CHAPTER V. THE BRIG. ADVANCING step by step in our investigation of the peculiar rig and build of ships, we come to the brig. This species of craft is usually, but not necessarily, larger than those that have yet been described; it is generally built on a larger scale than the schooner, and often approaches in magnitude to the full sized, three-masted ship. The distinctive features of the brig are, that it has two masts, both of which are square-rigged. It is a particularly serviceable species of craft, and is much used in foreign trade. THE RIGGING OF THE BRIG. The advantage of the square-rig over the fore-and-aft rig is, that the sails, being smaller and more numerous, are more easily managed, and require fewer men, or "hands," to work them. Thus, as we increase the size of our vessel, the more necessity is there that it should be square-rigged. The huge main-sail of the sloop and schooner could not be applied to large vessels; so that, when men came to construct ships of several hundred tons burden, they were compelled to increase the number of masts and sails, and diminish the size of them; hence, probably, brigs were devised after schooners. The main-mast of a brig is the aft one. The sails are named after the masts to which they are fastened, namely, the main-sail-above that the maintop-sail-above that the main-top-gallant-sail-and sometimes a very small sail, named the royal, is spread above all. Behind the main-sail there is a small fore-and-aft sail, similar to the main-sail of a schooner, which is called the boom-main-sail. On the fore-mast is a similar sail, which is called the try-sail. Attached to the respective yards of square-rigged ships there are smaller poles or arms which can be pushed out at pleasure, and the yard lengthened, in order to receive an additional little sail, or wing, on each side. These wings are called studding-sails, or stun-sails, and are used only when the wind is fair and light. They are named after the sails to which they are fastened; thus, there are the main-stun-sails, the main-top stun-sails, and the main-top-gallant stun-sails, &c. The foremast of a brig is smaller than the main-mast. It carries a fore-sail, foretop-sail, fore-top-gallant-sail, and fore-royal. Between it and the bowsprit are the fore-stay-sail, jib, and flyingjib. The three last sails are nearly similar in all vessels. All the yards, &c., are hoisted, and shifted, and held in their position by a complicated arrangement of cordage, which in the mass is called the running-rigging, in contra distinction to the standing-rigging, which, as we have said, is fixed, and keeps the masts, &c., immovably in position. Yet every rope, in what seems to a landsman's eye a bewildering mass of confusion, has its distinctive name and specific purpose. Our coloured engraving represents a brig in the most dangerous of all positions, namely, off a lee-shore in a gale, endeavouring to "weather" a point, that is, trying to sail round without being dashed against it. She is sailing as close to the wind as possible. She would get on much better if she were to ease off a point or two to the left, and so let the wind blow more flatly against her sails; but were she to do this she would run the risk of being blown on the point of land before she weathered it. She sails, it will be observed, under her fore-sail, fore-top-sail, and main-top-sail, the main-sail and boom-main-sail being clewed up, and her top-gallant-masts being lowered till only their tops are seen above the top-mast cross-trees. The top-gallant yards have been lowered on deck and stowed away till the gale moderates. No doubt the jib too is hoisted, but it is hid from view by the fore-sail and the spray. The brig at the head of the chapter is sailing with "a wind on her quarter," that is almost, but not quite, “astern.” And be it carefully noted here, that "a wind on the quarter" is the best that can blow for most vessels, because it acts on vessels in such a way that all the sails "draw," or are filled. She has not the wind, however, quite on her quarter. It is nearly fair, or “dead aft,”—the main-sail being clewed up to let the wind get at the fore-sail, shows this. On this brig are set the main-top, main-top-gallant, fore, fore-top, and fore-top-gallant sails, also the jib and flying jib. Brigs and schooners, being light and handy craft, are generally used by pirates and smugglers in the prosecution of their lawless pursuits, and many a deed of bloodshed and horror has been done on board such craft by those miscreants. The following is one of the blackest we have ever fallen in with: : STORY OF ALEXANDER TARDY. Alexander Tardy was a native of the island of St. Domingo, and one of the most dreadful characters by nature that ever lived. Having shown a bad unsettled disposition in boyhood, we are not surprised to find that in youth he gave up mercantile pursuits and went to sea as steward of a ship. This was shortly after the commencement of the present century. This situation he left under suspicion of having poisoned the captain. From this time forward he led the life of an unsettled wanderer-sometimes in one employment, sometimes in another, but chiefly spending his life as a thief. Being at one time on board a vessel bound for Charleston, he poisoned several of the passengers and charged the crime on the negro cook, who was tried, condemned, and executed, although, as may be supposed, he protested his innocence to the last. This miscreant seems to have been unable to resist the desire to poison his fellow-creatures, even when he could have no possible reason for the perpetration of the diabolical act. On another occasion he attempted to poison the passengers in a ship bound for Philadelphia; but on this occasion was seized and condemned to seven years hard labour. Being liberated at the end of his term, Tardy now gave himself up to the commission of every species of crime that man is capable of committing. At last, while staying at Havanna, in Cuba, he formed the bold and dreadful plan of going on board a vessel, poisoning the captain and all the crew, and thus possess himself of a ship and cargo at once. To accomplish this, he took into his confidence three Spaniards, desperadoes quite equal to himself in villany. Their names were Felix, Pepe, and Courro. Having consulted together, they resolved to take passage on board the Crawford, an American brig, commanded by Captain Brightman, which was about to sail for New York with a cargo consisting of sugar, coffee, molasses, &c. Captain Brightman happened to be unwell at the time of starting, and Tardy sought to ingratiate himself in the character of a doctor. Courro shipped as Tardy's servant, while Felix and Pepe gave themselves out to be merchants, and, in order to support this assumed position, took on board with them a box full of lead and iron, which they gave in charge to the captain, saying that it contained 17,000 dollars in gold. The crew of the Crawford consisted of Mr. Dobson the mate, and five seamen. Besides these there were four other passengers, one of whom was a Spaniard named Ginoulhiac, another was a Mr. Robinson, part owner of the cargo. Altogether, there were fifteen souls on board the ill-fated brig. On the 28th of May, 1827, the Crawford put to sea;ere that voyage was done, only Dobson the mate, Gibbs the cook, and Ginoulhiac the Spanish passenger, survived to tell of the dark deed of blood that had been perpetrated upon the sea. Dobson, the mate, describes the events of the tragedy thus: "The brig proceeded on the voyage with variable |