Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-10-04

From "Women otthe Revolution.
THE ARCH REBEL.
'It is well known that the name of
Gustavus Conyngham, the captain of
one of the first privateers under the
American flag, was one of terrorlto
the British. The print of him ex-
posed in the shops of London, label
Cd, SThe Arch Rebel" and represen-
ting a man of gigantic frame and fe-
rocions countenance, was. one of the
expressions indicating the popular
fear attached to his name. He was
repeatedly captured by the enemy,
and treated with barbarous severity,
being only saved from death by tie
resolution of Congress that his exc
cution should be avenged by that of
certain royalist officers then in custo-
dy. While he was prisoner in
IRONS on board ore of their vessels,
his wife made an eloquent and touch
ing appeal in his behalf, in letterto
General Washington, which was laid
before Congress, ITO have lost a
beloved and worthy husband in bat
tle," she says, would have been
light atfliction;' but her courage fail
ed at the thought of the suffering des-
pair, and ignominious death that
awaited him. The intcrpoSitien she
besought was granted, and saved
the prisoners life. tgal
IA letter written from Antigua,
published in the Pennsylvania Regis
ter, gives an account of Mrs. Conyng-
ham romantic introduction to the
noted hero who was afterwards her
husband. She was, with two other
ladies, at sea, and shared the common
fear of meeting with some American
privateer-'thc Revenge in particu-
lar--craising near the West India
Islands. The Captain was pacing
the quarterback with glass in his
hand, and was pressed viii will many
questions by his fair passengers, who
had heard dreadful accounts of the
cruelty ofthe Americans. Suddenly
cry from aloft--"A sail a sail!h
caused general confusion. The Cap
tain FASTENED up the shrouds, gave
orders TO the man at the helm. and
remained some minutes watching
the approaching suspicious stranger;
then coming on deck, said that the
vessel looked id rakish; he had no
doubt it was privateer, probably
the Revenge-the terror of those
seas. 5 The ladies were in
tears, and withdrew to the cabin half
fainting from apprehension There
was no prospect of escape; the sail
grf DUAL drew near; a gun was fired,
and the pursued vessel lay to. / A
boat put off from the stranger, and
two officers and several men were
soon upon her deck. The spokes-
man wore blue roundabout and
towsers, and was we'll armed; he
was about twenty-five, of light
and active figure; his sunburnt face
showed much intelligence, and was,
withal, interesting from a shade of
melancholy. He made some inqui-
ries concerning the vessel, cargo, and
passengers, and on being informed
there were ladies in the cabin, color
ed. and observed to his lieutenant-
that he would have to GO and say to
them, The passengers were not priso-
ncrs, bnt guests. The lieutenant re-
piled that he had not confidence
enough to speak TO them and the
other went into the cabin. The fears
of the ladies were soon dispelled, and
the youngest asked the officer, with
much naivete, if he was really pi-
rate. 81 ain captain of am American
privateer,p he answered, "and he, [
trust cannot be a pirate.n "Are
you the captain of the Revengel"
81 am. ]" ''ls itpossibIe you are the
man represented to be a bloody and
ferocious pirate, whose chief delight
is in scenes of carnagel" II am
that person Of whom those nursery
tales have been told; whose picture
is hung up to fiighten children. ]
have suffered mach from British pris-
ons and from British ealumny;bat
nay sutieungs will never make me
forget the courtesy duet ladies'