American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-02-10
From Ms american Monthly Magazine Of February
PIRACY
PIRACY.

In the early part Of June, sailed from PhiIade
phis in the schooner Mary, on voyage to New o.
leans. My principal object in going round by Sc
was the restoration of my health, which had bee
for many months declining Having some friend
in New-Orleans whose commercial operations wer
conducted on an extensive SCALE was charged wit
the care OF several sums of money in gold and sill
yer, amounting altogether, to nearly eighteen th0a
sand dollars. This communicated to the captain
and we concluded TO it in the best manner tina
our circumstances would admit.-A plank was &C
cordngly taken off the ribs of the schooner in m
own cabin, and the money being deposited in III
vacancy, the plank was nailed down in its origina
place, and the seams filled and tarred over. BeInl
thus relieved from any apprehension that the money
would be found upon us in case OF an attack iron
pirates, my mind was somewhat easier. What otheI
articles OF value could conveniently carry about
me, did so. | had also brought out quantity Of
bank notes to the amount of fifteen thousand dollars
Part OF these caused to be carefully sewed in the
tett lapel OF my coat, surprising that in case OF my
being lost at sea, my coat should my body be found
would still contain the most valuable Of my effects
The balance was carefully quilted into my black silk
cravat
Our crew consisted of the captain, and four men
with supply of live stock for the voyage and q
Newfoundland dog valuable for his fidelity and saga
city. He had once saved his master from wa,ery
grave, when he had been stunned and knocked over
board by the sudden shifting Of the boom. | was
the only passenger. Our voyage at first was pros
porous and time went on rapidly. felt my strength
increase the longer we were at sea, and when we
arrived off the southern coast oil Florida, my feel
ings were like those Of another man.
Returning health danced gaily thro' my veins,
Nursed by the climate where destruction regns.
1t was toward the evening of the l4th day, two
hours before sunset, that spied sail astern of
on wit
ishng rapidly Night closed. and all around was
impenetrabe darkness. Now and then gentle
wave would break against our PROV and sparkle for
moment and at a distance behind US we could see
the uneves glow Of light occasioned by ne Eoaming
OF the strange vessel. The breeze that filled our
canvass was gentle though il was fresh.
E" She walkd the waters like thing fife
And seemed to dare the elements to strife
We couIsed our way steadily through the night:
though once or twice the roaring of the waves in
creased so suddenly to make US believe that we
had passed breaker. At the time it was unac
coIntable to me, but now believe il to be occasion
ed ny the bark behind u.s. coming rather near in the
darkness OF the night. Al midnight went on deck
Nothing but an occasional sparkle was to be seen
and the ocean was undisturbed Still it was fear
full and appalling darkness, and in spite of my en-
deavours could not compose myself. Atthe wind
lass, on the forecastle three of the sailors like nv
conversation Il
On joining them, found our fears were mutual
They all kept their eyes steadily fixed upon the I'M
known vessel as ii anticipating some dreadful event
They informed me that they had put their arms in |
order, and were determined to stand or die
Shame to the spirit that would shrink in fight,
When duty calls him to tn enssnguned fight
AT this moment flash Of light perhaps musket |
burning printing, proceeded from the vessel in pur
suit and we saw distinctly that her deck was cover.
ed with men. My heart almost failed me. had II
never been in battle, and knew not what it was
Day at length dawned and setting all her canvass
our puTsuer gained aarmngly upon us. 1t was evil
dent that she had followed US the whole night bens
unwilling to attack us in the dark. In few min
ues, she fired swivel and came alongside She
was pirate. Her boat was low cred and about n |
dozen hideous looking objects jumped in, with their
commander at their head. The boat pushed off |
and was nearing us fast, We arranged ourselves
tor giving her oroadsde. Our whole stock oil
arms consisted of six muskets and an old swivel
used as signal gun, belonging to the Mary, and
pair OF pistols OF my own, which carried in nv
belt The pirate boats crew, were armed with mus
Kets, pistols, swords, cutasses and knives; and 1
When she came within her own length of US, we
hred hVe OF our muskets and the swivel into ber.
ffer IRE was scarcely half given, when she filed
and went down with all her crew. AT this success
we were inclined to re oice but on looking over to
the pirate schooner, we observed her deck still
swarmlng with the same description Of horrid Look
ing wretches. A second boats crew pushed off.
with Ieir muskets pointed directly at US The whole
time When they came within the same distance
as the other, we fred, but with little if any effect
The pirates Immediately returned the FIRE, and
with horrid cries jumped aboard Of US. Two of our
brave crew were lying dead upon the deck, and the
rest o. Us expected nothing better. French, Spanish
enu i-"g,,sn were spoken indlscrmnatey and all at
once he most horIid imprecations were uttered
against u.s. and threats that fancy cannot imagine.
wretch whose black, shaggy whiskers covered
nearIy ms whole face, whose eyes were only zen
at intervals from beneath his bushy eyebrows, and