Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-09-23

boat Nsi was air prrsun pllOn that, Cuence
Ot " IoionbaH Vessel being the coast, some ANS
take On the pasi Of tue people on shoie niyat have
been made in regard 10 character but that prov
ed tn be eroundcss, fer having reached within TIE
distance of their guns they opened upon with mere
apparent spirh aud ueiei nnatOn than before, from
pos,ioa inaccessible apparently ~ the rea. from,
ihckets al bushes aud brars and the same Ia from,
ir"m airecipice Rugged rocks, and command |
ing "Hoeether that To prcvent the loss of lives,
directed both vessels TO he warped round the Cape
aiooe AN extensive reef which almost enrircles il, |,
ahordIng smooth and shallow harOot. We did not 1
succeed IN getting within gun shot OF he establish
men' until we had reached five aud SIX feet water
where we anchored
Lieutenant Fnrragu. with the Marines and some
seamcn was ordered on shore 10 eudeavOr gam II
poson IN their reAr, 10 attack them endeavOr 10
cut OIL their retreat before the schooners moved
Their landing could he discovered by the pirates as
we hau deemed the party we were ahout tn attack |
the oflceis oil both schooners volunteered aud accom-
panied the party on shore-one being only reserved
IN each schooner and n sufhciency of mes loi the
gonS' Hoping TO attract the attention OF the pirates
from Ms. FarraguI's party several shot were fred
IRON the schoonerS, which drove the pirates into
places oil security behind the jultiug rocks, where
they seemed To he IN considerable force, the sho,
beng seen 10 strike among The rocks behind which
tiey sat- aud not until the hoas were dispatched to
lanu m Ioni. and Lieut.. F's party close upon
ihem did they abandon the advantageous position
'hey occupied They were pursed, bui with decid-
ed disadvantage To the pufsueIS from their want uf
knowledge oil the passes, that none unfortunately
were taken except two old and decrepid beings
whose age aud iniifmiiies placed them beyond Tie
meriied chastisement OF their active comrades
mad they laiien III our power would have received.
Tour FOUNDER, TWO swyes, mounted OIL IN.
heights, and some Indifferent articles of small arms
were found they, however, escaped with their mus
keis ana biuuderbuSses, or else hid them of
the numerous deep and intricate To he found
on tie Cape. la one Of which various articles of
punder was slowed, but of no vaue--howeyer.
enough To shew the character of the wrelches who
'nies that place human bones found in the
cave. We found eight boats, but not of the large
SIZE Their principal one was, douht, the one
taken by the Colombian Cruiser, as before slated
aud those men, armed with nuskets and blunderbuss-
es, were, no doubi, of her crew.
From information derived from the prisoners, we
learned that the Captain OF the gang prison in
The interior OF the Island, Tor having burnt an En-
esh vessel off that Cape. As singular instance. of
me growing propensity of the present age for pirac,
have tn inform yom that even and children
were OF the gahg belonging to the Captain of IA n, :
second . Heleu Mac Oregon and the old men
too, who can do notng esr light up the sisu.l fire
which was done IN the presen' instance on our ap-
pearing on the coast.
In another case, Captain OF n vessel infor me
that lie had heen plundered 10y gang of pirates who
took him 10y surprise under The following straiacen
VIZ . An old man, (his BALI head and hoary locks
exposed To view y and intie hnv 10 Steer the boat
pulled or sailed along side of his vessel when il was
too late, lie discovered Ihni a strong party were con
ceaied IN The bottom OF the boat, whom he had TO
surrender"
| The female just mentioned was removed to some
place OF safety before the attack was made (said to
| he ihe wife al the Capiain0
| Finding ""' pursuit of the pirates promised no
success, considered VI unimportauI remain longer
AT the Cape, having destroyed their means Of dong
iurther mischief Tor tine, aud taking INTO cons-
deraiion the state oi our officers and men, worn down
by fatigue from long pursuit one OF the rough
est OF countries have seen their clothes mean IN
torn of from bushes Of impenetrIble thickness and
their shoes cut oil ihcir feet lay sharp pointed rocks
over which they passed ahardone the place bring
rug oil The arms, SIc. OF ANY consequence, and sei-e
ire to every hing else that would burn. Oue large
! and well IhJtched house, and three smaller ones
we're consumed, and Il Ouaniiy of Gsliur nets and
TIER furniture, which have always observed bp
! a par, OF The outfits of piraical establishment I:
| they are ely used for their immediate wnuts IN
procuring subsistence, when their real profession
| proves unirniiinI, and ohliges Them Ia &C..
have written TO you very long and fall account
oil tins altar, IN ORDER that you may be possessed of
every information ~ my power 20 give, III The event
oil question: arising as 10 the poprc,y of landing
and burning properly on ioe'gn shore and should
this case he noticed by the supporters oil ''erruuriaI
lr,sdicuon, lover minhabed perts OF ihe Coast oil
Cuba, notorious only ioI murder AID piracy IL wi
he seen that your officers and men S lives have been
Jeop1rdizcd, and The flag OF their country made
target for the laWioss vaus tire al nj their plea
snTt-a"d which will CONTINUE so be- ii any
iIons should he put upon oar landing similar pa
ces, where no authority exists than the will of the
marauders themselves who nhabt those places
! TOOK the liberty OF releasing The prisoners.
| as there was 40 proof TO establish them pirates aud
furnished them boat, with an express coAtrllon
ina, lhey should never appear again at the Cape ;
ana that should take and treat pirates any per-
sons found there hereafter, furnished with sne-
cia license from the present Captain Geuera, of Gu
| ba, setting forth their character and urcupa,iom.
lh's was taking upon myself perhaps too much ;
hu' II IS now Submitted to yon whether such
sure would not be proper, not only in regard 10 ilia
place, bur all others OF like position.
That there is chain Of intercourse with fisher
men VINO i've ~ s1ch places, and pirates, | have 10
DOUBT and he obvious iroih several cases of
late. Z
A. regards those AT the Isle of p mes, they affe
to know nothing OF lie robbery of the vessels your
order 10 me mentions, having taken place f,ere AL
Trough Tie very ARTICLES ol the CargOes of those YES
sells saw IN their houses
Al Cape Antonio, two years since, found fisher
mems hats filled with pratca goods, papers, and
letters, robbed from different vessels strewed about
theIr floors.
That Fishermen, as well pirates, should be mo-
we'd from all the Capes, other inhabited parts Of
Cuba, where the proper authorities eau have no
control, think necessary, and Will, hope, be the
case.
Very respectfully, have the honor 10 he yonr most
! obedleni servant, LAWRENCE KEARNEY,
H.. Comdt. U. S. Navy.
Commanding U. S. Naval Forces
~ the West Indies and Gulph Of Mexico
I. SIN my report Of tie affair ut Cape Cruz,
forgot to mention that not either hailed, or
was there any colors displayed by the parry that at
lacked Us, by which we could ascertain thelr char
aciei. IA regards ON character, they could have
no great doub', for they had seen Us rommunca
ting with AN English ship Of war, close Fl he Cape
on the same day of our arrival
was informed 10y the Governor Of Trinidad of
pirates inlesiiug the to the eastward of that
place. and was induced to proceed within the Keys
~ pursuit.
On my way, boarded a small schooner belonging
TO the Grand CHyman Islands and the information
before received was corrobOraed by her master
Under tue Impressions reached Cape Cruz and
our reception there Induced belief we had met the
patty complained OF.
am very respectfully, your obedien' servant,
l.. kEARNEY.
Com, ID. PORTER,
4 T.