The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-05-28

Bellamy's Shipwreck.

That sandy barren upon the peninsula Of
Cape Cod, known at the present day as the
location of a not inconsidcrablc village, anu
incorporated into a township under the nare
of Welhcet, was formerly the scene of a
most remarkable shipwreck. OF this event,
only the bare outlines have been preserved
in historical form though the notoricty
of the pirate Bellamy and his daring crew
would naturally lead us TO expect otherwise
Blu, where authentic history has failed, its
place has been supplied by Legendary lore
and tradition has preserved for us details,
which otherwise would have been forever
forgotten.
| The event itself took place in the year l7l7,
and its actual witnesses, Of course, have long
since paid the debt of nature But, at a
comparatively recent period, men were still
living VINO could remember the periodical
| appearance Of a person. said, with how
great truth know not, to be the sole survi>
vor of Bellamy's lawless band. His visits
were regularly made in the spring and au.
tumn of every year, and were supposed tc
indicate that the pirates had secreted money
some where in the neghborhood, to which he
had resource as exigency required. Thi:
conjecture was supported by the circum
stance that, at his death, which occurred
some years after, several pieces of foreign
gold were found sewed in his girdle. He
often accepted nights hospitality from the
humble fishermen of the shore, but never
departed without leaving in his chamber a
coin, of value sufficient 10 moro than rec.
ompensc his hosts attention
His face wore singular and almost fright
ful aspect; his un,rimmed beard and sbag
~ eyebrows, from beneath which his sunker
eyes glared fiercely, lent an air OF prefer.
natural wdness to his counlenance. From
this unearthly appearance, joined TO Other
circumstances, the simple fishermen were
sometimes inclined TO believe that he receiv
ed nightly visits from beings of another
world. Reports were in circulation that
sounds, as of fierce alteration, mingled will
groans and horrid imprecations, were hearc
from bis room at dead of night, when NJ
human being could have been with him
Further, it was noticed that he invariabl,
left the apartment whenever the Bible Of
any religious book was opened, or wheneY
er, according to universal CUSTOM the iamil.
met around the hearth in their evening de
votion,. A simple distaste for religious oh
seryances, however, might be otherwise ac
counted for; while the strange sounds pro
ceedng from his room at midnight, wer'
probably broken excidmaiions, forced from
him in his dreams by the slings of a troub
led conscience; VIXEN, in lis Imagination
he was again engaged in those scenes G
bloodshed or horror, amid which his previ
Gus lie had been passed.
But whichever turn the vacillatng belle
of the townsmen ultimately took. whethe
they accounted him iend or human be
ing, his regular visits TO the vicinity KEEP
their interest constantly alive, and gave con
stantly recurring occasion for the garrulou
old men to recle the .ale Of Bellamy's Ship
wreck with which all agreed in connectn
him, in some way or another. Finally, hi
visits were discontinued; but the tale is nc
forgotten, although more than a century ha
since elapsed