Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-10-24
CUBA PIRATES.


| CIV following account of ;he operations Of
{" or the U. 5. barges against the pi alrs OF
Cuba Is received from Matanzas by the schr,
! Ploughboy.
| The u j. barses Gnat aud Nudge, and
| the cutter Of the Gra,apus, under th, ,ayu-
mand If LII. Erection, airived at Aiaiauzas on
| the LIST Sept. from a cruizt of weeks On
the north coast OF Cuba during which time
they examined every place that might afford
| Il harbour inr the pirates, ION l.. cunddo to
Guanaa On the 10th OF Aug1si they made
the 5. 4. poIntof Csyo Romano, aud anchor
cd within couple OF miles of some nuts that
iorra:d part of AN extensive establishment for
Jerking beef. Being entirely destitute of pro-
visions, both officers and men having lived for
number OF days on two ears of green corn
piece, without meat, bread or other provis-
IONS otany kind, LII. i, directed Midshpman
Hunter To take AN Interpreter with him, aud
proceed To tue huts in quest OF some On
landing on the beach MIR. H. was met by tNo
men, 10 whom he told his business. They
rctrealed apparently through fear, which in
duced Mr.. Ii. In lay aside his arms in order To
inspire them with confidence, and advanced
towards them. Notwithstanding this they
sill continued 70 relreat aud MIR. II. to ell-
vance, until on nearing The hus, number Of
men armed with niuskets, pistols aud cntlass-
! es, rushed out and attempted To seize them
Mir. H. and the Interpreter both attempted TO
eiect their escape, aiLid Il shower of bullets
me latter succeeded IN reaching the bargps,
WIN no Other injury than sligbf wound I'm
the head, bur bir. Hunier was captured AS
soon as possible after receiving Information of
tbs from the interpreter, LIEUT.. Il. landed
WIN portion OF The officers aud crew tina
barges, and proceeded To the nuts They
iound there but three Or four men mounted on
horseback al whom one of the most active Of
the nltn who were detached in pursuit under
LnldsllIpman Clinton, succeeded in getting a
lew shots, hut with no other effect than COM
pelling one 0f them To drop his load, tonsist--
| Inv OF preserved fruits, vine and a case of
hats. They found at anchor near the buts
three boats, which from the arms and ammu-
milton found IN them evidently belonged TO
The gang. OF these possession was immedi-
atciy taken, aud IN consequence Of the impos-
sibiilty Of towing them along with the barges,
| they were ordered To be immrdlaiel, DESTROY
ed. by the time that Mr.. Clinton returned
from pmsut 1t WAS quite dark, and heing To-
tally unacquainicd with the country and nith-
out guide, 1t. +. eucampcd for the night
near the huts with the intention of pursuing
them carly The next morning. AZ midnight
TO the surprise Ofevery body, Mr.. Hunter re-
turned TO the huts, having been liberated on
condition If his interceding with 1t +. To
| spare the boats. He stated that the gang was
| 5ior l 6 'trOng-that on the approach al he
bargeinen, they had seized all the horses be-
longing To the establishment, on which they
had mounted with their pro, isons and bag
| gage, and proceeded ten or twelve miles into
the interior aud that he thought he could act
as guide to where they were eucamped.--
Lieut. +. proceeded and Immediately in pur
suit Of them, bur on arriving at the spot, they
had dscampcd After following the direction
It was supposed they bad taken for 10 or Is
i miles, the men were exhausted with fa'iqne
and could proceed no further-and consider
! ing the advantages the villains possessed Of an
| "peu country, and being we'll mounted n WAS
| deemed impossible To capture them in any way
| hut by strtiagem. Lieut.. Il. remained on lie
Key several days, and attempted To cap use or
| destroy them by every eXpedieni in his pow
! er, hut W. hont Success. Al length the prov +.
Sims found at the htts being consumed, and
officers and men completely exhausted with
! hunger and fatigue, he was compelled 10 leave
them and proceeded to Gurnafa for prov-
slons. On arriving there he received inf0rma.
| lion that the Williams he had LEFT bad escaped in
| fishing boats on the north end Of the island
| that they were twenty IN number aud were "a
new gang, forming under tie notorious pirate
AotoniO, COMMONLY called FL Mai0fcan-that
they had assembled in boats from different
places for the purpose of capturing Spanish
felrcca then in Guanaha, which they inieud,d
tO fit ont as q cruizer. and which they would
have effected but for their timely dispersion by
the bargPs severe gale Of wind setting in
about this time and lasting seye a d. s.
Lieut.. +. was under the necessity Of blulun
Ing all hopes of their carfure, and as boz. W
ing term n d expired, Of returning in Natan,
; zas, where be arrived on She ist, Nitho0, my
accident, aud officers and men 10 good sealth