Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-09-08
The Origin ftl,e Filbustiers.

ing testimony the origin of the Filbus
tiers Tor Fillibustiers as it is corrupt,
written in some of the papers, to which
the late movements upon Cuba give new
interests:
| Their chief prowess was confined most.
y 10 the latter part of the 18th century
but they had their origin. though not un,
der that name. as carly as 1926, in party
of freebooters. chiefly Frenchmcn. who
then took possession of the island of ST
Christopher, and carried on piratical expo.
ditlons against the Spaniards. About the
year 1880 they left that island and cstab-
lished themselves on the Northwest part o,
the Island cf St. Domingo (now Hay,i,)
then belonging to the Spaniards, and the
small Islands in the neighborhood. Here
they maintalned themselves by Piracy,
and in hunting and killing the wild cattle
of which large numbers remained on these
Islands. They dried the flesh of these cat
tie and made an article of trade of their
skins.
After this set of men came the Buccaneers,
named 1t is said from the Carrbbce word
Boucan, which was the name given to the
places for the drying and smoking of
beef. They had an organization founded
on community Of labor and property, but
of entire lawlessncss. from which all wo-
men were excluded. All disputes were
settled by single combat. New comers,
who were chiefly from France. were sub.
Jected to a three years apprenticeship, du-
ring which they were pledged to give their
and against the common enemy. the Span
iards. Two circumstances led to the cs-
adjustment of this community into an ex
cluslvely piratcal republic, and to their
acquiring a degree of power which made
them an object of terror for half century.
In the course of few years, the herds Of
cattle III St. Domingo, which had afforded
them their chief means of support, had
been all destroyed, and at the same time
the war which then prevailed between
the Spaniards, and the English and the
French, afforded favorable opportunity
for the carrying on of piratical expeditions
against the vast property of the former in
the West Indies. These temptations at
tracted to them advcnturcrs from all ma
tons, and piracy became their only trade,
and they obtained the name of E'illibusticrs,
from the Spanish name ola light boat
Eilbote, in French Filbot derived perhaps
from the English Fly boat. In the begin
nng they were few in number. with mis-
cradle appointments, and small means Of
action; but they soon grew into naval
power, which became formidable to the
Spaniards, from the mad courage with
which they attacked and captured the
largest Spanish ships. even ships of war,
and from the hocking together Of sca-far-
ing adventures, aud the favor showed by
France and England, because they were
the means Of annoyance to the Spanish
Thus was created sort Of piratical rcpub-
lie. in which by common consent, or
the choice of the majority, the bravcst and
most skillful were made leaders, some of
them proving SO powerful that they gain
cd great ascendcncy over their comrades
In process Of time they formed an organi-
zatlon, which cxacted the most severe discip-
line and subordination among themselves,
but allowed the greatest license towards
others.
The first commander who led the Fill
busters to the greatest undertaking and
joined them all into an organized whole,
was an Englishman of the name Of Mans
field, who, about the middle Of the 17th
century, was at the head Of small fleet Of
seventeen sail, numbering about six hun
dred men, which increased rapidly, and
obtained possession of some Of the Span
ish Islands, among others St. Catharines.
The celebrated Vice Admiral Morgan
served under him. He was a native of
Wales, who after the death of Mansfield
in the year 1868, was chosen commander.
and brought the power of the Filllbustiers
to its greatest height. st. Domingo, with
the adjoining islands on the north, and Ja-
maica were then their head quarters
Morgan did not confnc himself TO piracy
on the sea, but made important dcmonstra-
lions against several cities, which hcburn-
cd, wasted and plundered in horrible
manner. Puerto del Principe (thc present
Port au Prince) in St. Domingo, Porto
Bello and Maracaibo were among these
but the most celebrated was his expedition
against Panama. On the 24th of October,
1870, he went with 220O men, in fleet Of
thirty seven vessels undersail, landed near
Chagrcs, and crossed with bis army, un-
der indcscribablc difficulties, over the
Isthmus towards Panama, which he reach
ed on the 9th ofJanuary, 1911, destroy
ed the Spanish garrison in two hours,
plundcrcd the city, with the most cruel
treatment Of the inhabitants, and then set
it on fire. After this expedition, which
cmbroiled him with his own people, be-
cause they accused him Of keeping the
best part Of the booty TO himselJ, Morgan
Withdrew to Jamaica, gave up his pratt
cal courses, married, and died at an ad-
vanccd age.
Among the most celebrated Fillibusticr
Captains under Morgan, and who sue
cccdcd him, were the Frcnchman Francis
Nau, called 'Olennais, noted for his cruel
ty, who, in 1866, took Gibraltar near Mar
acaibo; burned the place and laid Maraeai-
bo. under contribution, but in 1867 was Ia.
ken on the Baru Islands by the Indians
and put to death. III the year 1853 the
| Fillibustiers, ,underth command ofLaurent
de Graf, Dutchman, and Frenchman
named Grandmont also took possession OF
the suburbs of Carthagena and Cam
peachy.
From this time the Fllibusticrs began TO
| decline, for as under the influence Of the
French in St. Domingo, they began to be
dangerous to the English, their Captain
Montauband in his piracics on the coast of
Guinea in 1901, having taken several
Dutch and English ships. England began
to oppose their movements. In 1890,
however, they took Santiago dc los Caval-
lcros, but their expeditions against the
ports of Chill and Peru failed, and they
from that time diminished in numbers
Their last important undertaking was the
assistance they gave in 1897 from St. Do
mingo, under the command ofthc French