Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-07-24
The Pirates Confession.

The Pirates Confession.
A. W. Hicks, the terocious pirate, who was
hung in New York on Friday last, made q con-
fession while in the Tombs as to number OF
horrible crimes committed by himself, and,
among others, the murder of Capt. Burr and his
crew, (two boys named Watts, who were broth
ers.) After describing the cool and calculating
manner in which he had planned the murder,
and saying that be had no enmity whatever to-
wards the parties and that he was solely infiu-
enced by love Of gain, he thus describes the
bloody deed: ft
We sailed on the 18th of March from the foot
of Spring street, and proceeded to Key-port,
where we remained till Sunday. While here l
scraped the mast Of the sloop, did lot of car
penter work, and evidently pleased Capt. Burr
very much by my earnestness in trying to make
every thing look ship shape.
We arrived at Gravesend on Saturday after
noon, and waited there for fair wind.
At last we put to sea, and when we were off
the Ocean House, / went to the forecastle anG
got an axe, which put in the boat hanging to
the davit aft.
The younger Watts was at the helm, and I
asked him to allow me to steer little while
He consented and went forward. aaa
In few minutes left the helm, and taking
the axe, went to him, and asked him if he saw
Baraegat Light. He said he did not. / told
him to look again, and pointed with my hand.
He turned round and looked in my face q
moment, but even if he had suspected my cruel
purpose, he would have read no indication Of it
there, for was as calm as though was going
to do the simplest and most innocent thing in
life.
Had been under human influences, the con-
fdent and trnsty way in which he turned his
eyes to mine, would have made me hesitate, but
no such thought entered my heart, and pointed
again and told him to Look there; amt that
It'll"
He turned his head and peered through the
darkness in the direction pointed, and as be
did so, struck him on the back of the head
with the axe, and knocked him down. He fell.
Thinking had not killed him, struck him
again with the axe as he lay upon the deck.
His fall and the sound of the axe made some
noise, which, added to that caused by my run
ming across the deck, attracted the attention of
the captain, who came up the companionWay,
and putting out his head, asked what was the
matter3
replied, ssNothing," and then asked him as I
had the younger Watts, SIS that Bsrnegat light q"
Capt. Burr replied, "No; you will not see it
for two hours;" and as he spoke he turned his
head from me.
The axe swung in the air, and, guided by my
sinewy and murderous arm, came down.
The edge crunched through his neck, nearly
severing his head from his body, and killing him
instantly.
The body fell down the companionway.
| As turned to leap after it, and dispatch my
remaining victim, looked forward, and Oh,
God, how / shudder to think of it !-he
whom l thought had already killed had risen
lo,,1
wards me, and the blood running in two dark
streams over his pale face, from two CHASTITY
wounds on the head.
| For moment stood undecided, but as he
still came on, ran towards him, but ere
reached him he fell about midships, and rushing
on him, struck once twice! thrice with the
axe, and finished him.
| Running aft, jumped down the companion.
way, with the bloody axe in my hand.
There lay the elder Watts in his birth, and
close beside him the CHASTITY bloody corpse Of
the captain.
stood moment looking at him, and dashed
at him and struck cut with the axe.
He leaped out of his birth, and sprang at me-
all red with the blood of the captain, whose
body had fallen past him, covering him with
gore in its fall.
| He tried to grapple with me, but stepping
back, gave the fatal axe a full swing, and
struck him again, again and again, once upoI
the head, once on the back and once more upor
the head, which felled him to the floor, and be
lay dead at my feet, side by side with the cap
tain. s
| My bloody work was done!
Dead men tell no tales.
/ / was alone. No eye had seen me, and now
/ was free to reap the reward of my work.
| | did not feel the slightest regret for what
had done, and went about removing the bodies
as coolly as though they had been SO much old
lumber
| took a rope and bent it on to the feet of the
elder Watts, hauled him on deck, and threw him
over the quarter. / then hauled the captain
out in the same manner, and threw him over
and then going to mid ships, lifted the body oi
the younger Watts from the deck, and plunged
him into the sea by the starboard side.
| | then threw the axe overheard, and soon as ]
had done this, changed the course of the sloop
and ran in close to the Hook.
| My intention was to run the sloop up the
| North River, and then fire her, but came near
| running on the Dog Beacon, abreast of Coney
Island and Staten Island lighthouse, after which
| fouled with schooner, and carried away the
| bowsprit, so put the money and such other ar
ticles of value as | could pick up, into the yawl
| and then sculed ashore three miles, landing lust
Ny movements after landing are we'll known
and when look back upon the fatality which
seemed to dog my steps, it seems as though the
fiend, who so long bad stood by me in every e.
mergency, had deserted me at last and had left
me to my own weakness
The Sight of Beautiful Blind Girl Res
tOred by Marriage.
The Cincinnati Press of Thursday last. saws
A physiological wonder occurred short time
since, in this city, which will doubtless prove as
interesting to our readers, as it already has to
psychologists and oculists. A young and ex-
ceedingly interesting girl, residing on eighth
street, whose name we suppress from motives of
delicacy, and whose amiable disposition, elegant
manners, and placid beauty of soul endeared her
to all who knew her, was, year or two ago,
compelled to discontinue her studies and leave
school, in consequence of partial loss of eye
sight that threatened to become total.
She was entirely unable to read, and although
she could see we'll enough to enable her to walk
Oios ho,, ca 4.