Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-03-10

interfered, and by his entreaties obtained
an order TO stop the punishment.
Mr.. Miller, the mate, was next brought
forward. He at first denied that there
was any money on board of the vessel. so
far as his knowledge extended-and was
accordingly ordered to be logged for the
purpose Of quickening his memory-but
The craven wretch had no sooner received
half dozen blows than he declared that
cowardly spirit, attempted to throw all the
blame on Captain Watkins. He said that
there was money on board-some boxes
of dollars, and some bags Of gold, and
that as soon as the schooner was suspect
ed of being pirate, Capt. Watkins took
the money and secreted il somewhere in
the cabin or in the after run
The search was now renewed, with re.
doubled earnestness, but without success
and Pedro Guarilla, with the greatest
possible GOODNESS and deliberatIon, order
ed some Of his men to send the main.top-
mast siuding-sal tack down OH deck, and
hang Captain Watkins at the main yard
arm
Captain Watkins understood sufficient
of the Spanish language, to comprehend
the nature of the order. He gave look
Of Indignation at his cowardly mate, who
had thus by falsehood, to save himself
from punishment, brought pirates ven-
geance upon his Captain. But when the
Lieutenant, whose name was Juan, ap.
preached the pinoned Watkins, and at
tempted to pass the rope round his neck,
the Captain gave the scoundrel an unex.
pected kick in the abdomen, which sent
him across the deck, and compelled him
to measure his length in the lee scuppers !
Juan rose in great fury, and, cutlas
in hand. rushed upon Watkins, and would
have cut him down at once, had he not
been restrained by Guarlla-who grinned
with savage delight when he saw his
Lieutenant thus repulsed by an unarmed
and pnioned foe. The rope was soon
affixed to the neck of the Captain of the
Mermaid, end half dozen pirates stood
ready, at a signal, to run him up to the
main yard arm--when Pedro Guarila
addressed the unhappy man through an
interpreter, and pointing significantly to
the yard arm, asked him if he would NOW
confess where he had secreted the mo.
ney?
Captain Watkins replied with the most
solemn asseverations that there was no
money on board the brig.
This answer, being reported to the pi-
rate Captain, reused his ire, and he gave
the signal to sway away!
The rope frightened around the throat
ofpoor Watkins. He mentally babe fare
well to his wife and children, and called
upon q merciful God to forgive his sins.
He was realizing all the mental agones
of death, when the young man, whom
have called Diego, and who had been
mere spectator of the scenes which were
enacted, sprang forward, raised his cut
las, and severed the rope just above the
head of Watkins. Guarilla seemed bit.
terly offended at this act, and he gave the
young Diego menacing look, and order
cd him to 60 on board the schooner. But
for the time, Capt. Watkins life was saw
ed-the attempt 10 hang him was not re-
peated. The Captain, mate, and crew
were driven forward by blows and thrusts
with knives, by which several were
wounded, into the forecastle, at the en-.
trance Of which guard was placed, there
10 await their fate, whatever ii might be.
One poor fellow, who was stabbed by
knife in the shoulder, instlnctively turned
half round, with motion akin to resist.
ance, when the pirate with another thrust
of bis weapon, laid him dead on the deck
The pirates now rummaged the vessel,
and sought for valuable goods but they
soon ascertalned that the cargo was val.
ueless to them-consistng chiefly of lum.
Der, salt-6sh, lard, provisions, &c. There
was barrel of rum in Storage, Of which
they freely partook, and their loud shouts,
and sounds of horrid laughter, from time
to time, sounded feariully IN the ears Of
the destined victims OF their cruelty.
The pirates had found among the ships
papers, the shipping list, and roll of equip
age, and thus knew the names and num-
Der of the crew. At the head stood the
name Of Aaron Miller, the mate Of the
Mermaid, and this was probably the rea.
son why he was first summoned by name
from the forecastle by the pirates, to the
quarter deck.
Pale and trembling, Miller assembled
the steps leading from the forecastle to the
deck. He knew not the object Of the pi.
rates in thus singing him from among his
companions. II might be TO murder him
or, and he chung to the hattering hope,
il might be 10 save him, who had confess
ed all they wished, from the terrible fate
which hung over his ship-mates.
Watkins and his companions awaited
in sad suspense the termination Of this
fearful scene-when suddenly the shrieks
of Miller invaded their ears. Amid his
thrilling screams he pleaded for mercy;
but he appealed to those who knew nought
Of mercy but its name, and the crew Of
the Mermaid soon learned, from the con-
vulsive shreks of the poor wretch, and
the loud taunts Of the pirates, that Miller
had fallen victim TO their lerocity.
They all felt that there was no longer
any hope Of having their lives spared. and
Watkins conceived bold and desperate
project, which he FASTENED to put into ex.
ecuton. My brave fellows, said he to
his horror stricken crew. miller is MUIR
dered, and we shall soon share his fate.
,et ia make ona strupule for life. and if