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deck-toxd as stones could be of very wide use against them. During the seneral Hustle I missed my own servant for a short time. When he returned to me he had made such a change in his appearance that I did not recongize him. He was Hlérdly ‘clothed ins rags, which he had borrowed from the sailors, All of whom had also put on their worst ‘clothes. When I asked him the reason of ‘this change in the oftward man, he told ‘Me the pirties only made those prisoners who had money, and where likely to pay handsomely for thevinsom;and that, they’ would not think it worth their while today hold of a man in Tags, » . ‘] was surrounded by several of the crew, who might well be called ‘Job's’ ‘comfort. ers,” some suggesting one thing and, some another, and many proposed that we should bring the junk back to the Min. .’ The near est pirate was, now within two or three hundred yards of us, and putting her helm ‘down gave us a broadside from her guns. All was now dismay and consternation’:on board our junk, as every man ‘ran below, except two who were-at-the- helm. ‘1 ex cted every moment that these also would see their post, and then we should have been an easy prey to the pirates. “My gun is nearer you that those on the randous,” I said to the two men, “and if you move from the helm, depend upon it, will shoot you. The poor fellows look ed very uncomfortable, but I suppose thought art had better stand the fire of the pirates than mine, and kept at their post. Large boards, heaps of old clothes, magis, and things of that sort which were at hand, were thrown up to protect us from the shot, and as we had every stitch of ‘sail set, and a fair wind, we were going through, the water at the rate of seven or eight miles, an hour. The shot from the pirates fell considerably short of us, and I was there fore enabled to form an opinion of the r Fange arid power of their guns, which was of sane use to me.” Assistance from our cowardly crew was quite out of the question, for there was not adnan among them brave enough to use the stones which had been brought on deck, and which, perhaps, might have been of some futtle use when the pirate came near er. The fair wind and all the press of sail we had crowded on the junk proved of no use; for our pursuers, who had much fast er sailing vessels, were gaining rapidly up on us. Again the nearest pirate fired upon us. The shot this time fell under our stern. I stil remained quiet, as I had determin ed not to fire a single shot until I was quite certain my gun would take effect. The third shot which followed his came whiz zing over our heads and through the sails, without, “however, wounding’ either the men at the wheel or myself. , The pirates now seemed quite sure of their prize, and came down upon us, hoot ing and yelling like demons, at the same time lending their guns and evident) de termined not to spare their shot.’ This was a moment of intense anxiety.’ The plan whicch I had formed from the first was now about to be put to the proof; and ‘if the m en were not the cowards which I bel ieved them to be nothing could save us from falling into their hands. Their fear ful yell seem to be ringing in my ears even now, after this lapse of time, and when I am _on the other side of the globe. The nearest junk was now within thirt yards of ours; their guns were now loaded, and I knew that the next discharge would completely take our decks. ‘‘Now,” Said to our helmsmen, keep your eyes fixed on me, and the moment you see me fall flat on the deck you must do the same, or you will be shot.” I knew that the pirate who was now on our stern could not bring his guns to bear upon us without putting his helm down, and bringing his gangway at right angles with our stern, as his guns were fired from the gangway. I therefore kept ‘ sharp eye upon’his hemlsmen; and the moment I saw him putting the helm down I ordered our steersmen to fall flat upon their faces behind some ‘wood, and at the same time did so myself. We had scarcely done so when bang, bang-went their guns, and the shot came whizzing close over us, splintering the wood about us in all directions. UFortunately none of us were struck. “Now, M., now they are quite close enough,” cried out my compani ons, who did not wish to have “on he r broadside like ‘the last.I, being of the same apistoe raised, myself above the high stern of our junk, and, while the pirates were not more than twenty yards from us, hooting and yelling, I raked their decks,, fore and aft, with shot and ball from ,my double-barreled gun. ‘ ’ Had a thunderbolt fallen among them they could not have been much more sur prised; doubtless many were wounded, and probably some killed. ‘ At all events, the whole of the crew, not fewer than forty or fifty men, who a mo ment before crowded the deck, disappeared in a marvellous manner. Another was now ‘boring down upon us as boldly as his companion had done,’ and commenced firing in the same manner. ’ Having been so successful with the first I determined to follow the same plan with this one, and to pay no“attention to his firing‘until he should come to close’ quarters. The plot now began to thicken, for the first junk had gathered way again,and was following in our wake, although keeping at a respect ful distance, and three others, although still a rather distant, were making for the scene of action as fast as they could. In the meantime the second was almost along side, and continued raking our decks in a steady manner with their guns. Watching their helm as before, we sheltered ourselves as well as we could; at the same time my two fellows, who were steering, kept beg ging and praying that I would fire into our aisuers 28 600n as possible, or we should all killed. As soon as they came with in twenty or thirty yards of us I gave them the contents of both barrels, taking their ‘ks aa before. This time the helmsman fell, and doubtless several others were wounded. In a minute or two I could see nothing but boards and shields which were held by the pirates to protect themselves from our firing; their junk went into the wind for want of a helmsman, and was soon just some distaste behind us . The foregoing does certainly not say much for Chinese native courage, either by the attacking or defending party. To cast the burden and peril of defence entirely up on one man, while his comrades sjink below out of harm's way, seems strange to west ern ideas of honor and courage. It is, how ever, truly typical of this extraordinary race. Adquitting and real danger the shunan.ohe would the plague, and it is only when the marauders of the sea over whelm their opponents simply by sheer forc of numbers that they are ever success ful in their evil designy, “If it were arrang ed for a few'smart European gunboats, to be constantly plying up and down, the Chia Sea,‘ and ‘their commanders were given powers to deal. summarily with all rascals caught in acts of piracy, there is but little doubt that the pirates ‘of Chinese waters would soon be extirpated, ‘ A Woman in perfect health, and possess ing luxuriant, tresses;lost. all her hair in one night. * Next day, se had her servant arrested for stealing It from off the bareni. A Flight for Life. Perhaps the most exciting experience Mr. . Garrison ‘ever did in this city, “says. the Philadelphia TV, was that attendant to his escape on the night of the Pennsylvania Hall riot (1888). ,. Shortly before that time the legislature of the state of Georgia had fenacted a hiw authorizing the payment of $5,000 for the head of Mr. Garrison, the object’ being ‘understood to be to incite sanig.one 10, take his life. By the way, it may be mentioned that the Jasy is still on the statute-books of the state, and never lay been repealed. Whether any sordid feelings animated,the riot or not it is im possible, of ‘course, to say, but: there is ‘scarcely any doubt that some of the people engaged in ‘it had that 25,000 in” their minds, and there is no doubt_s whatever that Mr. Garrison was the principle. object of the attack. . Fortunately he was not recognized at the halt. He,stood face to face with a man who breathed threats and ‘profanity. again at the Abolitionist who’ smiled at him, and called him foollish enthusiast. Had there been an identification Mr. Garrison would have swung from a lamp-post as certain as fate. His friends were much frightened for his safety, and under the pilotage of a little negro boy he was fed up the back streets and obscure alleys to Twelfth and Race, and subsequently by. Broad street ‘to Lombard, and then to Forten’s ‘house. When once he was in, the streets’ were pears in every direction, in ‘order that f the mob got on the trail he cule eee Then preparations were made for .a* mid night ride. Railroads were not of those days, and stage coaches were used for crevaling. But no stage coaches were used for Mr. Garrison. Tie was a marked man. Every man’s hand seemed to be against him, even as his was against slavery.He dared not travel by stage, for it would have been putting his life in the hands of people who wanted it very much indeed. Hastily James Forten ordered his horse hitched up, and calling to him his son, Robert’ Forten, and Robert Purvis, who afterward became his, son-in-law, he said: “You have four hours to drive Mr. Garrison to Trenton. Start it once.” It was in vain that the great, Abolitionist pie he would not steal away so ike a thief. His friends had measured the depth of hatred that was entertained for him, and knew better than that the danger was imminent. It was only by threats that he was finally induced to step into the carriage. Robert Forten seized the reins, a hasty “God bless you, good by,” and the carriage disappeared round the corner, turning northward. Ten minutes later, Mr. Garrison, leaning out to look at the crowd on the corner, heard a man abuse him, with oaths and appellations the reverse of complimentary. He leaned out further and called the’ man to him. ‘Do you know Mr. Garrison?” he asked. “No, I never saw the. “Well,” l said the Abolitionist, courting danger ‘by making himself prominent on the street, “are you not ashamed to abuse so much ‘ man you don’t know?” . The ‘carriage drove on. Mr. Garrison looked at the faces of his colored escort, and broke out in a loud laughter. They were so much affected that the pallor of fear came on to the black faces, and I could be seen there. Half an hour more the city was behind, and the sturdy little horse was throwing the dust behind, sand moving at a four-minute gait, dragging the buggy with the three men it contained. Before they left the city Mr. Forten called Robert aside and admonished him to push on for dear life and reach Trenton as early as possible. The Ind obeyed the in structions to the letter. They heard the midnight bell striking a they dashed through Bristol, leaving behind the echoes of the horse's hoofs and the rolling of the carriage wheels. The night coach to New York was caught up with and passed so fast that the guard is understood to have always afterward believed in ghosts. The clock struck one as the editor of the Lib erator set his foot on Jersey soil, in the streets of Trenton—the sturdy little horse had made the distance, thirty miles, and drawn three persons, in three hours. It was not until the next day that the howl ing mob found it had been cheated of its prey and they took characteristic revenge, making them negroes the object of their wrath.
Newspaper Details
Sturgeon Bay Door County Advocate
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, US
Sat, Oct 05, 1889
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Sincere S.
USA 12 Jun 2026
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