The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-11-29 00:00:00

PIRACY.

New TORII, OCT. 7.—Arrived the brig Mechanic,
Pureington, in 14 days from Matanzas. Capt. B. bate
politely furnished us with the following account of an
inhtiman and cruel.piracy committed op board his yes-
:6l in the bay of Matanzas:—
, 'An the 2.othltipt.' last, I sailed from Matanzas, in
company with the- schooner Milo, of Bath.—About
I o'ckck; p.M. being then in the Bay about 3 leagues
from land, saw a boat coming from the shore towards
tn. • Apprehending that they might be pirates, I al-
tered my course and stood of the land—soun after
they came up 'With and boarded the Milo, immedi-
ately after they made fur the M , as soon as they be-
gan to file, knowing we could not escape from them
we hove the vessel to, and in about one hour they
came up with and boarded us, seven in number, threat-
ening as soowas they got within hail, if we did not
stop 'the vessel's way wore, they 'would shoot us, pre-
smiting their •muskets. They came on board armed
with pistols, swords, dirks, and long Spanish knives,
threatening to take the live, of all the crew, and driv-
ing them all below, and securing them there. 'They
then made sail stindieg towards The land, demanding
of me to send up the'utan that was at the helm, when
they hoarded; to . steer the vessel—they presented a
pistol down the sky-light at me, and demanded my
watch, which was given them; four of them then came
into the cabin, armed as they came on board, demand
in my money. I told them I bad none ; they asked
where my money was, time cargo sold for. I told
' theca the cargo was to be paid for in crop time—
rho* said.they did, not believe me, and that the
stoner was on fiord. They then demanded the
.told them it was in my desk, which
they broke °pot's—they could not read, and com-
pelled me *tareeil.it to,them; they then told me to op n
my intik and libist; there they found 4 dollars, a nil
tOoir- 41 my valuable clothes, leaving me with one
shlit:onl,p—ihey then searched my pockets and found
ten dollars---they then compelled me to strip off all
my clothes, searching them for money—they took all
• the mate's good clothes and about 90 dollars in money.
all be had. They then took the man from thy
helm, drove him forward, and asked where the money
for the cargo was—he told them it was left behind—
they Arm told him if he did not tell they would hang
Ilium. Ile persisted there was none on board,they hung
. his up by the neck as long as they thought he could bear
it, tutting him down and repeating the qnestion, and
hm,ging bins again three times in the same manner.
They then called far the mate, and made the.same de-
mand of him, his answer was the same ; 'they told
be lied, for they were in Mataoaas the day before
:tad saw him taking money on board, and if he aliff
out WI where if was, they would hang him "tor
true;'' they then hung him in the same manner, hut
. kept him hanging longer. When they let hint down
he was serseliss and appeared to be dead indeed, then
they eat his clothes from his body with their sword.,
and beat him with the same ; they then run him up
again, but be wag 'lever sensih!e of being up the se-
cond tiati?; they then left him for dead on the wind-
lass. Thy then hung.up the took in the satnelnan-
net, beating him shamefully. As they could not make
any of the people tell, they returned to we again in
the cabin, threatening to take my life, brandishiug
their swords, &c. about my head, and that they would
tie the people, run the vessel on shore, and burn her,
if I did eat give up the money, and began to cut and
rip up the cabin, and compel the people who bad not
been hung to throw overboard the ballast, threaten-
ing them if they found one dollar to kill them on the
spot. They broke open all the ship's provisions and
emptied a barrel of sugar among the ballast in the
Uhl. They then ordered me on deck, showing me
the mate, and said if I did not tell where the money
wns, they would serve me the same. I told them they
. had got all the money and every thing valuable on
board; for they had every thing prepared to carry
away. They then ordered me forward and attempted
to stab inc when I hail got forward ; they again asked
me where the money was : I told them again they had
all uu board ; they then made a pass with a dirk at my
side, turning partly round, it entered my arm a little
below the shoulder, it was struck with such violence
la went to the bane and broke the dirk, leaving a
. Piece in arty arm—the same time a fellow' drew out
hialong.knife, and was about to stab the with it, at the
.sistua dine demanding the money. I told him the ob-
ligation was all.l bad of the cargo ; when the chief
of the gang ordered ma to- bring it again, which I
.din ,and read it again to them, they appeared to be
.very angry, and were about to destroy it, but the chief
. ;ordered it to be given black to me. They thetrealled
ttp two.of -the sailors from the hold, who had been
•. ',heaving over ballast, called them Spaniards, and
' stabbed them, but not mortally. While they were on
- board they compelled the Gook to cook some fowls for
them and because he did not suit their delicacy, they
beat him again with their swords, and made him eat
part of a raw fowl. They robbed the people of all
their good clothes apd.ay their money to a single
cent. It had now got to hi...nearly night, a sail in
sight, awl they lefts* hastily and went alongside the
blilo, to receive the Vest of their gang and plunder.
About 9 o'clock:the Milo came up with us, learned
our situation, and • kindly olfeied to stay by us until it
. was aseertaiaed if my niate and people would recover
from their wounds and • abase; which they fortu-
pately did, tor the neat day I told Captain Cushing I
tbvught they were getting better. The boat was
partly full of trunk% and bundles, and other packages
when she came abingslde.
' lIUMPIIREV PURRINGTON."

S;NGULAR XSCAPE.

(meow Ins FRENCH IPAPBIIB4
• Captain Driamothe. sentenced to fire years' impri-
sonment. having been summoned to give evidence 0i)
the trial of Malian, ellreted his escape from the custody
of iris condactors on alighting from the carriage at the'
entrance of the Cpurt. and has not since been heard of.
" A Journal." says the _Orrisq(inctfounel. s' has stated
'.that Captain Delanioute 404c:wed the vigilance of
! :the Police. We.u, rtriblott 161.6iee the following Per-
... ;...41iculars of thatriatiPirdiSeeproticarrence:-
b" "be thipteiot joielightiog from the lucre. and in
the act of.liaateciap tits•Prisoo lg. St. Pelugie, trim*
• ContS- irate 'Wimp :oitaerved. the traitpirs ordered
his dinner with the geostestinstpotgrli, and thin
shutting the curinp door upon the two gendarmes.
iostaatly took to his heels as fast he could. The is