Washington telegraph., 1856-06-25
NO. 26.
Origin of Filibusters.

Towards the end of the 18th and the be-
ginning of the 18th century, before the Eng
lish navy had acquired decided supremacy
over the fleets of the other maritime powers
OF Europe the seas were infested by gangs
of pirates, who treated the flags of all ma
tious with contempt. In consequence of
the fall OF the naval power of Spain, bands
OF adventurers we're formed, particularly on
the shores of the Atlantic who at first
were tolerated and even supported by the
powers hostile to Spain, afterwards turned
their arms against their protectors, and
plundered indiscrimina;ely the vessels of
every country unfortunate enough to come
within their reach. They were called "fil-
lbusters.' - and their principal place of con-
cealment was on the bay and inlet-bound-
ing coast of San Domingo where they OBJ
tanned assista nee and recruits among the
half civilized Buccaneros.
The first flibusters were Frencbman.
possessing nothing but their daring courage,
which conducted them to fortune or the
gallows. One of them named Leerand,
from Dieppe, assembled fifty chosen and
determined followers, and sought his for
tune In bark, the name of which was never
known. Not far from Spain they sped
galleon, which had separated itself from the
Spanish fleet. They approached her as if
they were coming to sell fish or fruit Le-
grand and his men boarded her, entered the
cabin OF the captain. who was playing cards,
put pistol to his head, forced him and his
crew to surrender. and then returned with
his booty to Dieppe. This adventure. says
contemporary writer, was the first of se-
ries OF the most Incredible enterprises du.
ring the following forty years ,s
French, Dutch and English filibusters,
used to assemble in their hiding places in
the islands of San Domingo and St. kits,
and choose from their humber chief for
each expedition. When they had gather
ed great amount of booty. they bought
small vessel, armed with cannon, with
which they captured ships by hundreds 1t
was hard to escape them and still harder to
pursue them. They resembled ravens
pouncing upon their prey from all quarters
and then disappearing in hooks and re-
treats, impossible of access by their pursu-
ers. They often laid waste the coast for
500 miles, and have ventured frequently IN
the interior distance of 200 miles.
In this way they overran and plundered
the rich towns OF Chagres Mecaizabo, Vera
Cruz Panama, Porto Rico, Campeachy,
the island Of St. Catharine, and the sub
urbs of Cartbagena. One of their number,
called Olonais, came to the very gates of
Havana with twenty men. When be and
his companions had returned to their ship.
the governor despatched vessel of war,
with soldiers and hangman on board, to
pursue them. but Olonais took possession of
the Spanish man-o of war, beheaded the SOL
diers with his own hands, and sent the hang
man back with his compliments to the gov
ernor.
Whenever they captured ship. they
generally forced portion of the crew to
take service along with them, in this man.
ner filling up the vacancies in their ranks
made by the enemy's bullets. In most
cases, however, compulsion was not needed;
the adventurous life, and the prospect of
rich booty. proving sufficient attraction to
induce the greater number of sailors to join
their party Of their own accord.
" Y Journal Of Commerce.