Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-08-20

.azed up at the bright stars IN the
lear heavens above me, have thought
ii this parting scene, and shuddered
Il the recollection Of his last words
that | had broken his heart-tliat 1
mad murdered him by my misconduct.
When storms have gathered round me,
and the sky was black and lowering,
and the loud thunder rolled peal after
peal, as though it would crush the ve-
ry hrmanent with its violence, while
the vivid lIghtuing's fash showed the
horrors around me-the vessel enter
Ing the cbasm of the waters, and the
dark waves appearing to close over her
-wh,n hope had fled and destruction
seemed able-theD, as the wind
rushed through the tattered shrouds,
and the hollow meanings Of the tenn
pest, have fancied that 1 heard the
dying groan of my parent: then have
l felt conpunction. But when day ap-
peared, and calm succeeded the storm,
all was forgotten in drunken revelrie
with my hwless crew.
My fathers estate was equally divi-
ded between my sister and myself; my
portion was soon squandered in gam
ding and debauchery and, finding
myself reduced TO penury, entered a
Colombian privateeT, and soon became
familiar with rapine and bloodshed.
had made two voyages and had COM
menced third, when we fell in with,
aud, after desperate conflict, were
captured by Spanish cruiser, and
Carried to'Cadlz. succeeded in ma
KING my escape and entered an Amer
lcan merchantman, bound Tor the W.
Indies. On my arrival at ST. BarthoI-
omew's, 1 met young man who had
been prize master on board our pri.
vateer he introduced me to some of
his associates, and acquainted me with
a design they had formed, TO run off
with a vessel, and become pirates.
embarked with them, and the follow
ing day our plans were executed.
pass over the many scenes of MUIR
der and pillage, in which / bore an
active part, and by which, my first
companions were cut off, one by one,
until was left in command of the yes
sci, and crew composed of outcasts
OF different natlons-and hurry on to
the most horrible of all that ever villa
ny contaminated, and for which, I
nave been doomed to a death Of igno-
miny. 1t had been our custom to af.
iord 80 quarter to those who fell into
our power, lest they should afterwards
oo the means of convicting US and,
aiIer the commander had taken his
choice OF the female prisoners, the re-
mainder were distributed by lot among
he crew. On the 18th of -. we
captured vessel from Savannah,
bound tor Buenos Ayres. Among Che
passengers were gentleman, his lady,
and daughter; the latter beautiful
girl, about fifteen years of age. /
made choice o. her, and she was tor
ced to crafty my desires. She had
besides, the horror of seeing her father
| butchered and thrown over board-of
seeing her mother given mp to the da.
hoiIcai purposes of the murderers of
her other parent. She could endure
no more. Nature could endure no
more. 10 the agony of despair, she
plunged INTO the sea, and was soon fol-
lowed by. the corpse Of her outraged
mother. Oh God why, ere this, were
not the lghlnngs of thy wrath hurled
upon me? Why was not annibilated
by thy vengeance? Was not the mea-
sure of my guilt completed Was not
already stepped TO the very biows in
crime? And that last deed-that mo-
Their, my sIster-her child: but why
do | rave7 1T mos ny destiny"
In the morning, the jailor, on enter
ing the cell of his prison to bid HIM
prepare for his execution, found him
weI:ering in his blood a roll of paper
lay upon his table. To the catalogue
oil his numerous crimes, he had added
that of SUICIDE.