Florida Keys’ Watercolor Kapers
by Bob Kranich
Wrecker’s Tale, (Part 8, Excerpt 59)
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 running a load of pineapples through the Caribbean and up to New York. Two pirate ships are about to attack them.
Wrecker’s Tale
As soon as the slips were unloaded, the boat crew started planting and the land crew went down to Plantation Key to harvest pineapples.
At the end of the second day, Captain Dan asked, “What do you think, John, we’ve about got it all planted.”
“Yes, Sir. Benjamin has got a couple men on the last two rows. It’s looking good. Here they come now, Sir. They’re a tired looking crew.”
Captain Dan stepped towards the men and waved. “Men, you’ve done real fine. Climb up on the wagon, and let’s get back to the cabin. We’ll clean up and eat. I hope the cook is ready!”
While eating, John said to the Captain, “The schooner should be arriving soon. Sir, do you want me to make the wagon ready?”
“Yes John, and tell you what. Have our boat crew get any belongings they may need. Tell them that we’ll sleep on board this evening and leave at first light. I appreciate the fact that they have worked hard. But they know as well as I do we’ve got to move those pineapples to market.”
“Aye aye, Sir! We’ll be ready to leave on the half hour!”
The horse, wagon, and boat crew pulled up to the dock.
John said, “Look Sir, the schooner’s already in, and there be the sloop coming through the channel.”
One of the schooner’s longboats was just pulling off. They could see Jonathan standing up in the boat. His men were dipping the oars. They guided up to the dock and tied up.
Jonathan said, “Hello, Captain, John. Hi, men.” His men grabbed their duffels and headed towards the wagon.
“How’s it look, Jonathan?” Dan said.
“Very fine, Sir. A right good-looking batch of pineapples,” Jonathan exclaimed, “I do hope the cook has a bit of grub for us.”
John said, “He’s holding up for you. It was a real fine meal!”
“One thing, Captain. Did you and the crew just arrive? I mean did you have anyone up here before you just arrived on the wagon?”
“The reason I ask is as we were coming through the channel, Roberts there had his glass trained on the harbor and thought he saw two figures on the pier.”
“That’s right, Sir. Two of ‘em, they was. You know I got a good glass. Just like I saw that sloop,” Roberts piped in. “Beg your pardon, Sir.”
“Thanks, Roberts,” Captain Dan said, “Jonathan, as soon as Roberts gets his eating and cleaning done, bring him back. We’re going to need him to go a’sailin’ with us.”
“Thank ye kindly, Sir,” Roberts said with a grin.
“Jonathan, keep a sharp eye. We will too. Could be those pirates that followed us out of Cuba. I’ll post a watch tonight. You do the same. After we leave make sure a couple of men are out here on the boats keeping a good lookout. Better arm them. Now we best get out to the boat, and you get your men up to the cook shack.”
As the long boat pulled up to the schooner they hailed the sloops crew. They were heading towards the pier, a waiting wagon, and a well-deserved supper.
As they climbed on board they could smell the aroma of fresh fruit. It was a quiet night. The schooner rocked in gentle swells. Dan had the men take a ship’s watch, two men every two hours. It was an uneventful night.
About five a. m., Captain Dan said to John, “How about we rustle the men out. Get the cook to making some coffee, and we’ll get some wind in these here sails.”
“We’ll use the jib, foresail, and the mainsail through the channel. After we get out into the deep water then put them all on and we’ll get to cracking!”
“Aye aye, Sir!” John acknowledged.
It was about an hour into their trip, “Sail, Sir!” Roberts hollered down from the perch on the main mast. “She’s up ahead. Just came out of the harbor on portside. There’s another, it’s smaller. If I’m not mistaken, Sir, the larger one is the same Cuban sloop.”
They could see the two white triangles in contrast to the green palms in their rear on the shore.
“Looks like they are aiming to head us off. Planning to cross our bow, Sir,” John said.
“John, put everything we got up, the forestay sail and gaff, top and main. We’ll try to outrun them.”
“Everything is up and out, Sir.”
“Make sure all the lines are taunt. We’ll need all we can get. Now I want the two breach-loading swivel guns at the two bow positions. Pre-load them and keep them out of sight in the chests.”
“Sir,” Roberts pointed out, “See the smallest sloop has crossed our stern. They’re trying to come at us from both sides. She’s much smaller and slower.”
John said, “Look, Captain, the big sloop on the land side is using their square rigging top side. She’s pretty fast.”
Cuban pirate ship:
“Captain Gomez, she’s fast!” Carlos pointed out.
“Don’t you worry. We’ve got ‘em. Have the men stand by the four pounder on starboard side. Now get those ropes tightened on the jib! And be quick about it!”
They were converging on a point just forward of the schooner.
“Look Captain Dan. They’re flying the skull and crossbones!” John said as he pointed.
“Hold her steady, John,” Dan said.
“Fire!...Blam! The pirate’s four pounder released its cannon ball in a shower of sparks, flame, and smoke. It plunked into the water just forward of the Jenney Mae.
Captain Dan ordered, “John, put the two men and loaders forward. Tell them no swivel guns in view and no mounting until I give the order. Just as soon as they’re in place start to bring our flag down,* so they’ll think we’re heaving to.”*
The two boats were both racing along parallel to each other at nine knots, both at full sails. The pirate sloop eased closer.
The pirate captain, Gomez, cupped his hands. “Heave to! Or we’ll blow you out of the water!”
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 SouthWest 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
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