File:West Indian tales of old (1915) (14595020790).jpg

Identifier: westindiantaleso00aspi (find matches)
Title: West Indian tales of old
Year: 1915 (1910s)
Authors: Aspinall, Algernon Edward, Sir, 1871-1952
Subjects: Legends -- West Indies, British West Indies, British -- History West Indies, British -- Description and travel
Publisher: London, Duckworth and Co
Contributing Library: Brown University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brown University

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scenefrom the picturesque balconies, making unconsciously acharming picture. All night long the strains of theband and the shouts of the revellers were wafted acrossthe harbour, and day had broken before the sounds ofrevelry died away. It was in 1572 that Sir Francis Drake, who sailed onMay 24 from Plymouth in the Pascha of seventy tons,accompanied by his brother John Drake in the Swanof twenty-five tons, after raiding Nombre de Dios,determined to take Cartagena. On August 13 hedropped anchor off the two islands at the mouth ofthe harbour and entered the great lagoon in his boats.Near the entrance he found a frigate with only an oldman in charge, and, ascertaining from him that thealarm had been given, he contented himself withcapturing a ship from Seville of 240 tons burthen andtwo small frigates. Drakes force was a small one, andnot having enough men in his own ships he decidedthat his brothers ship, the Swan, must be sacrificed.But she was considered a lucky vessel, and he knew208
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A CHARACTERISTIC STREET IX CARTAGENA OLD CARTAGENA that her crew would not scuttle her, even if ordered todo so, so he sent carpenters on board at the dead ofnight with instructions to bore holes in her. Thisthey did without any difficulty. Next morning Drakewent on board and remarked that the vessel seemedto be rather low in the water. The crew then for thefirst time perceived that she was sinking and rushedto the pumps. Their efforts being, however, of noavail, they were easily persuaded to set fire to theship and abandon her. Though his crew was thusstrengthened Drake did not on this occasion persist inhis attempt on Cartagena but withdrew to the Isthmusof Darien. Thirteen years later—on September 12, 1585—heagain left Plymouth with twenty-five sail and pinnaces,and a force of 2300 soldiers and sailors, the formerbeing under the command of Lieut.-General ChristopherCarleil, a man of long experience in the warres aswell by sea as land. After capturing St. Iago inthe Cape Verde I

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