and rifle, these were distributer) among the crew, who were told to use them m , repelling any attempt to board.
The schooner had now- come down within half-a-mile of vis, when she suddenly took down her square-sail, and hauled her wind, to have a look at us. I dare say she did not know what to make of our seeming indifference. Presently a cloud of smoke burst from her side, and. A BALL CAME" SKIPPING over the water, and passed astern of us. ' f A ball of bunting flew up to the end of our mizzen-peak, rested an instant, and fluttered out into the; American ensign. The smoke drifted away from the schooner, and she ran up at her gaff the ensign of the Columbian Republic. ■Rn nicely were the words out of his mouth when another ' columai of smoke burst from the schooner,' and another ball came skipping along towards us, but catching a swell it plunged m, and we saw. no more of it. / "That fellow, now, I take it, is a good shot, so we'll not wait for another. Clue up the main-sail, boys ; haul aft the main-braces ; clue up the fore-sail; luff her, men, luff her a little more— steady," burst from pur captain's mout^.. The orders were obeyed with the quickness of a well-disciplined crew, and our ship was hove-to.
"Now, my lads, take your stations four to each port, on the weather side, but do nothing till I tell. ye." The men took their stations as directed by each log on the weather side, and I followed the captain to the platform where OUR CAR/RONADB WAS MOUNTED. It was loaded to the muzzle with •hits of iron, miusket-toalls, lumps of lead, and various other missiles. The schooner hove-to, and a boat was lowered, and crowdedi with men. It approached rapidly, pulled by eight rowers. The muzzle of our carronade was depressed as much as possible, and made to bear on the water about flftv yrds from the skip. The captain stood with his speakingtrumpet m one hand, and a "handspike, with which he shifted the position of the gun as required, m the other. The schooner's boat approached, and was pulling to get alongside, "Now, sir, keep steady, and obey my orders, coolly," said the captain m an under-tone. " Boy, fetch the iron that's heating m the galley— run !" The boy ran and returned with the iron-rod heated at one end, which was handed to me. "When I tell you to fire— fire." The captain now hailed the boat, which was within a hundred yards of us. "Stop— no nearer, or I'll blow you all out of the water. Keep off, keep off, or, I say, I'll—*—" a At that instant the man at the bows of the boat, who appeared to take the command, gave an order, and a volley from several muskets was fired at us. I heard the bai|s hit about mve, and turned to look for the captain. He was on one knee ■behind the cannon, and holding it by the breech. "Why. captain ! what's the matter ? Are you hit ?" i He rallied. "Nothing— they're con> injs !" He gave another hoist to the Rtra, cast his eye hurriedly along the barrel— "FIRE, AND BE QUICK !" I needed not a second bidding, for the boat was close alongside. The smoke burst from the touch-hole with a hiss, and for an instance I thought the gun had missed fire, but m the
next it exploded with a tremendous report that deafened me.
"Throw open your ports, boys, and show them your teefch," roared the captain.
In an instant every port was up, and our guns, protruded their muzzles. As the smoke was borne away to leeward, a scene of destruction burst upon my sight. The cannon had been most truly pointed, and its contents had shivered the boat, killing or wounding almost every person m her.
The stern of the boat had been carried completely away, and it was sinking by the- weight of the human ; beings that clung to it. As it gradually disappeared the miserable wretches struggled forward to the bows, and with horrid screams afnd imprecations battled for a moment :for what little support it might ! yield. THE DEAD AND THE DYINGi were floating and splashing around ! them, while a deep crimson tinge showed how fatal had been that discharge. Ropes were thrown over, and everything done to save those who were not destroyed by the can-non-shot, but only three out of the boat's crew of twenty-four were [saved ; the. greater number went [down with the boat to which they | clung.
The whole scene of devastation did not last ten minutes, and all was again quiet. The bodies of those who had been shot did not sink, but were driven by the -wind and sea against <tbe side of the ship. From some the blood was gently oozing, and floating around them "; others, stiff m the convulsion m which they bad died, were grinning or frowning. WITH HORRIBLE EXPRESSIONS. One body, strong and muscular, with neat white trousers, and a leathern girdle m which were stuck two pistols, floated by, but the face was gone ; some merciless ball had so disfigured him that all trace of humian expression 'was destroyed. He was the pirate captain.
The schooner lay r to for a few minutes after the destruction of her boat ; and whether alarmed at our appearance, or horrified at the loss of so many of her men, I know not, but she slipped her fore-sail and stood away' as close to the wind as possible. We saw no more of her.
The excitement oiS the scenes we had just passed through prevented our missing the captain ; but so soon as the schooner bore .away, all naturally expected his voice to give some order for getting agajn under weigh. But no order came. Where was he ? The musket discharge from the boat, with the unearthly vjoice that conveyed the orders for the ports to be Vhrown open, flashed across my mind. I ran to the platform. The captain was there, lying on his face Preside the gun. "THE CAPTAIN'S KILLED »» 1 cried, and stooped to raise him, and Qic was t-aken below, and carefully laid on a sofa. "Out open- my waiscoat— 'tis here." said Captain Tuttle. A mouthful of blood stopped his utterance, but he paintocl to his right side. I wiped his mouth, and we cut off Ms waistcoat as gently as possible. There was no blood, but on removing his shirt wo discovered that a musket-ball had struck him, and there being no outward bleeding. I feared the . worst. External lv it was trifling—the fatal wound was Within. The sufferer motioned for all to leave him but me, and calling me to his side— "I feel," he said, "that '-'I .am dying. The letter— promise me that you will a^et it forwarded ; 'tis to my poor wife. 'Tis hard to be struck BY A VILLAIN'S HAND." I promised that I would deliver the letter myself when I returned to New York from Curacoa. } "When you see my Helen and child," he went on, ■ "tell them that their husband and father died thinking of them. This ship and cargo are mine, and will belong to mv family."
A sudden flow of blood prevented his sayinpr more. I tried to relieve him by change of posture, but x m vain. He rallied for a moment, and then ceased to breathe. The body of Captain Tuttle was next day commdtted to the waves, amid the tears of all, \ and our voyage was prosecuted to an end without further interruption.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTR19080502.2.49
Bibliographic details
NZ Truth, Issue 150, 2 May 1908, Page 7
Word Count
2,791TRAGEDIES OF THE SEA. NZ Truth, Issue 150, 2 May 1908, Page 7
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