Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-12-08

"a " -" ~
FIVE, beat Al hands to quarters, cleared the ship aai prepared
for ac,ong Enraa from a Pvsers Log Book.
"wbich is the villain! Let me see his eyes;
That when note another man like him,
may avoid him" Tanning TIC Shr.a
TIE PIRATE.
The latter part Of the reign of William AMI
| Mary, as well as the commencement Of The sue
ceedins, one Of the sood Queen Anne, was dis
turbed by uncomfortable intestine feuds and
the ocean swarmed with a gang Of Pirates, or
Buccaneers, who deprecated upon every Hus,
with which they came in contact and unlike
many of the sea- robbers Of more modern date,
their deprejatioas were sisnalized by the most
daring adventures, and deeds OF bloody atrocity.
Having for a lon, time deprecated most success
fully ip the West-lndian seas, ard on the coasts
Of the Spanish Main, a strong feet under the
command Of Admiral Sir John ~Slanhops, was
fitted out TO suppress :heir deprcaations; and,
visiting their strong holds, that gullnut officer
succeeded in dispensing the Williams, and in put
ting to death, in Tho most cruel manner ccnceiv-
able, all who fell into his hands; and. for n while,
he put un end TO their PREDATORY excursions
among the Islands Of the Indies.
S~coursed as they were, and deprived of a
large proportion of their n~umbers, the few tina;
escaped The punishment they so richly meriteJ,
rallied, and entering into a confederacy, look
the most horrible oaths, binl!ng themselves. by
u league, 10 devote the reu lander Of their days
in scours,ns the ha5itable world, and in SEEK
ipy for redress fer the punishments inflicted by
their powerful and unsparins coa4uorc-s.
Thus united, they made a po;ut OF rendezvous
at one Of tho numerous Keys of the Bahama
Banks, and collecting sufficient materials, they
constr ucted q small fleet OF their own, ana sal-
! lying forth, visited The coast OF North America,
from the st. hIarys to the Passaaiaquodly, and
carried on their DEF relations to an almost in.
exampled extent.
One OF the fleet, Il schooner, moulting nine.
teen guns, and having on board a crew Of one
hundrd men, took her station, at the mouth Of
Long lsland Sound; tbus iulsrcepting the trade
that then passed through that inland sea, AMI
often captured rich prizes. She was command
| ell by ono Pierre lie Grand, o Frcnchnian, who
had long been famous in the annals of crime,
and familiar with those deeds Of tlood, nj the
bare contemplation Of which, the soul sickcns,
am! revolts with horror. Pierre was not among
the first to break the vow he had taken in con-
mon with his associates, and " stiinuia,c them,
aud to urge them on, he committed the most
unheard Of atrocities, thus setting an example,
as he said, which was worthy Of all imitation.
When The seas offered not opportunities for
the sea brigand, TO carry on his work Of blood
aud rspinc, he was accustomed TO make some
we'll known harbor, where he secured has vessel,
and leaving q portion OF his crew behind, to
guard her, with the other part he would sally
INTO the country, and falling upon the defence
le,s and un.uspecting settlers, take FROM them
what little they possessed, aud then put them 10
a death Of the most ugon;zing %tortures. Ia has
v,iliauy he exuited, and he oiten toasted Of his
having, on one occasion, when engaged ia COM
hitting his excuses, torn the heart ifom the boz
som ol a female; when no bit 1t, amid savage
civilizations, and dashed out The brains Ut the
infant child of the matron, in the presence of
The little sisters Of the babe, who, alter setting
fire TO the dwelling, he thrust INTO the flames,
amid the yells oljuy ana admiration Of his com.
pauions.
Pierre, had 50 long carried On his excuses Oh
the Southern Coast OF America, that he had be-
come the terror oi the people, and Efforts were
made TO arrest his career Of viiliuuy. Finiins
that he was yisilautiy pursued, he removed his
quarters, and as we have said lc!oro, took his
station in Long Island Sound.
lie hal not been on the northern station long,
before he commenced a series Of the same atroci'
tues, That hal distinguished HIM in the South;
AMI in the madness If his ~piratical excursions.
he laid waste 10 the fam houses, located on
the shores Of the Narraganset, ami frequently
extended his excursions n. high up as Warwick
neck, and on one occasion, actually visited Prov
! ilencs In disguise but Oh returning TO tie ocean,
he gave ample evidence Of the reality Of hi.
character, ly capturing n small sloop, near the
Island Of Prudence, and iu putting to death the
whole of her inmates. His depredalions, were
NO Longer TO be borne nnJ YET il was difficult, &c
devise and mature plars for his capture, fer 50
completely terror-s,rcken, were the colonisis by
the mere n.en'ipn Of his name, that they dreaded
him MS an evil genius, and shruuk back II; the
We, y suggestion Of engaging with him in fight.
Al length, Pierre. comm III cd a deed. which
reused the Indignation Of every Rhode. %l'lanler'
I aud il WIS resolved that they would capture the
| Pirate, or perish in the attempt. Ia one ofhi'