The Express.
London, England, 1860-08-02 00:00:00

PIRACY IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.

The following narrative of the extraordinary
attempt at piracy on the schooner Flown, of Bideford, •
brief account of which has appeared in our columns, in given
in the Wester's Morning Nests of yesterday:
"It appears that two men and • youngster of about
seventeen years of age, having beard that the captain had
rece,ved the money for his freight, and thinking or having
been told that he had it on board, shipped diemselves with
the view of obtaining it; and on Thursday evening, the
19th of July, they seized, as they thought, a favourable
opportunity for that purpose. It was the captain's
watch on deck, and one of the conspirutors, who was at the
wheel from eight to ten, complaining of being cold, the
captain offered to take his place whilst be went for his
coat. He went for his coat accordingly, and concealed
en iron bolt about his person. He resumed his position
at the wheel, end the captain resumed his walk up and
down the deck. Presently, softly, and suddenly, the
would-be pirate sprang on the captain and knocked him
down. Bfr. 13aladon, however, recovered his feet, seeing
which both men rushed towards him to inflict another blow,
but he succeeded in jumping down into the cabin,
and at once caught up • pistol which he bad loaded the
evening before, in consequence of these men endeavouring
to got op ' • row,' wheu they were not able to emceed.
They now battened down the captain in his cabin ; and as
the nude was in his berth they thus confined both the app-
lain and the mate. They alio battened down the forecastle
to prevent the other man interfering against them. The
captain awoke the mate, but they could not get out of the
cabin. The men commenced a parley, threatening to take
the vessel to the coast of France, and run her ashore, and
drown them. The mate proposed to the captain to ask
them to allow him to come ou deck and inquire the cause of
such extraordinary conduct, but be, fearing they would at
orce kill the mate, was unwilling to consent to this. The
mate said he knew he had not done them any harm, and
he was not afraid of them. He then asked them if they
would allow him to come up, to which they consented, on
his showing that he bad no weapon about him. lie con-
vinced them and came on deck ; but as soon as he was there
they seized him by the hands, and one stood over him with
the iron bolt, telling him at the same time that if he made
the least resistance they would smash his head, bat, as
they said he had never injured them, they would not other-
wise injure him. They then tied the mete to the rigging,
and demanded the money from the captain. He said he
had very little on board. They said he had the money for
his freight on board. The captain said he had not more
than 81. 10s. on board. They said that would not
do ; it was not enough to pay their expenses.
The mate, who was within hearing, and • wit-
ness of all, called out, " The captain put the
freight money in the bank the day before the vessel left the
port." They then demanded the capticiu's gold watch and
the 81. Ws., which were thrown up by the captain. They
then took the boat sod sails, and some other things, includ-
ing the crowbar which they had used as a weapon, and •
mallet, got into the boat, and sailed off. The captain soon
afterwards broke open the cabin, came on deck, and released
the mate. The boat by this time bad got out of reach.
The boat has since bean found, and the boy taken to
Exeter gaol for trial. The two men are supposed to be at
Bemacombe, io the eastern part of Devonshire. They were
Aluminum, from New Orleans, and one of them had lost
two lalOrs from cos of his hands."