2
THE TIMES, NEW BLOOMFIELD, PA., AUGUST 21, 1877.
An Adventure with Pirates.
f TH YOU hear a hall, Mr. Adams,
j or was It the note of a sea-
"I hear nothing, Captain Williams.
You would scarce expect to meet with
any one midway In Honduras Bay."
"Very true, Adams; but these are
strange times for this part of the coun
try. They are in a state of excitement
and revolution half the time. The un
successful ones have to fly for their
lives. There there it is again. Hchooner
ahoy I It is some one adrift in a bont,
sure I Heave to, Mr. Adams, and we'll
see what It all means."
It was decidedly what, in nautical par-r-Vjance,
would be termed " a dirty night."
"The wind, in fitful gusts, blew directly
on shore ; the rain, in blinding showers,
drove full lirlhe faces of the seamen as
they strove to pierce' the impenetrable
darkness, which was rendered all the
more Intensd'by occasional vivid flashes
bt HCuTiTniK. A heavy swell had sud
denly set in from the eastward a sure
harbinger of a gale of wind.
The Falcon was a fleet sailing top
sail Bchooner, engaged in the Havana
trade some thirty years ago, owned and
commanded by Captain Williams.
Ellas Adams, the mate, was the true
type of a Down-Easter, and was in love
with the skipper's daughter a fact the
captain made no objection to.
The Falcon was a tolerable well-armed,
carrying a long nine-pounder forward,
and a sufficient number of small arms
to supply the crew in case of an attack
from pirates, who at that time abound
ed. -
"Here comes a boat full of men 1"
shouted the mate from forward, and the
next instant a long, unwieldly craft
dropped suddenly out of the murky
gloom, wrasplng and pounding along
side of the schooner.
Almost before Williams was aware of
It, fifteen as villanous-looking rascals as
ever shouted " Viva revolution 1" stood
on the deck of the pretty Falcon, all
talking, gesticulating, and shrugging
their shoulders at once.
. To say that Captain Williams was
startled, would but ill-express the alarm
and uneasiness which he felt. Hia weather-beaten
features assumed a pallid cast
"'neath the rim of his old sou'wester, as
lie held a lantern on high and scanned
the motley group before him.
" Who and what are ye," he demand
ed, " and what do yer want aboard of my
vessel?"
"Say the word, Captain Seth, and
I'll have clear decks 'fore you can
strike eight bells."
"No, no, Adams; it would be worse
than murder to turn them adrift in the
teeth of a gale of wind brewing. Listen
to what the spokesman says, in his bro
ken lingo."
Thny were adherents and supporters
of the Benor Amoreno, who at that
time was a prominent agitator in the af
fairs of his country. A popular demon
stration In his favor had been defeated.
They had been forced to fly for their
lives, and they now offered Captain Beth
Williams seventy-five dollars In gold,
per man, to land them on any of the
West India Islands, or the Spanish
main.
"What do you think of It, Ellas V"
said the captain, as he drew his stalwart
mate and son-in-law prospective to one
side. v
" Well, If it was me, I had sooner see
them out of the ship than in it. But as
long as they are here, why make them
show the color of their money. Then
keep a good lookout on them, and land
'em as soon as you get a chance."
Captain Williams at once mustered
the self-imposed passengers In the cabin,
who promptly paid their passage-money
without a murmur. They were given
quarters between decks, made as com
fortable as circumstances would admit,
and the Falcon proceeded on her way,
beating out of the bay.
Captain Williams had made up his
mind to land his passengers on the
Western extremity of Cuba, but events
occurred which caused him to radically
change his plans.
It was the second day of the passen
gers being on board. Everything was
quiet on deck, and the Falcon slipping
along with a fair wind, so Captain Wil
liams improved the opportunity to
straighten out his accounts, and count
over his outward freight money mount
ing to over thirty-flve hundred dollars
In specie.
Amid the metallic ring of the gold
and silver, as the coin slid rapidly
through his fingers, Captain Seth heard
a suppressed breathing. Looking quick
ly over his shoulder, he saw .a black
whiskered visage gazing through the
air port of his state-room. The instant
lie found himself detected the interloper
disappeared.
Captain Williams reported the suspi
cious circumstance to his mate, who
advised him to load up the small arms,
which he did quietly, while the money
was secured in canvass bags and stowed
In a secret locker attached to hia state
room. Later that afternoon a sail was re
ported off the weather-bow, and while
the captain went aloft to have a look at
the stranger, Ellas lounged carelessly
among the Hondureans.
The mate, with a shrewdness common
to the land he claimed aB his native
place, had disavowed all knowledge of
the Spanish language, when, on the con
trary, he was perfectly conversant with
It. The brave fellow never lost his pres
ence of mind, or allowed a muscle of his
face to betray the purport of the alarm
ing conversation that reached his
ears.
The fact of the gold and silver being
on board had been duly reported to the
gang, and with amazing coolness they
plotted the destruction of all on board.
Their deep-laid plans to seize the vessel
were to be put In force that very night,
all hands thrown overboard, and the
vessel run to the southward until the
Spanish main was sighted.
When Captain Seth reached the deck,
the mate cautiously Imparted the start
ling news to his superior, and measures
were at once taken to baffle the scoun
drels. Their plan of attack was as follows :
One of their number was to stretch him
self alongside the cabin skylight, with
instructions to take care of the ofllcer of
the watch by a thrust of a knife. An
other was to take up a position in the
rear of the man at the wheel, who was
to be pitched unceremoniously over
board. A third was to stand by the
cabin companion-way to brain the cap
tain as he came on deck to ascertain the
cause of the confusion. The remainder
of the gang were to go below as usual,
so as not to excite suspicion, but at the
signal, which was to be eight bells
(midnight), they were to rush on deck
and secure the watch. The remainder
of the crew, who would be sleeping be
low, would of course prove unresisting
victims.
The small-arm chest was secured to
the deck abaft the skylight, and after
taking from it half-a-dozen pistols and
as many cutlasses, Captain Seth and his
mate deliberately rammed home a wad
In the barrel of each pistol, thereby dis
abling the arms which the Hondureans
counted upon.
Plenty of ammunition was left, so as
not to excite suspicion, and then the
crew was carefully instructed in the
part they were to play. The cook filled
his coppers with water, which he kept
scalding hot; and as the galley was in
close proximity to the main hatch, he
was to sprinkle the scoundrels with a
liberal allowance as they rushed on
deck.
Captain Seth retired as usual, after
enjoining upon Elias to keep his weather-eye
lifting, if he ever expected to mar
ry his daughter.
Pistol in hand, the captain, enveloped
in the darkness of the cabin, waited for
the signal of attack to be given, glanc
ing cautiously at times up the narrow
companion-way where the dark form of
one of the passengers were discernible
keeping his murderous watoh.
It lacked an hour of eight bells ;
naught was heard save the steady tramp
of Elias as he walked to and fro, hum
ming a familiar Methodist air, or the
creak of the main-boom as the vessel
rolled to windward.
Suddenly, Captain Seth, who was re
clining on the transom, fancied he heard
a suppressed breathing in the cabin. He
listened intently; there was no mistak
ing the sound it was the long-drawn
respiration of a man crawling cautious
ly forward.
Captain Beth's pulse was beating a
rapid tattoo as he hurriedly struck a
match. The first gleam revealed the
form of a dark-skinned rascal, who
sprang to his feet with an oath ; at the
the same the glitter of a dirk caught the
skipper's sharp eye.
The match fell from his hand, but
before the burning fragment struck the
cabin floor the report of a pistol raug
through the ship, followed by a heavy
fall.
In an instant the silence which had
reigned on the Falcon was changed into
a perfect pandemonium. Shouts.screams,
oaths, and numerous jars, followed in
rapid succession, and in the height of
the confusion the excited captain bounc
ed on deck.
The pistol-shot had alarmed all hands,
the conspirators rushed up from below,
and were met by a copious shower of
scalding-hot water by the watchful
cook. Ellas had knocked one fellow
down, and pitched one stationed by the
companion-way over the rail. From
the gloom and obscurity astern the
man's voice was heard growing fainter
and fainter as he called for help. The
man at the wheel had seized his antac-
L onlst suddenly by the throat, holding
mm witn a grip or iron, while the two
watches, fulled armed, stood guard over
the main hatch.
The piratical plans had suddenly come
to grief, and unexpectedly, too, for all
hands.
One by oue the survivors were sum
moned from between decks, and forced
to enter the Falcon's boat, which Ellas
had hastily hoisted over the side, a pair
of oars were thrown In, but neither
water nor bread was given the howling
wretches by the stern mate, .
The Falcon filled away, shot ahead,
and the boat rapidly disappeared from
Bight, but the hoarse oath and curses
were heard for some time afterward.
Then, after the vessel was free from
the miscreants, Captain Seth and the
mate dove below to examine the cabin.
Stretched at full length on the floor
was oue1 of the late passengers, shot
through the heart. His muscular hand
still grasped the keetl-bladed dirk, while
the features were distorted by an ex
pression of such awful ferocity, that
both Seth and his mate could not repress
a shudder. What the man's object was
In penetrating to the cabin In advance
of the general attack was more than
they could fathom, but Elias supposed it
must have been a desire to conceal a
large share of plunder from his com
rades. The Falcon reached her destination In
safety, and before , leaving port Ellas
claimed the hand of his bride, when he
obtained, together with the command of
the Falcon.
As" for Cuptaln Seth, he lived he to a
ripe old age, and told the yarn over and
over again to the grandchildren who in
due time crowded about his knee.
A Corpse in a Rattlesnake's Den.
A dispatch from Great Beud, Pa., on Sat
urday, says : A singular discovery has just
been made iu the mountains, six miles
southwest of this place. A party of berry
pickers, numbering sixteen, while passing
through the mountains noar Susquehanna
station, on the line of the Erie Railway, on
Saturday Inst, had their attention directed
to a small clump of tushes near where
they wore picking berries, by the fierce
barking of a dog which accompanied them.
Two of the party, George Brink and Jo
soph Ililforty, went to see what the mattor
was. As they neared the dog.it barked more
furiously. Walking cautiously, they were
startled by a loud and continuous rattling
which suggested rattlesnakes. They did
not go any farther, but, marking the spot,
returned and informed the company. The
rest of the gentlemen, four iu number,each
seizing a club, followed Briuk and Hilferty
Into the thicket. The dog was still in the
same place, barking furiously. Club in
hand, the six descended a small declivity,
near the bottom of which they saw a terri
ble picture. Lying on stones and sticks
were huudreds of huge rattlesnakes coiled
and rattling fiercely.
The men, not caring to approach too
near, begau stoning the reptiles from a dis
tance. Tbey succeeded in killing thirty
nine, the rest, thought to have been several
hundred, making their escape into the
rocks and underbrush. Tho rattling hav
ing ceased, the vlotors walked up to where
the dead snakes lay, where, to their aston
ishment, they descried the dead body of
a man, apparently 40 years old, lying with
his face downward, between stones and
broken limbs of trees. He had undoubt
edly wandered into the den. Upon inquiry
it was ascertained that a crippled tramp
had passed through the neighborhood some
weeks before.
The Man Who was " Burning Up Inside."
When the excitement was at Its height
in Newark, O., last week, a stalwart cit
izen felt the necessity of bracing him
self up. The mayor had ordered the
closing of all saloons and driuklng
places, and the police had enforced the
regulations rigidly. But there was a
back door in Gingerbread row, and be
hind the bar there was long-range light
ning whiskey.
The stalwart citizen crept in, got his
drink and beat a retreat. ' Soon he was
overwhelmed with burning sensations
In his stomach. Something seemed to
be blazing there, and he burst Into a doc
tor's office, exclaiming, "For God's
sake, pump me out quick." " What Is
wrong with you V inquired the doctor.
" Get the pump ready while lam telling
you. I am burning up Inside. I took a
drink down on Gingerbread row. They
have put a job up on me. I am poi
soned." The doctor suddenly Interposed: "Why
l smell sometmngburnlngmyself;" and
opening the patient's walscoat found a
hole three Inches In diameter burned in
tho shirt-front. While the stalwart citi
zen was taking his drink he had dropped
a cigar stump between lils waistcoat and
shirt. "Didn't you smell smoke?"
asked the doctor. " You're right, I did:
but I thought It was coming out of my
moutn."
EST A curious will case is pending iu a
tsan t ranclsco court. Charles Patten died
In Ban Franoisoo several years ago, leaving
an estate valued at about $ 75,000, of which
be bequeathed but $5,000 to his wife, the
remainder of the property going to the
testator's children. Although tha widow
accepted the $5,000, she has filed a peti
tion in the probate court to be allowed one
half of the property, which she claims
she is legally entitled to under one statute,
the property having been acquired since
marriage. In opposing the granting of
this petition, the executors and several
heirs of the deceased, known as the Towne
heirs, set up a so-called marriage contract,
entered into between the petitioner and
the deoented in anticipation of their mar
riage, and the day before Its celebration in
Philadelphia. By this instrument it is
contracted between the parties that all
property acquired thereafter by the hus
band, in any manner, shall be his separate
property and subject to testamentary dis
position by him. It is stated that the
petitioner contests the validity of the in
strument both by reason of its terms and
because of the non compliance With the
statute of the state of California with
regard to its execution. There remain
about $70,000 of the estate to ho distributed.
SUNDAY READING.
THE BIBLE.
WHO COMPOSED the following de
scription of the Bible we may
never know. It was found In West
minister Abbey, nameless and dateless,
but nevertheless, it Is invaluable for its
wise and wholesome counsel to the race
of Adam :
A nation would be truly happy If It
were governed by no other laws than
those of this blessed book.
It contains every thlug needful to be
known or done.
It gives instruction to a Senate, au
thority and direction to a magistrate.
It cautions a witness, requires an im
partial verdict of a, jury, and furnishes
the Judge with his sentence.
It sets the husband as the lord of the
household, and his wife as mistress of
the table; tells him how to rule and
her how to manage.
It entails honor to parents, and en
joins obedience on children.
It prescribes aud limits the sway of
the sovereign and the power of the
ruler, and the authority of the master;
commands the subject to honor and the
servant to obey, and promises the pro
tection of the Almighty to all that work
by this rule.
It gives directions for weddings and
burials.
It promises food and raiment and limits
the use of both. ,
It points out a faithful and unfailing
Guardian to the departing husband and
father ; tells him with whom to leave
his fatherless children, and whom his
widow Is to trust ; and promises a kind
father to the former and a husband to
the latter.
It very implicitly forbids a guardian
to steal not his ward's honest money,
and never urge upon him the dark side
of the picture of mother earth.
It teaches a man to set his house in
order, and how to make his will, it
appoints a dowry for his wife and en
tails the right of the first born, and
shows how the young branches shall be
left.
It defends the right of all, and reveals
vengance to every defaulter, over reach,
er, aud trespasser.
It is the first book, the best book.
It contains the choicest matter, gives
the best instruction, affords the greatest
degree of satisfaction and pleasure that
we have ever enjoyed.
It contains the best laws and most
profound mysteries that were ever
penned, and it brings the very best
comforts to the inquiring and discon
solate. It is a brief recital of all that is to
come.
It settles all matters in debate, re
solves all dpubts, and eases the mind and
conscience of all their scruples.
It reveals the only living and true
God, and showing the way to him, sets
aside all other Gods, and describes the
vanity of them and all that trust in
such ; in short it is the Book of laws to
show the right and wisdom that con
demns a folly and makes the foolish
wise, a book of life, that shows the way
from everlasting death.
It contains the most ancient antiqui
ties, strange events, wonderful occur
rences, herolo deeds and unparalled
wars.
It describes the celestial, terrestlal,
and Infernal worlds, and the origin of
the angelio myriad, the human tribes,
and the devilish legions.
It will instruct the most accomplish
ed mechanic and the most profound
scholar.
It teaches the best rhetorician, and ex
ercises every power of the most skillful
arithmetician, puzzles the wisest an
atomist, and confounds the subtlest
critic.
It is the best covenant that ever was
agreed on ; the best deed that was ever
scaled the best that will ever be signed.
O" Kindnesses do not always produce
what we expect; from a hand which we
hate they are offenses ; the more we lav
ish upon one' whom may hate us, the
more arms we give him who wishes to
betray us. CorneiUe.
MAN WHO ARE SUFFERING
from the effects of tha warm weather unil am
debilitated, ra advised bv physicians to take
moderate amounts of whisky two or three
times during the day. tn a little while those
Who adopt this advice frequently increase the
number of ' drinks" and In time become con
firmed Inebriates. A bevernpe which will not
create thirst for Intoxicating liquors, and which
uiLcuucu BBiieviHiiy ior me ueneut or deulll
tnted persons, whether at home or abroad, la
Dr. Bcbenck's Sea Weed Toulc. Containing
the lulces of many medicinal herbs, this prep
aration does not create an appetite for the In
toxicating cnp. The nourishing and the life
supporting properties of may valuable natu
ral productions contained In It and well-known
to medical men have a most strengthening In
fluence. A single bottle of the Tonlo will
demonstrate Its valuable qualities. From de
bility arising from sickness, over-exertion or
from any cause whatever, a wine-glass full of
Bea Weed Tonlo taken after meals will
strengthen the stomach and create an appetite
for wholesome food. To all who are about
leaving their homes, we desire to say that the
excellent effects of Dr. Bcheck'i seasonable
remedies, Bea Weed Tonic, and Mandrake
Pills, are particularly evident when taken by
those who are Injuriously affected by a change
of water and diet. No person should leave
home without taking a supply of these safe
guards along. For sale by all Drugglsts.JSl lm
M
USSER & ALLEN
CENTRAL STORE
NEWPORT, PENN'A.
Now offer the public .
A RARE .AND ELEGANT ASSORTMENT OF
DRESS GOODS
Consisting sf all shades suitable for the season.
BLACK ALP AC CAS
AND
Mourning Goods
A SPECIALITY.
BLEACHED AND UNBLEACHED
MUSLINS,
At various prices,
an endless selection of prints1
We sell and do keep a good quality of
SUGARS, COFFEES & SYRUPS
And everything under the head of
GROCERIES !
Machine Needles and oil for all makes ol
Maohlues.
To be convinced that our goods are
CHEAP AS THE CHEAPEST,
IS TO CALL AND EXAMINE STOCK. .
No trouble to aliow goods.
Don't forget the
CENTRAL STORE,
Newport, Perry County, Pa.
$10
. TO
$25
DAT t
MADE by Agents In cities and conn
try towns. Only necessary to show
samples to make sales and money, for
any one out ot employment and dispos
ed to work. Used dally by all business
men. Bend 8 tump for circular, with
prices to agents. Address
, " SPECIAL AGENCY,"
Kendall Building, Chicago
jEATHER &C
THE subscriber has now on band at
IiOW FKICE8,
Good Sole Leather,
Kip of Superior Quality,
Country Calf Skins,
French Calf,
LININGS, ROANS, &c.
F, Mortimer,
NEW BLOOMFIELD, PA.
TRESPASS NOTICE Notice Is hereby by irlv
reiu t0. .!" P8"'? ot to trespass on the
grounds of the undersigned, situite Iu Madison
and Jacksou townships, by picking berries, nsti
luK. huuting, or otherwise IrespaiTslUH. a? they
Will lm riul? with idi-., i!.... " lueJ'
V.T - -. Hwuiuuig j tan.
Sol. V. Gbet (
J. B. Coup ;
SOLOMON BoWBBt
1). Johnson
W. B. Gkat i
Anuhkw Thostlb 1
8. 0. Smith j
June 19, 1877. pd
Isaac Hollenbacoh ;
Mas. Sarah Stamuaugh :
James A. Anderson :
Jkkkmuii Bench ;
James Woods,
D. Stamuauoh;'
T ADP8 AND CHILDREN will find ft
JU splendid assortment of thee at the one
price ttore of F. Mortimer.
V.