Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1829-03-31
THE MORNING STAR,
THE PIRATES.

Star by pirates, having repeatedly appeared in diff
ierent newspapers, should you deem the following
narrative of that atrocious affair worthy of inser-
ton in your valuable paper, it is much at your SER
vice its truth may be relied upon, unfortunate
ly, was passenger per the Morning Star.
The barque Morning Star, laden with cinnamon,
coffee, and pepper, commanded by Captain Gibbs,
with crew of eight sailors, first and second mates,
having on board 81 passengers, all from Ceylon, on
their return to their native country, sailed from
Colombo, on Dec. ID, 1927. OF the above there
we're seven cabin passengers-viz five gentlemen,
and the wife and infant daughter of of the gen
lemen the rest consisted of invalid soldiers (l8
IN number) OF the 18th, 18th, esd, and 9th Reg-
ments, stationed at Ceylon, with their wives and
children, amounting in all TO 80 so that the total OF
the persons board altogether about fifty. AT
the latter end of December we arrived off the Isle
OF France we did not anchor but continuing our
VOYAGE about January "a, 1925 arrived at the Cape
OF Good Hope, alter fair passage of SIX weeks from
Ceylon. We remained at the Cape four days, and
having renewed our stock of provisions, and waited
for passengers, (but fortunately none embarked
| there,) we sailed from the Cape on January %,
wind and weather much in our favour. We made
rapid progress, and the Captain entertained but lit
tie doubt OF our arriving at London in the last week
OF March. After our departure from the Cape, we
perceived but few vessels but one brig in advance
Of U.S. particularly excited our attention, keeping al
no great distance from US, occasionally disappear
ing, however, for four or five days previous to ou
| arrival OIL the Isle OF Ascension. On Tuesday
February 10, IA day never to be forgotten by the
| unfortunate passengers of the Morning Starr the
morning was remarkably clear and beautiful, the
wind very favorable, and we were sailing along
about nine knots an hour, when about 3 oclock, A
NJ. vessel was discovered on stern, on the
verge of the horizon, and computed to be about Sc
distant
nearer it was ascertaInedto be brig Soon atle
seven, having gained considerably upon US, anf
hosted British coors, she fired; were not alarm
ed at thus for our Captain SAID he supposed she was
a British brig of war, and merely wanted him II
shorten sail and lay to.
Shortly afterwards, however, she repeated he
fire, and in about ten minutes more fired for tn
third time Ut was supposed that she did not fire wit
ball OF shot these three times. The captain no,
began TO suspect that she was pirate, and deter
mined not to lay TO, but, on the contrary, to make
all sail. The Isle of Ascension sight, and
few miles only distant from but the wind blew
unfortunately for u.s. strong y OIL the Isle. Tn
pirate brig being far superior sailing vessel to ours
and having come within short distance from u:
again fired, and with ball, which passed across GU
stern but, luckily. without injurlng any of us tn
fifth was spent shot BY this time (near nine O'Clock
she came alongside OF us, and taking down her Br
US, melted by curiosity, were deck at this mt
ment looking at the pirate brig she had 10 gun
and in the middle of their deck they had long gul
IAN l 8 pounder) and about eighty men. Our cal
tain demanded what they wanted, when one OF the
answered, in tolerable English, A." lower your to-
gallant sails, and send boat to MS directly" a.
ding, "why did you not lay to % The captain, n
hearing distinctly what the pirate said, was nqul
Ing OF his bysanders little delay consequent
ensued when the wretches without more nd
fired into vessel. Ii was evidently her diaboc
intent to have killed all on our deck, as they fire
with grape shot, which extended from the boz
spirit to the stern, lodging in the side of the shl
long boat, ard masts. One poor soldier, howevt
only was wounded ball having passed throug
hip. boat was now lowered from our ship, and o
IF the passengers, late officer in the navy, who
name on this occasion cannot turbear mentioning
Mr.. simultaneously volunteered his service
go board the brig and learn their intentions II
offer was accepted, and he went, accompanied
the second mate and four seamen Immediately
his landing on their deck they asked him why
Captain had not come, and ordered him to tell
Captain to come immediately and bring his pap
with him at the same time, with the back Of tn
swords they beat Mr.. Smith and his compano
who scrambled down the side of the ship into
boat, and returned with the dismal news.
Our captain, after consulting with Mr.. Smith,
solved Oh going and taking his papers, and accc
panied by the second mate and four seamen,
went OH board. On his getting on deck the pi
ties, without ever looking at his papers, tore tn
out OF his hand cut them into pieces with tn
swords. After thrashing Captain Gibbs and
companions, they thrust them all down into sn
narrow place in their ship, and fastened them do'
Having done this, four OF the wretches, each arm
rin with long cutlass, and couple of blunderbus:
.th. and large knives stuck in their belts. got into
as boat and came to our ship they demanded lad
and that they might more easily ascend the vessel,
lore having got on board most horrible scene ensu
With The Villains cut at every ones they met with,
+ it wounded several soldiers in the most barbar