The Arkansas banner., 1848-01-03
Tho Plra,ss Wih.

Tho Plrais's Wi1.
 Late in tho year 1896 was layine ln tle hars,or ot Charleston, adversisHg to sail for Havana. The day before clearing, handsome young Spaniard eanse on board, and introducing himseif as Senior dc Soto, asked mo in excellent Engiish when wns 70 saii, and If could take another passenger.
 "l sail to-morrow, aad can aceommodaie i've or three more paasengcrs," replied
 'l think, Capiain,i he said: after pause, ssshat wIi take Passaae with you. have been lately in command cf FIorida wrecker, and by one lucky ehancas have made donbloons enough io stand winters frolic in Havana Ii is not oflen that an honest wreckes meetB with such Windfa, ,'' he ad- ded with langh.
 'tAnd pray what was II, senoii. a.ksd. "o, rare good fortune.p he returned promptly, "l was out abont six weeks ago. when one morn . .ng, alIer terrible storm, discovered ship on the reef, tn most dangerous situation. Hss deck vas crowded with men, and s1w at . glance thai the vessel could not hold together foaT houra ran under her stern and made bargain with tho poor wreteltes to take them oiE''
 "Madc hargain!' I exclaimed with horror; made lea bargain to save tho lives of your fellow
 "Te-be-sure-why nOtf" te retarned with . reckless longh. Il was poor wFecker. was all in the way of trade. The vessel wac from N. York and saved the lives of her crow and passengers at round price head So much money in my R~NAst 7a Wkth tuo HnecEef otties Nhan- doned ', and have been enjoying myself between New Orleans and this place since. Now I'll 20 to Hayana-ask my fathers blessing. and see what winter"
 All this was said in q manner which no less than Mc words betoken the heartleesness of my &C., quaintance, who, as l subsequently, learned was tho son of rich merchant of Havana, by whom he had been discarded. Young Dc Soio paid his pas- sage; and the next day we sailed
 mad SIX other passengers, two of whonl-a wealthy Cuba lady and her daughter--wcrr return- ing from asnrnmers visit to the States The daugh- ter was one Of the most beautiful creoes ever saw. She could hot have been oyer sixteen years of age Her ngure was slight and graceful; the features of her 9ountenance were regular and symmetrical, while her eyes told eloquently of gentle, coniid- ing and aisectionrte soul. De Soto and her mother had met before, and erc we had been twenty-faur hours at sea, the young lady and himself were walk lag the quarter-dcck, chatting away in Spanish With delightful familiarity, though they had becn acquainted with each otkcr for years. Before we reached Havana, they were lovers; before sailed from that port, they were married. Young De Soto had made his peace with his father, b& feignnc re- Pentsheei and inc two families, had, in conclusion, decided that it would be best to let the young peo- pie have their way. l visited them seversl times and like all young folks, they seemed, and were very happy. For the gentle young wife's sake, I prayed thather influence might prove strong enough ~ASAhS th~ DSAni iCNhicSs, FeHtuf0u8 nIo Ol 0eF husband.
 Nine years after the period alluded to. thirteen Spaniarus were tried in Boston for piracy in rob. ping the brig Mexican, of Salem, lining the crew below, and firing the vessel. Happily they were rescued by passing ship, the pirates were appre- hended on the cost of Africa six months afterwards by British cruiser, and sent to Boston, where eight oi them were condemned. Only six however, suf- fered death upon the scaffold. The seventh com mitted suicide In prison. The eighth, the mate of tho vessel, was respited. had read the account of tho trial of these pirates, but the subject excited but little of my attention.
 In the month of June, 1896, was passing along Chesnut sticct, Philadelphia when hearing my name caied turned, and saw gazing al me, lady dressed in the deepest mourning. Her face was ghastly pale, and the skin seemed 10 be tightly drawn over the bones-fesh, there seemed to be none
 'CaPtain ,"she said, in broken English, and with trembling voice, Captain, you do not re- me.nbcrme. 1 am Mrs. De Soto, your passenger from Charleston to Havana ten years ago.
 In an instant the whole truth flashed upon my mind. The name of the respted pirate was De Soto, the bold wrecker, her husband entered in- to conversation with her, and learned from her own lips the efforts she had made to her husbands life. She had travelled from New Orleans to Bos- ton in search of the persons whom her husband had saved for money frem death on the Floridy rcefs By advertising in the papers, she found many of these persons, and, exciting their sympathes in her uehats they ceilhed tnat they owed their lives tO her husbands brayery-carefully concealing the fact tliat before he threw them rope he had been promised large amount for every man rescued
 With these certificates, she hastened to Washing ton, and asked of Gen. Jackson the life of her hus- band, The heart of the stern old chieftain was move by the wife's prayer, and Ae gladly availed himself of the only ground for interposition-the supposed services rendered by De Soto to American citizens in distress and the pirate received pardon
 Two years ago I was in Havana, and met De Soto in coffc-house. asked for his wife.
 "She's been dead these three yearst'' he replied with indifference, as he picked up a cue and chai- ienged an acquaintance 10 game of billiards.