The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-09
NOTORIOUS FREEBOO FERS.
Scandinavian RoLbers-EngIIsh Pirat

Scandinavian ROLbers-EngIIsh Pirates.
An article on "Brigandage" in the last number
of the Westminster ReUie,C, founded on the recent
narratives of MIR. Moons experiences in Italy,
gives a series of curious sketches of notorious
freebooters of medieval and modern times. Two
Of these stories are as fQllows:-
THE THIRTY RovERs OF JoMsBURGH.
at is impossible to read some Of the stories of
the old Sea Kings OF Scandinavia without feel
ing admiration for the splendid daring and stolcal
disregard OF life exhibited by those Dobest and
most romantic ofroboers. Take the famous Morse
legend OF the thirty rOvers OF Jomsburgh, for
instance, who were captured by Jarl Hakon, king
of Norway, about the year 924. The king had
determined to cut off the heads OF all his can
tives, and appointed Thorkell Leire, one of the
most famous otthe Norwegian chieftans, to act as
eXecutioner The Jomsburgh men were made to
sit down before the king on a log of wood, with
their lees bound together by rope. Osier twigs
were twisted in their hair and a slave stood be-
hind each to keep his head steady. Soon three
heads rolled TO the ground beora the mighty
sweep of ThorkelPs axe. Then turning to the
rest OF the Capdves with mocking smile, the
Norwegian chief asked them what they thought
OF death. i only beg of thee said one, TO be
quick over thy work. Thou knowest it is ques-
ton oft discussed at Jomsburgh, whether or not
man feels anything alter losing his head. If,
after my head is cut of, throw this knife at
thee, that will show that retain some feeling:
if let it tall, it will prove the contrary Now
sooner was the mans head struck Off than the
knife fell to the ground from his powcrlcss
grasp. Strike the blow in my tace,' said the
next; 4 will sit still without ilnching. Watch
my eye, to see if wink: Tor the royers OF JOINS
burgh know how to meet the stroke OF death
without betraying any emotion! He kept his
promise, and received the blow without winking
his eyes.
"Then Sigurd, the son of Bui the Thick, fine
young man III the flower OF his age, with long
lair halr as fine as silk flowing in rngleCs over
his shoulder then addressed Thorkell II
fear not death, but | must pray thee not to let
my haIr be touched by a slave, or stained with
my blood Upon this one of Hakon's followers
stepped forward and held Sigurd's head instead
of the slave; but as Thorkells battle axe was
whizzing through the ar, Slgurd tWltChed his
head forward so strongly that the axe passed
hm untouched and cut of both the hands of
the warrier who held MIN. The fierce Hakon
was hugely delighted at this practical joke,
| and lis son, Eirek, Immediately loOsed Sigurd
from the rope. ThoIkell, however, being de-
termined moi to be banked of his prey, now
| rushed with uplitted axe upon Vagn Akason,
another of the captives; but the crafty sea-
rover threw himself on the ground, so that
Thorkell fell over him and cut the rope
with his axe, Being thus freed from the bonds
which held him, Yagn sprang up, and cut
down Thorkell with his own weapon. Eirek
| then asked Vagn whether he would accept life
| from his hands. Willingly was the reply, pro
vided thou wilt give 1t to all OF u.s. Upon this
| the rope was loosened, and the twelve royers
who had escaped death returned to their native
| rocks. This Vagn was the most unruly and
| fierce of the Jomsburgh men, He sought ad-
| mittanCe to the piratical community when he
| was only twelve years old, and when their
/ chief, the celebrated Palnatoki, refused his
| application on the ground OF his youth, Vagn
1 coolly replied that he was as strong as youth
/ of eighteen and offered to fight the most famous
OF the roVers, Jarl Slgvad IN proof of his asser
| tlon. The challenge was accepted, and Vagn
pressed his antagonist so closely with his battle
| axe that the chiet was obliged to interfere TO
haiY, 1a1
| dable boy"
TWO ENGLIsHMEN-Low AND TEACH.
Low was Londoner, and his taste for piracy
| was exhibited at a very early age. 1t is said
| that when boy he used to levy contributions
| among his companions, and that If any of them
| refused, fight was the result. His first exploit
was to shoot at his captain because the latter
ordered him on an expedition just as Low was
about to have his dinner. He then set up as a
| pirate, and was remarkably successful in his
captures, chiefly on account OF the terror he
Inspired. Once he captured French ship, and
being IN want of provisions, he offered TO the
governor OF french por6 to give her up pro-
| yided he would send him supply. The provi
| sions were sent, and Low liberated the crew,
but declined TO give up the vessel on the
| ground that there was a very stout cook on
| board, who, being a greasy fellow, ought to
fry well. He then had the unfortunate man
| bound to the mast, and set the ship on
fire. Stll more atrocious was his conduct
towards the captain and crew of Portuguese
| ship which he had captured. Having heard
| that there was large sum of money on board
| he searched all over the vessel but without sue.
cess, upon which he ordered the crew TO be put
to the torture in order to make them say where
the treasure was concealed. 1t then came out
that the captain had during the chase, hung
the bag containing the money out of his cabin
window and that when the pirate came on
board he had cut the rope, and the bag haC
| fallen into the sea. This put Low into such
frenzy that he Immediately ordered the captains
| lips to be cut Off and broiled before his ewes
after which both he and the crew were murdered
The cruelty OF this singular r0lhan did not, how