Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-08-17

cessation OF MS tOrtureS, toiu inc Pr
rates that he knew Mr.. Wikof had a
box of money in the hold; to get at this
box they cut the cabin floor away and
broke a few of the lockers, but their
search was in vain, for there was no mo-
ney. They then recommended TO NAL
treat the sailor, who persisted in declaring
that he knew that there was box OF
money on board not being able to find
it they beat the sailor most cruelty.
Mr.. WikoH was then ordered ON deck !;
as he was ascending, ruifian stabbed
him in the thigh with stlletto; being
on deck he was again barbarously treat
ed, being stabbed in several places and
beaten with swords and pistols in vain
he declared he had no more money; IN
vain he declared his ignorance of there
being any on board; to cap the climax
of human suffering, they put a rope
around his neck, and hoisted him up 10
the yard arm, then dropped him almost
lifeless into the chains, then struck him
with swords, calling out for money; but
he was too far gone to answer; they
again hauled him up to the yard arm,
and when he was apparently dead, they
dropped him into the water, then drew
him up and threw him into the long
boat which was along side the brig !;
when he was able to move they drew
him upon deck, and beat him back into
the forccastle. AT the sight OF him
bleeding profusely from several wounds,
weakened by the loss of blood, and al
most drowned, we all again were GER
tain of undergoing the same cruel treat
ment. In this horrid state OF suspense,
we were suffered to remain for hours.
Being disappointed in the object of their
pursuit, they commenced to plumber
the brig of every thing that was valuable;
the captain OF all the briggs papers, and
his desk with all his private papers, and
the passengers OF all their valuable pa
pers, and trunks with all their contents;
they robbed US of all our clothing,
watches, breast pins, and, in fact, OF
every thing except what we had OH our
backs.
About the same time that they brought
the Aurilla to anchor, they brought the
brig Hiram, of Newport, captain w eeks,
and as near as we could ascertain, the
captain and his crew suffered severely.
About hours after they had captured
US, they saw three sail crossing the bank;
they ordered the captain to remain until
morning for further orders, and that ii
he attempted to violate bis orders, all
hands should he murdered and the brig
set on FIRE; they made sail in chase OF
three vessels, succeeded in capturing
two of them, and then returned to the
anchorage near us. About O'Clock
p. M. they came on board OF us again,
ransacked the brig and took away every
thing they could find, even OF the most
trifling consideration. AT this time COM
mcnced scenes of brutal outrage and
shocking immortality, which it is pain
full TO record ! they ravished the defence
less negro women in the face OF every
person on board. Several OF the wo-
men who resisted the qualification oil
their beastly appetites, were forced by
menances to yield their bodies to the
most shocking indulgences. They re-
turned to their vessels. During the
night different parties came ON board,
and committed the same abomlnable
excuses on the bodies OF the women.
AT daylight large party came on
board, and made thorough search
through the brig not the least thing or
place was left unsearched. AT this
time they left US scarcely any thing on
board; only short allowance OF pro-
visions and a few large boxes OF lurnl-
ture, which they were unable to take
away. They took likewise our colors, a
new hawser, and the brig robbed OF eve
ry thing. 1t is impossible to conJec-
ture what would have been our lot had
they not captured SO many vessels about
the same time. About 10 A. Nj. they
ordered the captain to cut his cable and
be off immediately; the order was no
sooner given than executed. A short
time after the cable was cut, and as we
were making sail, we saw boat with
number of the pirates on board, APP
preaching US; we experienced the most
terrible apprehensions OF speedy death.
For some minutes we remained in the
agony of suspense, until they boarded US
and demanded of the captain in Spanish
his carpenter but there being no car
penter on board. However, they still
persisted that there was one, and ii he
was not delivered up Immediately, they
would murder all OF us instantly. The
ruflians fell to beating the captain, then
the mate, most numerically. In the
mean time, some person said that an old
negro man by the name. of Simon was