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THE BOSTON WEEKLY GLOBE—OLD-TIME PIRACYAlong the Coast of New England.Wreck if the Privateer Whid# id Cape Ced.Capture and .Execution of Crew that Attaoked Brig Mexican.Were you ever acquainted with any fine that had been captured by pirates?” was asked a bluff old sea captain of the North ahore a few days a?o.Oh, yes. a good many in my day.” was the reply, and some of the stories they told were enough to make the blood run cold in your veins. Once in awbile there was au amusing incident, however.I remember one old fellow named Swan, who was about when I was a boy. who was said to have been captured five times in as many ships by the same pirate. He was probably ene ot the homeliest men that eyer lived, so was easily recognized. Finally, the last time he was caught the pirate rushed np to him and yellad:You ugly, cross-eyed son of a sea cook, are you here? Well. I’ll let you go just this once, but if I ever catch you again I’ll cut you up in inch pieces.’ ”Swan was so frightened that he never went to sea again.”It seems almost incredible that less than 60 years ago the capture of merchant vessels at sea by pirates was of frequent occur reuce. Nor is it possible to conceive the dread and terror inspired in the minds of seamen by the mere mention of the name.For more than a century and a half New England merchant vessels had been plun tiered from time to time and their crews maltreated and murdered. The coast itself had given unwilling shelter to many of the most noted desperadoes and many a suspicions-looking craft had sailed into the harhors under cover of darkness, and then before morning broke as mysteriously disappeared.Capt. Kidd, although dead, was an awe Inspiring tradition. (Juelch and his piratical crew had been pursued the ent re Isngth of the shore, from Marblehead to the Isle of Shoais, Und when captured confined in the jail at Salem and taken to Boston for trial and execution.These were pre-revolutionary events. Bnt what of that? Was not the house still standing in Marblehead in which one of the pirates found refuge, and did not the ever-shifting sands of Cape Cod furnish Indisputable evidence of the wreck of the Whido, commande I by the noted Sam Bel lamy. one of the most desoerate pirates of his day? The story of that shipwreck is worth relating even now.The Whido, carrying 23 guns and 130 men, had captured several vessels off the coast of Massachusetts. Pellamv placed seven of his men on board one of hispri es. intending to turn her into a pirate craft. The men immediately began a carousal.their tastes. As night drew on they departed with what baoty they had succeeded in collecting, leaving tho suffering and bleeding crew to re eot that although their tre mient had been cruel, they were fortunate in not being murdered.The next victim of the pirates was the brig Gossypium of Gloucester. comuiandod hv Capt. Toscan. The brig was boarded about 10 miles off Havana, all the crew being ordered on board the schooner, while there they were beaten, hanged aud thrown overboard. Several men were seveie y stabbed, the brig’s papers were destroyed, all the moaey and clothing onboard were stolen and she was then allowed to proceed on her voyage. .About the same time the Rhip Canges. ( a t. (ieorge Barker of Marblehead, commander. bound from .-utndra to Boston with a load of pepper, was attacked off the Cane oi Good Hope. The pirates first, ordered (’apt. Barker to send his boat aboard, which ho stubbornly refused to do aud ordered his men to loan the tour small guns on hoard aud prepare for action The mate, who was a n an of more timid disposition than the captain, seeing that tho pirate was liKely to ^rove an ugly adversary. begged permission of the captain to lower the boat This he reluctantly gave him permission to dlt;, but just as the boat was hoisted a shot from the schooner broke her to pieces. The pirates then lowered their own boat, and, swarming over the1333, where an account ot the piracv was speedily published, i’hts account fell into I the hands of an American merchant named * Gould, residing in Fort Antonio. Prince’s Island. I ke description agreed with that of [ a Spanish vessel named the Patnia, that had sailed from l’ort Antonio only a few days before for Africa. The British sloon-of war Curlew arriving at that port shortly after, j the particulars were given to the commander, Capt. Trotter with the additional information that the Panda was then sup-po-od to he lying in the river Nazareth.Capt. Trotter immediately went in search of her.i dune 4 the Curlew arrived at the mouth of the river, and her three boats manned with 40 aimed men. under command of the captain, w ent in search of the pirate. After rowing all night the men in the boats got sight ot the ob.ect of their pursuit lying at anchor.In order to secure her capture they kent inshore as much as possible to avoid being seen but from the nature of the river it was impossible to conceal themselves long. They, therefore, when witbiu a mile of her. displayed their colors.As soon as they espied the boat*, the Pirates took to their boats and hurried to the shore. Cne man apparently more dilatory than the rest remained behind, hut soon followed his comrades in a canoeCant Trotter made directly for the boats. i but was too far off to come up with them.tions that he had purchased his election and offered to exhibit his accounts to Mr. Greene. The lat er declined, saying. »*• don’t care how you spend vonr money.Later in the day Mr. Greeno said to a Mercury reporter that the story that .lames Gifford of l’rovmcetown had V*een selected to lead the opposition was untrue. I had an interview with Mr. Gifford m Boston, said Mr. Greene, hut ho was not selected to be a candidate and no one had any authority to offer the candidacy to him ’ I he story of a meeting, at which it was determined to place Mr. Gifford in the field was without foundation. Mr. Greene said.THE TWELFTH OF MARCH.deck of the Ganges, began appropriating seeing which he, with tho other boats, made nvim'thtm, ih» r.r.iil/1 lav tl.atv Imvic ni. for the Sihnnnpr stimln wa«i seen to Issuenv RETT WINWOOP.Halloo!”Staggering through the deep drifts and blinding snow. JaoK Felton had suddenly stumbled upon a dark figure standing mo tionless In the deserted street.It was the evening of the 12th of March. 1838. a date made memorable by the Great Blizzard.” which raged with unprecedented violence throughout New England.Tho sidewalks were impassable; and Jack, warmly wrapned in a sealskin coat, with a fur cap pulled down over his eyes, was struggling desperately through the drifted snow, takieg the middle of the street.His progress being impeded for a moment by a higher mound than usual, he had been surprised to see the vague outlines of a human figure, hve or six ieet \ away.Hello!” he cried, cheerfully. Taking a rest?Some murmured words came in response’ but they were drowned by the frightful roaring of the storm.Never saw anything liko it! Jack gasped recovering his breath with difficulty. 1 was mad to leave the down town hotel. But I thought it would be glorious fun. Hauged if 1 find any enjoyment in an experience like this, though! Whew, what a wind! And I’m in the snow up to my arm-pits. No one could live exposed long to such a storm. ’’Silence. The snow-covered figure neverYou must be tired out. stranger.” Jack said, compass oaatelv, wriggling his way through the white mound. I’m stroug anil beartv. I’ll push ahead and break a path. \\ e had better make for the nearest shel-teTho sentence ended in a sharp cry of amazement. , ...Good Lord, if it isn’t a woman! Yt hy, you poor, little thing what lias driven you abroad in a blizzard like this?And Jack stared in breathless bewilderment at the small cloaked and hooded figure about which the piercing wind whirled the fallingsnow. .My little cousin was taken suddenly ill.’ came the answer in a sweet voice that thrilled his heart. 1 had to go to the druggist’s for medicine. ’1 here was nobody to send, and Benny would have died beforemorning. ... ...What madness! You might have perished! Where do you live?'We can't be far ^rom the bouse. I—I was so exhausted I had to rest a moment. You will sec a light in the window. My aunt will be watching for me.’You have the medicine?”Y’es.”(toed. Keep up a brave heart. We will get it to Benny, yet ”In a twinkling Jack Felton had thrown off his warm, futred greatcoat and wrapped it about the girl’s shivering figure.' .Now keep close behind me,” he said, clasping her slender, gloved hand. I will lake care of you.”1: was a desperate straggle. For all his
Newspaper Details
Boston Weekly Globe
Boston, Massachusetts, US
Sat, Mar 22, 1890
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Boston P.
NA, USA 17 Oct 2024
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