Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1831-05-23
W15rNLI AM Y.


Alexandria Gazstie--k is no fiction W,
have the pleasure Of knowing the Re minis
cent. now a Lieutenant in ihe Navy am
long ago heard the substance Of the story.
MANUEL CARIuCH0,
PIRATE.
| was one evening in company with several
officers OF the Navy, when the conversation
turning upon the then recent Trial OF Com.
Porter, by an easy transition settled upon the
transactions of the aali-P'ratical squadron Gem
inanded by that officer 10 the West Indies
Many incidents and personal adventures grow
ing out OF that service were related b, several
OF the company, one of which arrested my
attention so forclbly, that my memory has re-
| sained the subject al the story distinctly, even
| alter the lapse Of several years. An officer
n youth VI about twenty years of age) after
a momrntary pause IN the conversation, began
as nearly as can recollect. in these words -
seyaral of you. doubtless, remember that
fierce and Indomtable Pirate, Manuel Cait,,.
cho-caputed by Stribbling one of his
boat expedition. Carr, who left US lust NJ this
moment, was present ut The fight, aud think
told me saved his life. When Tho bonts board.
ed the pirsiical schooner, which the pit ates
had run upon the rocks during the ehuss on
| the coast Of Cuba, those who were not shot
down, leaped from the vessel 10 the rocks, AM
| made Their way into the woods under heavy
tire from our seamen. Manuel fought like u
lion, aud was the last 10 brow down his aims
| and lake 10 fight. lie had tarfad too long
however, to escape. Before he reached the
sows OF the schooner an old boaiswain's mate
was upon him. All hopes OF escape Vanishing,
Manuel, us his Last resource ia The emergency
threw himself On his knees, and with upl,ited
hands ,mplored the n,erpusIllon of the Holy
bHgi0.-When III saw them, says &. the ord
tar was picking his flint with his Jack knilr
II IA lar ~
proceeded TO ad ust the hreIock with all the
indifference imaginable-one extremity 10 his
own biawny shoalier, and the other 10 the
pirates ear. col up IN time 10 throw aside
he muzzle beiura il exploded another in
slant, aud Manuel would have been saved much
oil ia inconvenience TO which lie was suhsr-
q 'ently subjected. lie was The only prisoner
we made.
Manuel was conveyed to Thompsnn's Island.
our head qiaftef ~ delivered over 10 tina Con,.
| modore, who had occasion 10 admlie the fear
less IN rep,dny and llcrcuIean strength of TIA
runie.
One fine evening Manuel was brought uron
me top gallant io'ecastle oi thg sbip 10 breathe
The hesh hir and cool his irons, when his n
lnaue predictions cniTely oyeicame his con.
sclodsn, IS oil present security mud ease aud,
dtshIng tbro the mass Of Hstonished sramen
plung ii iolo rapid seward tide, which bore
= bubbrs' on It's surface " oaward.'-1ut he
" Was, us it wee, child of the ocean aud
the monsters oil the deep turned from him as
one OF their ianillars. The pirale nad II, iiteu
| p@lhips, n hundred iatholDs IRON the ship BE-.
lore II boat was manned aud despatched 10
pursuit Bot Manuel was ~ d'9"nlng rat 10
CATCH at 81 avs lie WAS Louad 10 The Island
| us tangled aud imp netI"ble manRro,e,
Tor shelter from ID spollef his yanncd
and dipped like crippled loon duck, as the
boat shot up with him. Il was v.n,ly. even
IA Cuba hsberman. who slranglrs tho shark
III his own cofal depths, 10 strive with the
| light cutter OF sioop, INIT leaves the dolphin
IN ITS wake. Alter n fierce suoggl", during
winch Manuel nearly succeeded IA ms elIu,ls
10 capsze tho CHI DJat, when no would nav.
drowned tue crew Ike so many puppirs the,
! hauled him by the ha'r intp the rig; .n.rc
| like tue savage wolf taken W tue hunter, ne
crouched without growl, in sudden
expectation VI his late, anj Wa TAX u on 10 r
the ship aud more securely ifonef
The piize schooner Che PdoD few DAYS
alter tlh' event was ordered home for adiu,i.-
cation, and Manuel Was sent on bo4rd TO sand
his trial on hrs arrival At Noriols. the Mac. Of
destination. Stumbling Commanded the
schooner mya.ll, aud Midshlpman b o, New
Jeisry, We,e ms Only Diicrrs for crew WE
had tea or a dom skeleton nyalds worn oui
! by diseasr, aud dsniissed the squadron for IN.
frmny. Besdes the officers there yete bo,
Two abl".5"dIed hands On board. From some
cause unacCounla able 10 me, s. ordered
, ManuePs IRONS IL DO Knocked oil and suffered
niin 10 60 al Ia &c durhR The passage home
Nor dad ht seem uudesrrsIng Tins iorbearanae
out behaved vi Ii piopuety, and soon Ingrat-
ated himself aud Won the pny Of every one
on board The schooner liz attached hlmsrIf
particularly TO me +, and nIghi anu day, Man
ueI WAS ~ con unctiUn with myNaich active.
" engaged IN the dulIes of TIE vessel. Tie
often sought Nh ofIorlnnity of conIersng
wilh me on my lon ~ mId-watch, when the
helmSman even Was moulding on the tIllcr
dreaming, perhaps, oisaIling On whole OCEANS
OF = Jamaicai aud also all on board buried
IN profound sleep al tIese momrnls he " ould
bewdn The uutinlely eni TO which he was
spt eddy pprodchng-protest bs innocence oil
crIInr-~"d endeds0r u awaken my sympathy
IN his behalf lie would hen weep Ike u n IN =
lani AID signs which n0W comprehend (for
| was then not Mason we're made TO beaf
witness % his yeIacny aud inaoceucr. lie
was under tho impression that he mad been
sem 10 s.a 10 puni,h nm foi hls cIinrS, and
that hard featured old boasiwnin na1e
IN board was To be his eIecutloueT he lived
IN daily expiration that the next sun " uuld Wit
ness his executioni aud II seems that he bad
prepared Cor the event.
We made Cape Henry light the morning of
the tenth day, and having a fine eas,trly
breeze, We We're made happy with The pro-
mise of the pilot 81 reaching Norfolk before tue
setting Of he sun. The gale +" irrsn,ned as
I tue DAY was done, aud already the town OF
Norfolk began 10 appear amidst the hazr oil
the evening, as We rounded Craney Island.
: The phoi was u lad. aud this was the first
, essay IN his art lie became confused as
the somudlngs suddenly shoaled, aud packed
US at high water on the shoal at Craney
Island. We lsbored hard until the moon was
high IN All, aud the tide had console rnhly