The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-11-18

over him, with the calmness of despair he
ordered the ship to be hove to, and pre-
pared to meet his fate.
There were degrees of horror TO be ex-
pected in the encounter of pirates; and
captain Fowler, with his passengers and
crew, endeavored to find some consola-
ton in the belief that their caPtor was
not the dreaded Morgan. But this hope
soon vanished when large boat from the
schooner, full of armed men, drew near
the ship; and it was soon seen that the
forward oar was pulled by man whose
height and huge proportions left little
room to doubt that it was the Jack
Ketch" of whom report had spoken; and
suspicion was converted into certainty
when the boat came alongside, and this
same giant stepped on board, followed by
a middle sized, compactly built man Of
about forty, with light hair and smooth
but sunburnt face, whom. with what
seemed mock courtesy, he introduced
as Captain Morgan
There was nothing terrific or even for
mila5le in the aspect of the dreaded free
booer. lis features were rather COM
monplacc than otherwise, both in form
and expression; he was plainly dressed,
and had about his person no weapons, not
even cutass or dirk. 1t was noticed,
however, that his orders to his men as
they tcok possession Of the ships deck
were brief, and uttered in that quiet tone
Of authority which bespeaks the habit OF
command; and nothing could exceed the
promptness with which they were obeyed.
Not man of the fifteen or twenty he had
brought with him spoke or moved except
as he commanded, each man took in ST.
Ience the station assigned to him, and
captain Fowler began to cherish hope
tha! after searching tie ship and taking
such portions Of the cargo as might suit
his fancy, Morgan would let him 90 un-
harmed, and but little worse for the en-
encounter. 'Nhe gold, he was sure, could
moi be found, and he felt quite confident
that the fact of its being on board was
unknown TO all except himself and the
merchant from whom he received it.
There was one exception to the order
iy and disciplined conduct of the pirates
crew: and this was in the domeanor Of
the huge fellow recognized by the cap
tives as she Jack ketch Of the pirate
schooner. |. seemed that he YVES not
included in the brief but efficient orders
Of Morgan; FOR he wandered about the
ships deck, paying no attention to the
proceedings Of lis captain or his COM
rades, and finally seated himself upon the
: Hiadlass, where he amused Himself with
balancing one Of the capstan bars upon
the tip Of lis fore fnger, as if utterly un-
conscious Of the purpose ioc which he had
come on board, OF Of the business then in
progress. Notwithstanding their anxiety
and alarm, captain Fowler and his pas
scngars could not help watching this fell
low with curious interest; and they found
it very difficult 10 reconcile his deport-
ment with the horrid Office ascribed 10
him by rumor. His size and apparent
. strength were indeed enormous. In height
he was six feet and half; of immense
breadth in the shoulders, long armed, and
slim in the waist; bu, the expression Of
, his face was that of vacant good nature,
: and there was an INDIGESTION in his move
| ments, and something in his physiog
: nomy, which awakened the suspicion tina
his intellect was feeble. And this suspi
ciOn was correct.
, silly Sam--ior that was the name h,
bore among the pirates-was indeed al
2 IDIOT; an instead Of filing the sanguinary
: Office ascribed TO him, he was, in truth
+, one &C the most harmless and kindheartet
. of human beings. His real name, hi
origin and history were unknown; ii wa
| believed, however, that he was Of Englisl
!, birth, and there was some vague tale O
: cruelty exercised upon him IN his child
e hood which had unsettled his reason. Iii
y enormous strength and his willingness t
c abog made him extremely useful on boar
e Morgan's vessel, although he would tax
7. part in no engagement; and as he neye
l. required wages, or share OF plumber
/ seeming perfectly content with the foo
C and clothing that were provided for him
'f and as he was ready, moreover, at an
+ time to do the work Of any body that ash
n ed, he was a universal favorite among hi
&c fellows. Vonone Of them, however, nc
e to Morgan himself, did he seem to hay
|. any personal attachment. The schoont