The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-12-08
PIRACY AND MIIRnER


on board the brig Vineyard of Boston,
commanded by Capt. Thornby. This ves-
sci cleared from New Orleans for Philadel-
Phla October z, with cargo OF sugar, &c.,
and. 1t is said, $4,000 in specie. The
history of the whole transaction is detailed
N the following examination Of Robert
DaWes, one of the prisoners. -Four of the
crew are in prison. Three were drown
ed IN the jolly boat. The Vineyard and
cargo were insured in New York for more
than $4,000
Robert Dawes, one of the prisoners, was
brought up for examination, and gave the
lioilowIng statement Six men, including
eXamlnant, shipped on board the brig Vine
yard, Capt. VIM. Thornby, bound for Phil
adelPhla. The mates name was VIM.
hoberts. On the passage, one day in the
latter part OF November, when they'had been
at sea about days, as the hands were at
WORK In the forepart of the vessel, the stew
ard came forward and said there was mon
I ey on board. The crew began to talk
among themselves, and concluded to kill
the captain and mate and take charge of
the vessel. The mems names were Charles
, Gibbs, A. Church, and the steward. They
asked Jas. Talbot and Jack (Brownrigg) if
they would join, but they refused, when
they concluded to kill them also. They
determined, one night after that, to COM
mence business, and witness was afraid
TO say any thing, as they threatened to kill
HIM also. They got their deck ready, but
concluded to put it off till another night, be-
cause they did not wish to kill Talbot and
Jack, (Brownrigg.) On the 22d of Novem
Der they got every thing ready at night
but did nothing. On the ODD, between IL
and 2 A. NJ, while Jack was aloft, witness
told the steward to come aft and trim the
light. The steward came with knife in
his hand, which-he dropped and picked up
the pump brake. The Captain at the time
was standing along side of witness. The
steward then struck the Captain on the
back of the neck with the pump brake,
which staggered hm-he then followed up
the blow and struck him on the other
side-the Captain called ont murder and oh.
Charles Gibbs and the steward then threw
HIM overheard. At this time Henry Atwell
and A. Church stood at the head of the COM
panion way waiting for the mate, who at
that moment came up without his coat and
asked what was the matter. Atwell then
struck him blow across the head with a
club, on which he ran down into the cabin
again, and Charles Gibbs followed him
down. but it being dark he could not find
him. He then returned on deck took the
light out of the pinnacle, and went back
again. He found the mate bleeding, and
took hold of him. Atwell and Church fol-
lowed into the cabin, and each struck the
mate several blows with the pump brake
and club. while Gibbs held him. They
then dragged him on deck, still alive, and
called for witness. He came, and the mate
Immediately seized hold of his wrist with a
death grip, when the other men caught
hold of him and threw him overheard. The
mate did not sink Immediately, but called
out several times, "Oh! oh !''-but he at
last sunk. One of the men told witness to
go forward and call up Talbot. He came
aft, when they told him not to he afraid as
they would not hurt him, if he proved true
to them. They gave him some grog and
sent him to bed. They told Jack the same
thing. Gibbs then took charge of the YES
sci, and told witness to take the helm and
steer N. by E. They then went below and
got the money out. They then overhauled
the Captains trunk, and took from it about
$40 in money and a gold watch. Talbot,
Jack, and witness were compelled to do as
they did, but talked several times of re-tak
ing the vessel.
L Ht HtAb udI IHGy ulEluCu LnO SobtSAtS
of kegs, each of which contained about
5000. The balance were all started into
kegs. On Sunday evening, when the brig
was about Is miles S. of South Hampton
Light, they scuttlcd the brig, set her on fire..
and took to the boats. There was $4,000
in the long boat, and $4,000 in the Jolly
boat. The money belonged to Stephen
Girard of Philadelphia, as appeared by the
IN 60 ho eh Ia
the land Just before day light on Monday
morning. 1t then came on to blow fresh
from n E. and the jolly boat swamped, and
all the men were drowned. They still con-
tinued 10 stand in and struck the bar, when
they threw overheard all the money but
about $4,000. They then beat over and
landed on Pelican or Barren Islands, where
they buried the money-met a man on the
beach, whom they asked if he could give
them any refresbment. He took them to
his house. and gave them something to eat.
The mans name was Johnson. In the
evening witness went to bed, and Jack sat
up, and told Johnson that Gibbs and the
steward were murderers, and that he gave
himself and witness up as informers. Wit
ness is Is years of age, native of Lancas-
ter England. Has sailed with Gibbs and
CHuIcn DeloIe, III INC SNIP heAillS Ioi' Aoul
Boston to New Orleans, where they left
her. After they had landed, they saw
man cunning on the beach, who came up to
them, and Gibbs told him that they had left
the brig William four days before, that the
Captain was lost, and that they wanted to
get to the town of Brooklyn, and to New
York. Henry Atwell, Church and the stew
ard threatened to kill witness if ne made
n MY hisclosurn Gibbs told ,yifnncs IN ham
up his spirits, and said the others should
not injure him. Witness did not know that
they gave Johnson any money. Witness
knew that they intended to murder the
committed Did not dare to tell the Cap
tain, for fear they would take his life. The
only motive for killing them was to get pos
session of the money. The captain and