The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-12-15
Tho Buccaneers OF the Adrialic.

mitted upon the waters OF the Adriatic
Sea, and mostly upon the Italian coast,
between Fort Fermo and Sinigaglia.-
These depredations were committed upon
vessels of all nations, and the pirates al
ways came out IN boats. To day ves-
sci would be boarded off the head land of
Loreto and to morrow, above Ancona
and yet people had reason to believe that
one gang did il all.
Various expeditions had been fitted out
against the bold and daring buccaneers,
but without avail. Once, in the summer
of 35, small vessel was filed with SOL
dieTs, aud sent out from Ancona as a
decoy. She cruised up and down the
coast for some weeks, but the pirates did
not show themselves. One afternoon she
passed the high promontory of. Porte
Monte Santo, and in two hours after
wards, Nenitian brig was boarded at
that point by four boats, and robbed of
every thing she had on board worth taking.
The Government vessel got The news, and
put back but she could find neither the
pirates nor their boats,
Thus matters went on until tie spring
of '36. During the month Of May,
few private individuals, merchants of
Cervia, fitted out small felueca, with
seventy-five well armed men concealed be-
meath the deck and Tins craft took her
way souihward along the coast. When
off FaIconara, at the mouth of the Esino,
four boats were seen coming out from the
river. The ieIUcca was a clumsy thing
at best, Tor she had not been sent out for
the purpose of rannng away So the
commander had no fear of crowding on
all his sail In an hour the four boats
were alongside, and in all they contained
about fifty men. The crews of three Of
| the IN were allowed TO board before any
| demonstration was made. Then the men
were summoned from the hold, and the
pirates found themselves in tight place
but they were cool, brave men, and they
retreated to their boats in good order,
fighting desperately as they went. Eight
of them were slain, and the rest reached
their boats and pushed away. The crew
of the felucca might have done more dams
age by discharging their muskeis upon
The retrealing foe but, as it was their
o5je:t to give chase now in turn, and
learn. if possible, viii her the rascals
went on shore, they put about, and got
out their sweeps
The pirates, for while. seemed to
have the best of it but, by-and~by, the
fe.ucca's sails caught fresh puff of air,
and she began to gain. The pirates ran
up the river about two miles, where they
left their boats, and took to the shore,
quickly Disappearing within thick wood.
The pursuers were not long behind, and
the wood was thoroughly searched, but
the villains were not there. Beyond this
wood the soldiers found high hill, with
large convent upon the top. They
made their way to this building, The site
: of which commanded an extensive view,
ana thence gazed around upon the open
, country, and upon the distant sea; but
they could see nothing Of the pirates
They Knocked at the gate of the convent
where they asked of the porter, an ole
' Capuchin, if he had seen body OF armed
4 mon pass that way. He had seen no.
; thing of the hind.
I. So the Cervian officers returned bootles
f to their homes, for they could not inveigl'
: the pirates out again
! The people all up and down the shor
n Of the Adriatic, rich and poor, began nov
: TO take an interest in this matter, for
was evident that these offenders wer
multiplying, and their depredations wer
! becoming more bold and extended. AM
o the astonishment was great, too, tha
. these pirates could not be captured =
Some of them had been seen by the fisher
/ IL hor
% fierce, bold. and savage looking lot Q
% men. 1t was general source of wonde
NJ how they had thus far escaped. Th
amount of their robberies could not be esti
70 mated.
1t was not until July of SO that an Ell
- fective power came upon them. At tha
% time a secret plan was entered into by th
nS} merchants. fishermen, and others wh
could be trusted, for entrapping the pirate:
" A letter was written from Port FormC
directed to an imaginary merchant iu Yer
% ice, containing intelligence that at certai
30 30 time large sum of gold would be forward
90 ed by stout brig which then lay at FeI
90 mo. This letter was given to the caytai
" of a large felucca, WHO had often carrie
valuable cargoes along the coast and
go was directed to place it where the pirate
" would be likely to get hold of it, if the
boarded him So he took it, and locke
in it up in stout, brass bound box, in whiC
st he had been wont TO keep his money, ar
113 other valuabIes.
nd When this feIucca was off the mouth
NC the Vomeri, a little stream that laved IL
ce base of the hillside of FIatonio, the ?
II. a. q
he rates boarded nef, anu one vi Tue III
o., things that attracted their attention W
e the captains strong box. They deman
- ed the key; and, having opened it, tn
found only papers. The letter they rea
os and they asked the captain if he knew
"a purbort. He said he did not. 1t h
Of been given to him by a banker of Pc