A British Privateer.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7816, 8 May 1905, Page 3

A British Privateer.

The early part of last century saw some magnificent feats purely the outcome of private enterprise "which would huve shed imperishable renown on any navy. What a British privatojr did off Calloa one August evening may only be forgotten to be remembered again. Site was u little. snip, named the Chance and was armed with 16 small guns, and manned by 91 picked men, brave to a fault. Night' was beginning to descend when a large ship, supposed to be a Spanish trader was descried bearing down on the friendly port of Lima, a few miles away. Anxlioiis to cut her off from her objective, the Chance, with the unscrupulousness of those times, ran up the Spanish flag and inquired the stranger's name. The ruse succeeded beautifully, and the privateer men, deeming deception of no further value, came out in their true colours, and demanded instant surrender, with a cannon ball to emphasise it. Hut they had made an awful mistake. The big vessel was no defenceless merchantman, but a ship of war and by way ot' answer a 'heavy battery of guns, twice the calibre of their own, thundered out. The littlo Chance, it was plain, was quite outclassed, and her. only hope lay in fighting the, big stranger on her own decks ere she could get into fighting trim. With a promptitude that took her foe by surprise, the little ship ran her bowsprit over the other's "quarter, and her gallant crew were soon 'scrambling aboard, spreading, dismay among the pikemen. Yet a moment's hesitation, and all would luave been lost. The bow guns, loaded with deadly grape and canister, were on the point of being discharged, and the boarders would have been literally blown to pieces*, when the situation was saved by the temerity of the leaders, who rushed the guns, while the fatal match was Hovering over the touch-tooles, and after a fight of great fierceness the ship was captured. So mortified were the Spanish authorities on the coast on hearing of this impudent capture at their very doors that they hurried out with all speed -to Lima a man-of-war, offering the crew £6O for every English* man brought in dead or alive. Alas for their hopes, their .warship never returned, for th» victorious Chance, alter a three hours' light, captured her loo.—Weekly Telegraph.