The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-07-05
from the Sunday Times.
TARDY'S LAST VICTIM.

Every one has heard of Tardy the Pirate,
in his Gay little less renowned than was
Captain Kidd in his own. He, with a
dozen of his fiendish crew, was hanged
near Norfolk, Virginia; and it was his
boast, even when under the gibbet, that he
had killed and caused the deaths of more
than six hundred persons. His fayorite
mode of putting to death those whom he
captured, was by making them "walk the
plank, ~ as it was called-a refinement of
cruelty in which he took great delight. A
long plank was placed over the side of the
vessel, one end resting upon the deck.
The victim, q weight attached to his
body, was made to walk very slowly up
this plank, until approaching the far
ther end, it gradually yielded Beneath his
weight, and he was precipitated into the
sea. Thus would Tardy make a ships
crew, passengers and all, follow each other
to watery grave and he asserted that he
had found this, of all modes of death, pro-
ductive Of the greatest mental agony-de-
claring that he himself would rather be
hung than compelled to ''walk the plank"
The skull of Tardy was long in possession
of my uncle, DR.. Archer, army physician,
and at the time of the pirates execution
post-surgeon at Fortress Monroe. Con-
nected with the skull, he would relate a
curious incident, which always inspired US
children with great horror and disgust.
The bodies of the pirates were, by order
of government, to be left hanging in chains,
but my uncle obtained permission to take
possession of Tardy's head, as curious
chronological specimen-the organ of de-
strllctiyeness, with others corresponding,
presenting an unusual development. This
head, for the greater facility of clearing
the flesh from the skull, he directed one Of
the hospital assistants to boil down in an
old cauldron used for such purposes.
The man placed this vessel, containing
the head, on the kitchen fire, and being
called away directed an invalid soldier to
watch it, replying to the latter's inquiry,
'Oh, it's venison broth for the officers
ward SO don't let anybody NEEDLE with
it.o The soldier, however, had conva-
lescent's appetite, and as the supposed soup
sent forth most savory odor, he could not
resist the temptation to taste Of it. IL was
good soup, he thought, rich, and with a
peculiar relishing flavor; so the poor fellow
filled himself a tin-can full, seasoned it,
and partook of it with great relish, con-
graduating himself upon once in his life
feasting upon venison broth, and picking
out the floating morsels of meat as a
special luxury.
just as he was swallowing the last
spoonful the man who had left him in
charge returned, and his Mortified exclama-
ton ofm'I'll be hanged if he hasn't been
eating Tardy's head % awoke the unfortu-
nate culprit to perception of the truth.
He rose, staggering from his seat, and fair
ly swooned away with the horror of the
discovery. This was followed by a deadly
nausea which nothing could alleviate. and
after some hours Of intense suffering, the
name of the poor fellow, which had lust
been stricken off the sick list, was entered
upon that of the dead ! sefardy's last VIC
tim, y the soldiers thereafter called him.