Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 April 1890 — A SMUGGLER’S DAUGHTER [ARTICLE]

A SMUGGLER’S DAUGHTER

In 1842 1 commanded the revenue outter Fire fly and was ordered to the Gulf of Mexico to see after the irregularities that were reported in several ports bordering on the gulf. In due time I arrived at and investigated the custom affairs at Mobile auu soon after sailed for New Orleans. In both these places I found the state of aii'airs even worse than I had supposed, and at once set to work investigating. I had n6t conducted this a week before 1 ascertained that the custom house officials were in league with a band of Texas and Mexican smugglers, who were running in large quantities of goods without paying duties. lat once communicated with the authorities at Washington, and in due time received orders to report the names of the delinquents and then turn my attention to breaking up the gang of smugglers, taking them and their vessels into the nearest disinfected port I fitted the cutter for a cruise and Started on my commission. Before I had been on the look-out a week I had the good fortune to capture a Texan «raft, well laden and bound for the port of New Orleans, Again, starting out I cruised for several days without coming in contact with anything suspicious. But I knew very well that there were more than one craft engaged in the nefarious business, and that sooner or later I should fall in with them. During a calm one day, my trim little craft hardly moving through the waters, I thought I beard the sound of voices to the windward. There was a thick fog lying upon the waters, Ph prevented me from seeing bemy bowsprit scarcely a rod; but every moment the voicee sounded plainer, and soon I detected the splashtag of oars and conjectured that some graft like ourselves was becalmed, and were striving to make a little headway with their sweeps. I at once ordered my lieutenant into the boat to soe what sort of a craft ft was whose oaptaia was evincing so much enterprise. The search and observation occupied nearly half an hour, at the end of which he returned and reported the immediate presence of an undoubted smuggler, but whom he suspected had also caught a glimpse of him as he peered through the thick fog. lat once ordered all the boats lowered and manned, with the intention of boarding the suspicious craft and overhauling her papers. But the rascals got the start of me, and after Scuttling the schooner they took to their boats and struck out ustily to make their escape. The pursuit was highly exciting, but as they took different directions, they gave us much trouble in following them. At length we overhauled one of their boats, containing two rough-looking men, and one of the most beautiful women that it has ever been my fortune to encounter in any part of the world. The smugglers dropped their oars, and, drawing their pistols, showed fight. But, without firing a single shot, we convinced them of the folly of resistance, and they immediately surrendered, and were taken on board the cutter. The pursuit of the Other two boats proved fruitless. I was surprised to find in my lady prisoner one whose culture eminently fitted her for the best circles of society. Gradually I drew her confidence and her history from her. Her father had at a former period been very wealthy; but, having engaged in war between Texas and Mexico, had lost nearly everything, and had lately resorted to smuggling to get it back again. She was his only child, and fearing that ill might come to her he resolved to take her with him. This she could bear much better than the addresses, of her father’s lieutenant, a coarse, villainous-loqking rascal, who had during <,he past year made violent pretensions of his love and had offered his hand in marriage. This she had often refused, but he continued his importunities, to her great sorrow and disgust. A week passed on, during 'which time I had fallen deeply in love with the smuggler’s beautiful daughter, and had evidence shat she was not altogether indifferent to me. In fact, we came exceedingly familiar, and passed -manyan evening on the after-deck - conversing about various localities and on various subjects. On© evening about dark I left my aihia and came upon deck for the purMia of taking my last observation by daylftfllt. Before I had {.itf to ioddeaiy iprany upon me. 1 •••** J

not to i tay situation. ' They were Ike •- - - crew of which I had oaptured two, and who had been reinforced and came out with the intention of capturing the Firefly. It was a pie -.- of unwarranted carelessness on the part of the men on watch, bat there was no help for tt now. My crew, with the exoeptioa of the man at the wheel, and the one on guard, were held below, and 1 was myself entirely unarmed. ••Surrender or die!” demanded the leader—the very man who had so annoyed my beautiful friend by his offers of marriage. “And then,” he oontinued, 4 •show me where you have plaoed Hope Austin.” “I will do neither until compelled,” I answered resolutely. “Then take a taste of that!” and he sprang upon me with his drawn 'cutlass. At this instant Hope Austin appeared in the cabin gangway with a cocked pistol in each hand. Coming directly up to where I stood she placed one of them in my hand and leveled the other at the hoad of her old annoyer. Thrusting his Bword into his scabbard, he drew a villainous-looking pistol and pointed it at my head, at the same time ordering one of his men to shoot Hope if she made any demonstration; but before the words were fairly out of his throat he measured his length on the deck, and the others surrendered. Hope accompanied me for some time after that and until I had freed the Gulf from its smugglers and on my return to Washington I obtained a short leave of absence, duriffg which time and by the aid of a minister I changed her name to my own.