The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-11-27 00:00:00

When collected ae some preconcerted rendezvous,
generally a quay or small island off Cuba, they elected
a captain, and embarked in a canoe, hollowed out of
the trunk of a single tree, in the Indian manner. This
canoe was either bought by the association or the cap-
tain. If the latter, they agreed to give him the first
ship they should take. As soon as they had all signed
the charter-party, or mutual agreement, they started
for the destined port off which they were to cruise.
The first Spanish vessel they took served to repay the
captain and recompense themselves. They dressed
themselves in the rich robes of Castilian grandees over
their own blooded shirts, and sat down to revel in the
gilded saloon of the galleon. If they found their
prize not seaworthy, they would take her to some small
sand island and careen, while the crew helped the
Indians to turn turtle, and to procure bull's flesh.
The Spanish crew they kept to assist in careening, for
they never worked themselves, but fought and hunted
while the unfortunate prisoners were toiling round the
fire where the pitch boiled, or the turtle was stewing.
The Filibusters divided the spoil as soon as each one
had taken an oath that nothing had been secreted.
When the ship was ready for sea they let the Spaniards
go, and kept only the slaves. If there were no negroes
or Indians they retained a few Spaniards to wait upon
them. If the prisoners were men of consequence they
detained them till they could obtain a ransom. Every
Filibuster brought a certain supply of powder and ball
for the common stock. Before starting on an expedi-
tion it was a common thing to plunder a Spanish hog
yard, where a thousand swine were often collected,
surrounding the keeper's house at night, and shooting
him if he made any resistance. The tortoise fisher-
men were often forced to fish for them gratuitously,
although nearly every ship had its Mosquito Indian to
strike turtle and sea-cow, and to fish for the whole
boat's crew. "No prey, no pay," was the buccaneers'
motto. The charter-party specified the salary of the
captain, surgeon, and carpenter, and allowed 200 pieces
of eight for victualling. The boys had but half a
share, although it was either their duty or the
surgeon's, when the rest had boarded, to remain
behind to fire the former vessel, and then retire to the
prize.—From the Monarchs of the Main. •
A FALL INTO THE CRATER OF MOUNT VESUVIUS.—
Some Germans of good family had toiled to the
summit of Mount Vesuvius, and after resting them-
selves on that sulphureous bed, they descended the
steep incline to the mouth of the crater. There was
little smoke that day, and the scientific gentlemen
began to get into danger without being aware of it.
The guides having had enough of soft ashes and hard
work in the ascent,. sat down on the upper rim of the
crater, not feeling at all inclined for more exertion.
So many people had gone to peep into this chimney
of the infernal regions, day after day, without an
accident, that these lazy guides preferred some sour
wine, and a slice or two of lemon sprinkled over with
salt, a very common comestible amongst the lower
orders of Neapolitans, and a little siesta, to looking
after the souls and bodies of those entrusted to them.
One of the most adventurous of the Germans, finding
he could bear the little sulphur which seemed emitted
from the crater, resolved to penetrate further ; but
scarcely had he placed his foot upon an apparently
solid projection, than the whole crumbled beneath
him, and he was precipitated at least one hundred
feet. The interior of the crater seems to be as soft
as the exterior, for the first words heard from the
unfortunate man were " that he was not hurt."
In vain he tried to extricate himself ; whatever he
grasped it mouldered in his grasp, he could not
regain his feet—of this his friends above were in-
formed, but they seemed to have become more
stupified than the unfortunate victim : for, instead
of despatching the guides to the Observatory or the
Hermitage for rope, or assistance of some kind, they
stood listening to their friend below, who gave them
the idea of going elsewhere than where they remained
useless and spell-bound. There is everything at
Naples but what is required ; and at the Observatory,
although ropes must always be in request, and at
least a precautionary utility, yet none could be ob-
tained either there or at the flermitage, and the
guides were obliged to go to Regina for that which
cught always to be at hand. In the mean time the
sulphur began to operate on the poor fellow in the
crater, and he felt himself gradually sinking, not
only in strength, but in position : with a wondertnl
self-command he took leave of his friends, being per-