Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-10-26
NoRFoLK, Oct. IS.
PIRATICAL PATRIOTS.


America, that their flag is abused by set
ct desperadoes, who aim at nothing but
plumber. and extend their depredations TO
friends as well as foes. We have seen
many instances reported of the robberies
they have committed on American & Brit
lSh vessels, and the subjoined case of the
plunder OF the Sylvia-Ann, of Philadelphia,
is perhaps among the most atrocioos.-As
TOR Britain, let her view the matter in
whatever light she may-but, for the Uni
ted States, we venture to say, that it is
incumbent on them to protect the
rights and guard the property of their cit
liens against every assailant. Our Gov
eminent ought to employ all its disposal
BILE naval force to effect, if possible, the
determination of this new race of pirates
and thereby release its commerce from all
apprehensions on their account. The case
OF the Sylvia-Ann, related to us by the
master of that vessel, (whose arrival here
in the schooner Olive Branch was men>
toned in our last) is this The Sylvia
Ann, commanded by Alfred Hazard, sail
ed from Maricaibo on the 18th of August,
bound to Philadelphia. On the 18th, at 3
p. NJ. passed Cape Theron, about league
distant, & hauled up for the Spanish Town
OF Donna Maria, intending to send the boat
ashore at that place for vegetables, being
short of bread but when about two miles
distant from the town, they fired shot at
the Sylvia-Ann. Capt. Hazard immedi-
ately hoisted his colors at the main peak,
but in ten minutes after another shot was
fired, which fell within few feet of the
schooner. Capt. Hazard finding that they
paid no respect to the American flag,
thought it best to bear away immediately.
and get out of reach of their guns.
At 3 P. NJ. it fell calm saw schooner
at anchor in Petit Riviere. from which
boat was discovered approaching the Syl-
via-Ann. At p. NJ the boat came along
side with men, who demanded the schoo-
ner's papers. on delivering which, Capt.
Hazard asked them the name of their sch.
and to what nation she belonged. They
replied that she was a Patriotic kriuafeer,
commissioned by Bolivar. that she was
called the Commodore Decatur, formerly
an American vesseI and that she was
commanded by Captain Bone but Cap
tain Hazard afterwards learned that his
real name was PneL. About half past 1
P. NJ. they left the Sylvia Ann and returned
to their own vessel, but in half an hour at.
ter their boat came back again with about
20 men, armed with muskets, pistols and
cutlasses, who ordered Captain Hazard in
the boat, and carried him on board the
privateer. They also took the crew out of
the SylvIa-Ann and carried the cabin boy
on board their vessel, where they put him
in irons. and holding pistol to his breast,
threatened him with i6stant death if he
did not tell them In what part of the sch
captain II. had slowed away his money
The boy thus inundated, made the desired
disclosure, whereupon they returned to the
Sylvia-Ann ard plundered her of every ar
ticle of the least value that they could
conveniently lay their rapacious hands
upon, and of which, the following is a
list :
1000 Spanish Dollars,
$50 Doubloons.
228 pounds of silver, in bars,
100 weight of white sugar, 1 sextant,
one case of instruments, log-lines, spy glass.
books, charts, and all the ship and cabin
stores. They also plundered the people of
their cloathing, taking even the hats off
their heads they took Captain Hazards
watch from his fob, gold chain from his
neck, and gold ring from his finger. To
robbery, they added insult and cruelty By
beating the crew of the Sylvia Ann in
most barbarous manner, so that some of
them were rendered unfit for duty. At 7,
Captain II. was permitted to return on
board his vessel, where he found some of
the privateer's men still occupied in pill
laying, assisted by two Spanish officers,
who had come off from the fort The of.
fcers demanded of Captain II. 16 dollars
for the two shot they had fired at him
when he informed them that Pinel had
robbed him of every thing, and requested
they would go and stop him, which they
promised to do, but did not. At 3 o'clock
the next norHing the privateer got under
way and stood to sea, the Spaniards max
ing no effort to stop her.
Owing to a calm which prevailed, the
Sylvia Ann lay at anchor. where she was
brought too by the pirate, until the goth,
when breeze springing up, she ran into
Jeremie, where she remained short time,
and then sailed for Port au-Prince. From
Port~au Prince, Captain. II. was procee-
ding home, when ne was stnfortunately
wrecked on Great Heneaga, ina tremen-
dous hurricane. By great exertions they
succeeded i'll saving part of the cargo,
and the materials OF the Sylvia Ann, when
Captain Hazard crossed to Baracoa, in a
snail boat, Qeaving two men IN charge of
what was saved from the wreck) and APP
Piled to the commandant, Don Louis, for
assistance, and permission to charter an
American vessel to carry the cargo aud
materials OF the Sylvia Ann to che United
States, which was refused neither could
Captain n. obtain permiss-on to return to
Great Heueaga with provisions for the
men he had left there, aud VINO were suf-
fering for want. The commandant thres-
tened Captain II. repeatedly that he would
put him III irons and send him to prison in
case I've made any attempt to leave Bara-