The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-07-04
From the Norfolk Herald.
THE PIRATES.


this borough.-There names are, Felix
Barbeita, Hilario Casaris alias Pepe, and
Jose Moranda, alias Courro.
On Saturday the prisoners were brought
before the Mayor, John L. Holt, Esq. for
examination, and to take the evidence of
the mate and French passenger. The at
tempt 10 poison the captain and passengers
IN -the hrst instance was made by Tardy
himself. While the cook was preparing
breakfast on the morning of the 2lst May,
Iardy made himself very oficious in Civ
ing HIM directions, particularly in the man.
ner of preparing a dish of fried eggs
which the cook did not take in good part,
but told him surlily that he wanted no adj
vice, and would thank him to go away.
Tardy still persevered, however, and used
sundry arts to get the cook away from his
post, which only served to make him the
more logged and determined to stick by it.
Finding this would not do, Tardy took
from his waistcoat pocket as much of a
vellowish powder as he could hold between
his thumb and two fingers, and sprinkled it
over the eggs, telling the cook it was a
kind Of pepper always used with eggs by
those who understood the RIGHT Way of
cooking them. The cook, however, took a
spoon and scraped off the powder, which
partly defeated the object of the wretch,
but enough remained to make chose who
ate of the eggs, very sick, among whom
were the two witnesses, who were so en-
feebled by its operation as to be unable to
do any thing and at night were complete
ly overcome with drowsiness. They had
spread their mattresses on the quarter
deck, and lay down; the Captain and Mr.
Robinson were in the cabin, both com
planning of sickness. Joseph Deliver was
at the helm. They could give no account
how the remaining persons on board
were disposed of About two o'clock they
were aroused by. loud cries of distress
the mate fearing the vessel had run foul of
something, rushed forward and saw Dolli-
yer and Potter running up the fore shrouds
uttering tie most doleful cries, as having
been desperately wounded-at the same
moment one of the Spanish passengers
stabbed him (the mate) with knife in the
shoulder; upon which he turned and ran
towards the cabin, from which he saw the
captain come out, reel a few steps, and
then fall upon the deck. His next impulse
was to follow Deliver and Potter to the
foretop. Potter appeared to be dying; he
was stabbed in the abdomen, and his en-
trails had obtruded through the aperture of
the wound. Immediately after ascending
TO the foretop he saw two of the Spaniards
go to the forecastle, each armed with
musket, and call up Asa Bicknell from be-
low. The poor fellow came up, moaning
piteously, (for he too, as appeared from
bandage he had wound around his middle,
had been stabbed) and as soon as he reach |
ell the deck the murderers fred their
muskets at him, and he fell dead at their
feet. Scarcely had this ferocious act been
perpetrated when he heard 4 plunging in
the water, and after a little while, two
voices crying out to those on board, and
imploring them in such tones as ought to
have penetrated the hardest heart, to
throw over "a barrel--a plauk-an oar
any thing to save their lives 7" Their
prayers were unheeded-and with loud
and fervent supplcation for mercy from
Him, who is all-merciful they sunk be-
meath the salt wave, and were heard no
more. These are supposed to havo been
Mr.. Robinson and the American carpenter.
1t has already been stated that the mate
came down from the foretop upon an as
surance from Tardy that his life would be
spared. The william knew his usefulness
as navigator, and therefore kept his
word. A similar assurance was given to
Deliver, but he had no sooner reached the
deck than he was despatched by Courre
and Pepc, and thrown overheard. The
cook, who had taken refuge on the main
cross-trees, also came down at their bid
ding, was spared for the time, though they
intended ultimately to murder him. Poor
Potter expired, and fell from the fore top
into the sea.
Mons. Ginoulhiac was saved from the still
ettos os the Spaniards by the interposition
of Tardy, who spared him in consideration
of his being countryman. The prison
ers were each Intercepted through an in
terpreter, Professor Fay,) whether they
had my thing to say in reply to the evil
dence. AS it might be supposed, they pro-
fessed innocence-and threw all the guilt
upon the miserable suicide, Tardy. One
Of them said, that he and his two compan-
ions had no other view in going in the YES
sci than to see the cities Of New York and
Philadelphia, and to purchase vessel, for
which purpose they had taken along with
them $4,000 in specie, which they put in
charge of the American Captain, but that
he had made way with it, probably with the.
connivance of Tardy, but some dispute
arising between Tardy and the Captain,
they got to such high words that they
awoke him and his passions, and they found
the American Captain threatening Tardy,
with brace of pistols and dagger that
they took the arms away from the Ameri-
can, which Tardy afterwards getting pos
session of, murdered his antagonist and
one or two others, and he supposed it prob
able the rest jumped overheard from fright!
Another said, he was asleep under the boat
: the whole time, and knew nothing of what
occurred till the next morning And the
third expressed his establishment that he,
an honest man, going passenger in YES
sci, about his lawful business, should be
accused of so horrid acrime
They evinced rot the least concern for