Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-06-28
GAZETTE.
THE BUCCANEERS.

-. ,..csdes the Life Of William Dampier in
s,,I;r,ie,h number Of the Family Library, is
!. Of bold and desperate deeds such as
,,,b,Ds Is furnished in no other history
Ne ,ubion few extracts. commencing with
,,,,ck make upon a Spanish galleon.
DARE and his company had kept aloof till dusk
-" thew made for the galleon with all the force
'G o,r,, The game was for neutrality-suspicious.
aS T ,,uel death, slavery in the mines.-or VIC
S 'u fortune; they must make good their at
,s9nt 10 board the galleon or perish. To render
%a't courage desperate. Pierre ordered the sur
IAN 10 hare holes in the side OF the boat, that no
s,6er footing might be left to his men than the
Irksof the Spaaiard. This was directly perform
"A while each man armed with sword and ps-
Il. silently climbed the side of the ship. While
oOs Darty rushed into the cabin, and presented
hrr pistols to the officers who sat at cards. ano-
,b,r seized the gunroom, cutting down whoever
,oOJ in their way. As the Spaniards bad been
completely surprised, little opposition was Offer
ID. The ship surrendered, aud was carried in
70 France BY Pierre, who, by rare instance OF
rood sense and moderation, from the time OF oh
aiming this prize gave up the vocation OF Buca'
ner in which if fortunes were somtlmes quickly
acquired. they were as often rapidly lost, or GER
tinly squandered. Legrand appears to have eX-
errsrd no unnecessary cruelty, and all oi the
spanish seamen not required in navigating the
vessel were put on shore.
In the annals Of the sea royers no names are to
Be found more terrible than those of Lolonnois
and Montbar, natives OF France. and distinguish
ed among the fraternity by pre-eminence In crime.
The former was ratner monster IN human form
than merely cruel man; the latter appears to
have had a faint Of constitutional madness,
which. however took a most diabolical character.
The nom de guerrs Of Lolonnois was borrowed
from the native place of this fend, which was
near the sands of Olone. Little, however, is
known about the ancesry of the pirate, who at
srwards became SD celebrated for the variety
and yiessiudes of his life, for desperate courage,
and Unsuitable cruelty. He had either been kid
napier when young, or had lett France under a
form Of engagement then in common use in seve-
raj countries Of Europe, by which the adventure
er agreed to serve for a certain number OF years
IN the colonies. This practice, which was term
ed mdenting, was indeed common Till avery re-
cent period. and was liable to great abuses. From
TVS serytude LolonnOis escaped, and entered
with the Buccaneers. His address and courage
sOn rendered him conspicuous, aud in a few years
be was the owner of two canoes, and command
ed twenty freeboorers. With this small force
he captured Spanish frisate on the coast Of Gu
6a. This Bucanier commander, of whom al
most Incredible atrocities are related, is said to
have frequently thrown overheard the crews Of
he ships which he took.
Tie is said to have struck off the heads OF 50
prisoners with his own hand, refreshing himself
6ysuckirg the blood OF the victims as it trickled
down his sabre. 1t is even related, that in trans
ports OF frantic cruelty he has been known to tear
gu, and devour the hearts OF those who Tell BY
Os hand, and TO pluck out the tongues OF others.
10 this monster cruelty was an affair of calcula
ton as well as delight. and he reckoned the ter.
TOR INSPIRED by his name among the best means
oisaccess. With the fruits Of rapine Lolonnois
extended hrs range Of depreciation, and at last
lolled forces with another notorious brother Of
the order, Michael de Basco.
With force Of eight ships and $50 men they
s'ormed and plundered the towns Of Gibraltar and
haracalbo; the former place being burnt on ran
som not being paid, and the latter pillased though
terms OF safety had been agreed upon. We shall
not dwell upon the atrocities which distinguish
@h expedition, the most lucrative that had vet
%en undertaken, as many ships were captured
u''ms the cruise, besides the pluuder and ran
som obtained in the towns. In this affair many
o. ,he French hunters had joined; and the booty
divided among the whole band, at the Island to
aach they retired Tor the purpose, amounted to
tO'o0O pieces Of eight in money, plate. mer-
'nandiSe. household furniture, aud clothes. for
,aDOVns escaped the tavages Of the Buccaneers -
iae name Of Francois Lolonnois, already so for
nidaole on the Spanish Main and the islands,
1S now became word Of deeper horror to the mise
'aS'e settlers, who lived in continual dread Of
adescent.
D Inc character Of Montbar, the other French
GueaHler formerly mentioned, is more romantic,
~ = uOt more humane. He appears to have been
Sn s@ nose unhappy though detestabe beings
,n nV are created with raging thirst for blood,
~, a WIN whom cruelty is a passion and an appe
we s. Montbar was gentleman Of Languedoc.
O IRON reading in his youth Of the horrible cru.
ces p'actsed by the Spaniards upon the Mexi.
s anu Car,bs, imbibed hatred of the whole
~ An'Sa nation, which possessed him like phren-
;nn, Il Is however some~hat strange that the
,hP S'se winch led this singular person to Join