Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1831-04-18
DO DlMaTiG.
From The Neio York journal Of Commerce.
CONFESSION OF GIBBS, Ing PIRATE.


The criminal who stands convicted Of the
murder of William Rober,s, mato OF the brig
Vineyard, on the high soas on the 23d No
vember last, and Who IA 10 be executed on the
I'D inst 10 IA native OF the Stats of Rhode
Island. As the name ny which he Is knnwn
TO The community is Charles Gibbs. we shall
accordingly designate. him by tha namr,
IN the history oi hi8 bloody atrocities which IN
here subjoined.
soon after his arrest. and before hi. trial, ha
expressed desite 10 Henry W. Merritt, one
Of the Police marshals TO make some commits
nicalions IN n mHghtrnte resptclin his career
aud crimes. he officer made known hrs wish
IN James ilopsoo, Esq. one Of the Police Ma
gislraies oi this Guy, and hal gentleman, pre-
sunlng that a Development of the ci,cntnsan-
ees attending bis piraGies would he mghiy i'm.
Iporiant and valuable to The mercantile com.
mnni,y, proceeded TO the Prison NJ Bellevue to
receive his confession. Tie disclosures made
to that grulle,nan will b. found ~ the sequel.
ihe oihrr details pr seDtei IN III following
narrative, were communicated 10 MIR. Merf,H,
rolice Otiifer. the deputy kuspeI oi Brlnawell ,
aud another perssn. at d,GeIcn times, aud we're
committed TO pa1er by them on tue spot strH
nearly in his own language. That tboy are all,
tfue We do not undertake 10 eihin but that !
'hey are IN tbs mnin, founded IN trutb. ~ do
mos, sincerely believe. Some Of them ara so
strongly cotrohora,cd by circumstances. as to
'esvo hardly u doubt on The mi0ds oil ms must
scspienl.
Tho drh account which he gives Of Lilp,elf
~. that bs father obtained situation far him
In 'hr onifed States slo0p.oi.war Hornet Cant
L"wrence, during fhe lai war with England
IN which weasel ho made two cru,ses In the
last OF which sbo captured and sunk The enc
mys sloop OF war Peacock off the coas, Of Per-
nhmbueo, after an engagement Of 70 minutes.
A nFTtA 4 q T.
Lawrence was assigned by the government to-
ho command OF the frigate Che.npoake, then
y'nS IN Boston harbot, aud Gibbs aec,mpaa
nhh hm Ia that dictated vessel IN the mouth of
April 1913. " Early in the month of Nav"
sajs he. a." we received n challsoge Gom Cam.
Broke. oil the irigHte Shannon aud we IN
sianlly made preparations to go 10 sea, aud
risk n battle. We stood down the barber about
II o'clock, and commenced the action about g.
Z. NJ. of Capt. Ann. IL lnsed about 30 ako-
u,es, with grea, slaughter, especially on board
the Chesapeake. escaped mifaculously, with
only sabre wound upon my nose, the only
wound ever received 10 my life The loss III
the Chesapeake was % killed dead, and 100
wonnded-oUe half mortaIIy. We we're taken
INTO iial'iaI, where | remained about four
months
After biseHchange, he abandoned all idea Of
following the sea for u subsistence, weot home
TO Rhode island. aud remained there n few
months, but heng unable TO conquer his pro.
pensliy TO lend rowing lic, he entered ON
bostd "A ship bonHi To NV Otleans nnd thence
TO Stockholm. On ihe hpmeward pas,aRc they
were compelled 20 put Inlo BRISTOL, England,
IN distress, wher" the ship was con tIufnned and
he proceeded to Liverpool and returned TO tho
Unnrd States IN he ship Anity Capt Max.
well. Sbunly after his return home, The death
OF an uncle put him IN possession Of abou, two
lb'nsahG dollars, VITA which h established
bims'li IN the e. oGery bus,pess in Boston. hi.
Undertaking WAS far irom bsing profitable.
aud he was often unde, the Necessity Of applv
ing 20 his iaiher FOR assistance, which was nj.
ways afprded. accompanied with good ADVICE
and his blessinR. Tue stock was finally sold M
auction, for about 900 dollnrs, Which he soon
sqnandered ~ ale 'honses aud among pronisates.
HIS father hearing Of his dissipation. wrote al
isotlonaiely and earnestly 10 him TO com.
home, bur he subbOrHly refused, aud went 10
sea BgrIn, IN the ship John, Cant Brow,
bound for the Island OF MaigaIitla
After thsr arrival, no len the shin and en-.
tered on board the Colombian priyateer Maria
Cnpt. Bell. They crused ~, abont Two month";
IN the Bay of Mexico, around Cuba but tbe
crew becoming dissatisfied IN consrq .ience of
The nonpayment Of heir prize.money, a mutiny
arose, the crew look possession OF the schoo.
DER, aud landed the officers near Pensacola
| A oumber oil days slnpsed before il was finally
decided by them shat course 10 pursue. Soms
advised that they should cruise Hs before. UNI.
der the Colombian commission 9th ers proposed
10 hoist tie Black Flag. They ctused for a
short time without any success and il war
then unanimously determined 10 hoist he black
Hlg and declare War against at nations. Their
/, Uioody purpose was not carried however. into
! immediate execution. They boa ided number
of vessels and allowed them 10 pnss untn o tested
there beng no specie on board, aud their car
goes not being CONVEX ibls into an, hing val.
liable 10 themselves. Al last orc OF the crew
named Antonio, nggesied that an Arrangement
| could he made with man in Havsna thai
would be mutually beneficial that hs would
receive all their goods, sell them, aud DIVIDE
the procecds-Ihrs Suggestion being favoraLly
received, thry ran up within two miles OF the
! Moro Castle, aud sent Antonio on shore 10 see
the merchant and make a contract with him
Previous TO This, Gibbs was chosen 10 nav.
gale tie vess4l. Antonio succeeded In afran-
ging every thing according 10 tier wishes, and
Cape Antonio was appoiht ed as the place Of
rendezvous. the merchant was TO furnish
drogers TO transport the goods 10 Havana.
which was done by him for more than three
years.
The Maria now put to sea, with a crew Of a.
bout 90 men, prime ip,liy Spsniards aud Amer
leans. with every hope Of Infamous success
The Grst vessel she fill in with was the Indis.
pensaole, an English ship, bound 10 Havana.
~hch WAS taken aud carried to Cape Anionio.
| Ihe creU Uerc ,mmedidlsly destroyed /: those
who 'esisted were newn To peces: those Who
offered 90 resistance. we're reserved TO be shot
aud thrown overheard. Such was the manner
ia which they proceeded IN all ,heir subsequent
! captures. Tue unhappy beings that cried for
mercy 10 the hope that some thing like humani.
! ~ was 10 be fonnd inthe breasts even OF the
:, worst Of men, shared the same fate with him
vino resolved TO sell his life At the hghes, price.
! a French brig. with "a valua BILE cargo OF wine
and silk, was taken shortly liner: the vessel was