by Bob Kranich
Wrecker’s Tale, (Part 6, Excerpt 57)
This is a new story, titled “Wrecker’s Tale”. Captain Dan Benson is the captain of a two-masted schooner , the Jenney Mae. His schooner is used to take his pineapples from his plantation to market and also wrecking. Wrecking means he will go out to a shipwreck and save people, ship, and cargo. It is an additional lucrative business because of the many storms and the reefs along the Keys. He and his sailing crew are returning from Cuba after purchasing pineapple slips to plant. As they leave Cuba a pirate ship follows behind, just out of sight, stalking them.
Wrecker’s Tale
Sloops are single-masted sailing ships. They are on the same lines as a schooner, but they are usually smaller. They are very fast in pursuit or being pursued. They are easy to operate because the sails are worked from the deck, no climbing up. A schooner uses the same method of controlling the sails. Because they are easy to operate, it takes only a small crew. That leaves the rest of the men to operate the guns. They are also of a shallow draft, depending on the size and weight. They only need approximately four to six feet of water to operate in, much less than a schooner.
This sloop had a few more men than were needed. There was a reason: It was to man the single lightweight four-pounder cannons on each side. The ports for these guns were disguised by paint and decorations. This boat also had front and rear swivel-cannons that shot a one-pound ball or a handful of grape. These four swivel-cannons were permanently mounted on the rails, two per side. The actual swivel grips, small cannon balls, grape shot, and power were stored in an arms chest just below the rails.
One man could fire a swivel-cannon, and the layout allowed two swivel-cannon and one four pounder to bear on either side at any time.
On the pirate’s ship:
“She’s going through the channel, Captain,” the First Mate said.
“Keep yer eye on ‘er Carlos,” Captain Gomez ordered.
“Where we gonna do her in, Captain?” Carlos asked.
“Not on this crossing. We’ll follow her. I’m sure there’s more silver where they got what they bought those pineapple sticks with. No, we’re out for bigger fish! Now don’t lose‘er. But stay back so she doesn’t suspect.
“Aye aye, Captain!”
“Now look lively you swabs! Trim those sails! Tighten up the main stays!” Captain Gomez hollered at his men.
It was a motley crew. These thirteen men had been on Gomez's sloop the last two years. Even though most of the pirates were obsolete by the late 1850’s, Gomez and his men refused to believe it. There hunting grounds were the entire Cuban island. After all there were 3,750 miles of coastline and over 200 bays and harbors. Plenty of places to hide. They would pick on smaller boats and rob them. Then they would sail the small ship somewhere they could sell it or if not they would burn it. After all, the old pirate motto is, “Dead men tell no tales.”
It was well into the afternoon. The sun was bright, and fluffy clouds were drifting overhead. The captain came out from his cabin below.
“We’re more than halfway, Sir,” John said to the captain. “See the color of the water. It is almost deep purple.”
“Sure is pretty, John. We haven’t got our north wind and the rough seas. But you can see and feel the Gulf Stream. It’s taking us, we won’t need the gaff sails.”
John commanded, “Men, we can lower both the Gaff sails.”
They dropped both sails and one of the men climbed to the small top perch on the main mast, “Sail Ho!” he hollered.
“Who’s that?” the captain asked John.
“It’s Roberts, Sir. He wanted to look around, and I let him.”
“What do you see, Roberts?” John asked as he and the captain both looked up.
Roberts came down, a small telescope hung about his neck. “Sir, I thought I saw something this morning. So soon as I could I clum up there and shure enough I saw’er. Sir, she is fifteen degrees off the starboard stern. She is a sloop. If I’m not mistaken she’s been at that position since we left the Havana light. She can see us better than we can see her. We’re taller.”
“Let me borrow your glass, Roberts. I’m going up to take a look.”
John climbed up the shrouds which were on the sides of the schooner supporting the masts. When he got to the perch he put his arm around the mast to steady himself as he looked through Robert’s telescope. After a few minutes he scurried down.
“Just like Roberts says, Sir. She’s back there. About a fifty-foot sloop. Good size!”
“Well John, let’s see if she’s really following us. Put on every sail, the fore and main gaff and the jib. We’ll give her a run for the money!”
“Carlos, what’s going on?”
“Captain they must ‘ave put on some more sail. She is pullin’ away from us. I wonder if they're up to us?”
“Hey you there, Smithe.”
“Yes sir, Captain.”
“Have the men unfurl the square rigging.* Carlos, we’ve got to stay up with the schooner. She’s all out!”
“Let’s go men! You heard the capt’n,” Carlos commanded.
Late afternoon turned into dark evening with both ships racing into the void.
“Morning, Sir. We’re approaching Key West harbor,” John said as pleasantly as he could as he woke the Captain.
“Thank you, John. I’ll be right on deck.”
The captain splashed some water on his face, put on his cap and went up to the deck.
“John, we’ll anchor in the harbor. We’ll just be overnight. Tell the men they can have leave just as soon as we’re shipshape. But remind them we’re leaving early in the morning and for them to be in good condition. We’ve got a lot of pineapple slip planting to do. John, if I can find what I’m going-a-looking for, I’ll send it out to the boat late this afternoon.”
Have a couple of men row me in, John, and take care.”
“Benjamin! Roberts! Longboat for the captain. If you please.”
“Thank you, Benjamin, Roberts. I appreciate the ride.”
The captain stepped up onto the wharf. He went straight over to a door in the nearest warehouse. Then he went into the office where there was a wooden well-used counter. Ropes and block and tackles hung about with every other type of ship’s hardware.
May I help yea, Sir?” the clerk asked.
“Yes, I’m inquiring about my good friend, Master James. Is he in?”
“Just one minute Sir. Whom shall I say is calling?”
“Captain Dan...Dan Benson.”
The clerk knocked on a door, then respectfully put his head in, “A Captain Dan Benson to see you, Sir.”
A boisterous voice came from within. “Captain Dan, send him in.”
Captain Dan stepped past the clerk, “Thank you kindly,” he went inside. “Hello good Master James. How are you faring? You look shipshape!”
“I’m faring very well, Dan, It’s been a while. If I remember correctly I saw you last when you brought in the wrecking merchandise from the last ship that hit the rocks on up the Keys. That’s been about five months ago. What can I do for you? How can I help you?”
“James, this is kind of an unusual request. I know that with the Navy around we shouldn’t have to be arming ourselves. But we were followed out of Cuba. It may have been Cuban pirates. “Do you have any swivel guns? I want four, the grape and powder and what ever else I need.”
From the Author:
My second full-length book , Florida Keys’ Watercolor Kapers is composed of 336 pages. There are 12 stories running from 6 pages to as many as 72 pages. It is fully illustrated with 88 watercolors and sketches. The watercolors I made roaming around Key West after I finished my 750 mile hike from Georgia to Key West. (See book or Don Browne’s South West Florida Online News records, A Walk Across Florida.) As you read these stories you will experience Key West, the Keys, and the Caribbean. These stories span the time of the early 1800’s to 1969.
bkranich.wixsite.com/bobkranich
