John Deane of Nottingham: Historic Adventures by Land and SeaKingston, William Henry Giles
General
John Deane of Nottingham: Historic Adventures by Land and Sea
Kingston, William Henry Giles
Dean, John, 1679-1761
Between the rock on which Deane and Elizabeth stood, was a sandy bay,
affording tolerably safe landing. This spot the pirates seemed to have
overlooked, though the English were evidently aware of it, for while one
party of boats pulled towards the mouth of the harbour, another,
suddenly leaving the main body, made a dash towards the bay, for the
purpose of landing before the pirates discovered it and were prepared to
resist them. On came five boats at a rapid rate, the water foaming at
their bows, as their crews urged them through it. Deane could with
difficulty resist the temptation of hurrying forward to meet them, but
he could not leave Elizabeth, nor could he place her in the danger to
which she would be exposed had he carried her with him. As soon as the
ships came close enough they opened their fire at the hastily thrown up
forts at the harbour's mouth, while the flotilla of boats dashed forward
for the purpose of storming them before the enemy had recovered from the
effects of the cannonading. The pirates, however, had been too long
accustomed to desperate fighting of all sorts to be easily daunted, and
the places of those who fell were quickly supplied by others who rushed
forward to work their guns. Before, however, they could load and fire
them, the boats' crews, springing on shore, rushed forward and attacked
them, hanger in hand, and quickly mastered the fort.
The pirate ship now opened her fire upon the boats advancing up the
harbour. This told with great effect, and again and again they were
struck, but still undaunted, they pulled on. Meantime the other boats
had reached the bay, and their crews also quickly threw themselves on
shore. The pirates did not perceive their intention till it was too
late to prevent them, and now in steady order they were soon advancing
up from the shore towards the fort, which was also greatly annoying the
boats in their advance. Taken in the rear, its defenders were quickly
cut down, and now the party of English blue-jackets rushed up towards
the pirate ship, but some of her guns being directed at them and others
at the boats, no great loss was sustained by either. So quickly indeed
did the party advance, that very few shot took effect among them. At
length they got close up to the ship and opened a hot fire of musketry
upon her killing and wounding the men at her guns. The boats were thus
able to advance with much less molestation than before, and getting
alongside, their crews with loud shouts dashed on board. The pirates
fought desperately, but nothing could resist the courage of the English.
The outlaws were seen jumping overboard on either side, and many were
shot while attempting to swim on shore. No quarter was asked for by
them. They had seldom given it themselves. Still, however, they
exhibited great courage and hardihood, fighting desperately to the last.
Meantime a party of them who had remained on shore, manning several
boats, put off to the rescue of their comrades.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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