Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-09-29
NARRATIVE OF THE CAREER OF
VIM. FLY, BOATSwAIN OF THE
ELIZABETH SNOW.

The following "reminiscences in the
early criminal history of New England
will be read with interest. They were
prepared for the National Police Gazette
from the records of the Boston Courts
In April, 1875, the Elizabeth Snow of
Bristol, R. l., was preparing to sail from
Jamaica to the coast of Guinea. Mr.,
Green, the master, shipped as boatswain
a man named William Fly. The early
history of Fly is not known, but it seems
that he had been pirate before, and ha-
wing escaped justice, he had now an op-
portunity of getting an honest living, and
Of obtaining some small preferment, OF
which lie was very ambitious. Immedi-
ateIy after sailing, Fly sounded the crew
severally, and found most of them birds
of his own feather; ripe for any guilt he
might devise. AS he thus found tools
ready to his hands, he conspired with
them to seize the vessel and kill the Of
fcers. This done, he proposed to as
sumo the command, and renew his trade
of piracy. His brethren in iniquity full
ly concurred with him.
On the eth of May, Fly went up to
Maurice Condor, the man at the helm ac-
companied by Alexander Mitchell, Hen
ry Hill, Samuel Cole, Thomas Winthrop,
and other conspirators. Putting pistol
to Condon's head, Fly swore that if he
uttered syllable, or stirred hand or foot,
he would blow his brains out on the
spot. Then leaving sentry over Con-
don, he tucked up his sleeves, and went
with Mitchell into the Captains cabin,
with naked cutlass in his hand. He
told the captain that he was Captain no
longer, and must turn out Captain
Green asked what was the matter, and
was answered by Mitchell that they had
no time to answer impertinent questions,
and that if he would turn out and go on
deck quietly, it would save them the
trouble of scraping the cabin but If ne
would not, then few buckets OF water
and scraper would take his blood out oi
the floor; that they had chosen Captain
Fly for their commander, and would have
no other. He said furthermore, that
they were resolved not TO waste their
provisions to feed useless mouths. Mr.
Green said that since such was their re-
solution, he would make no resistance
He only begged that they would spare his
life as it would be no obstacle to theil
designs. He said that he had never trea'
ted any of them harshly, and that there
fore they could not kill him cut of re-
venge. If they wished to do so for theil
own security, he gave his word that he
would oppose them in nothing. If they
were not satisfied with the pledge, he
desired them to keep him in irons till they
came to some place where they might
conveniently put him on shore.
"Ay," said Fly, to live and hang US
/ if we are ever taken. No, no that bitE
won't take. 1t has hanged many al
honest fellow already. Wake up! up"
Fly and Mitchell then laid hands on him
and pulled him out of bed. The pool
man again entreated them to spare him
for his souls sake, and he would binC
himself by the most solemn oaths neTe
to appear against them. He continues
to plead for life, mere life, in terms tha
had these monsters been indeed men il