The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-09-04
sor PIRATES.
4 sssesaIa sssry ef Life ON she R Oh
fng Deep.

,,erce. there Is situated along ana narr0W
rn,,d. which in length almost meilts TUG
fisie ~ lake. On the shores OF TINS axe
saws,t IL O ANAL boys. Master John Srned-
lev and Master Isaac Pfatt-oi the respes,
fsvs ayes OF ten and twelve. Their seVerai
Gamers were simple, unassuming, none
tijIers az the soil, VINO were nfmiy con-
yinced that small boy should WORK IT'LL
dawn 10 twilight. and that tne less oppois
aunitIes be might have for play tne HOT y.
sure he would be to grow up iea , ~
nics aud profound IN turnips. ms 1pin
Ion was not shared by Inc sman Do Wy,
themselves. They knew tniIo s,na"
INV. the SOP, in fact, OF certain MINIS
a. ~ whom they borrowed the Y0nFy
P;t,.sess Best Friend, the Boys sOUn
Gmide to Burglary, the Yoush'S CrsHss,
ami I,oD,Danion, and other interesting ano
;mnroying periodicals 81 the same genera
fvne. From this sort of literature they
soon learned the true spirit Of manilness'
and resolved 10 lead lives, nobler than tneir
1athers had led. For some time tney !
Weiehed the question whether they would
a,econe burglars, highwayDen, or pirates,
INT in the end they. resolved that 70 re-
yiye the once glorious practice OF piracy
would be the noblest OF all possible under
fakings. ii5z 10, -. ).
An armed vessel and water In wnlcn 10
float IL are two indispensable conditions OF
Diracy. The small. boys had plenty OF water
close at hand. and there was nat 0ottemec
skiff belonging to Joe Hallett, colored
fisherman, which they resolved TO convert
Into D long, black, rakish schooner. Many
DAYS elapsed before they could accumulate
the stores, arms. and nag necessary Ior
cruise, but on the night OF the 20th OF July
4 4 ctyf eu
silent. and, embarking with their stores,
rowed to q grove some two miles distant,
md hauled the sksff up into the woods Tor
temDorary cancealment. In the course OF
the next day they fitted the skH with mast
and sail, painted her black, mounted an old
single barrelled fowling"piece on; the bow,
and placed their stores, consisting OF one
ham, two bottles OF spruce beer, three
chunks" OF gingerbread, and five eggs, on
board, and felt themselves ready to embark
ON piratical cruise. l:.- 49,
It was here that the first dispute arose as
to who should be the pirate captain and who
should be lieutenant and crew. AT one
time the prospect Of the revival OF piracy
looked very dark; for Master Pratt said be
would be either captain or else would go
home, and Master SmedIey, who was rather.
the stronger OF the two, assumed stalWart.
attitude, and proposed to settle th6coDtro-J
yersy by Eight. However, the dispute was
finally referred to the arbitration OF NUM-.
ble-te-peg. and the loser, Master Smedler,
accepted the subordinate position OF crew
ON condition that be and bis comrade should
command the schooner on alternate days.
The schooner put to sea curly one MORN
ing with fresh northwesterly breeze.
About 10 O'Clock house was reported on
the lee bow, which proved to be the resi-
dence OF the Baptist minister. It being
reasonably certain that the good man and
his family were ut that hour, attending q
camp-meeting ten miles distant, the schoon-
er ran down to the house, which was car.
ried by boarding party without resistance,
A large supply Of provisions, "a carving
knife, and clock-which Captain Pratt de.
cided to regard in the light OF a navigating
ipstrument-were captured, and the schoon-
er. with the black flag flying at her mast
head, sailed merrily away. On the follow
ing night cutting-out party, consisting OF
the captain and crew, landed and captured
Joe Hailett's chickens eight In number
all OF " hom were ruthlessIy put to the carv-
ing.knife, while q paper containing the
words I. Bware the Pirates Veniunce" was
pinned to Mr.. HaIletts door, not because OF
any reason for inflictingi vengeance on that
peaceful colored man, but Us O measure for
striking salutary terror into, the neighbor..
hood. d, 1900 ,y&,
The following day Captain smedley as
sumed command, and informed bis subor-
dinate that, in order to be genuine pirates,
they must iorclbly carry OF their brides.
Two small girls, aged nine and ten respec.
lively. were agreed upon as the destined
brides, and it was resolved to attempt to
a of han yun
pass over bridge, near the upper end Of
the pond, on their way from school.
The attempt was completely success.
full. The piratical horde, with their
faces .btackened. felt upon O beVy
OF nine little girls who were crossing the
bridge together. and seized upon their
brides, while the others ran screaming
away. It Is painful to mention that the
brides, having no Just views Of the beauty
OF piracy, also screamed. and even kicked
SO that the pirates were forced TO bind and
gag them before placing them on board
their schooner.
Thus far the revival OF piracy had been
grand success; but In the moment OF sue
cess dark shadow fell upon the youthful
pirates. Said Master Pratt = .Jobnny-I
meantessay Cap'en-what are we going TO
do with these gals /" and tho Captain. find.
ing no immediate answer TO this conun-
drum, became silent and Thoughtful. while
the little girls family kicked ID the bottom
OF the boat. In this frame Of mind Canfaii1
Smedley neglected the steering or tbe
schooner, and csrelessly approached close
60 the land, Suddenly still darker
shadow, belonging TO joe Halsett. Zen nooi,
the crew, as that astonished negro wadad
into the water and grasped lis boat. In;
vain did Captain Smediey rall ali4hasas DO
repel boarders. The negro calmly pushed
the schooner ashore. and, with many ex-
pressions OF pity for the little girls. re-
leased them, and ordered the pirates and
their brides TO sit down on the grass and
tell him what, sslor de lands Sakes aai
thtshye meant. y 50 5 49,
1t was not long before Mr.. Hallett COM
pretended that be had captured pirate
vessel. He sent the little girls home, and
then inforring the pirates that he should
take shem 10 the sceae OF the fnassaese OF
the ehickens. md thAFo hang them RitAsat
mercy. drove them on board the schooner
and startea hOmeuard. .FhBs small boys
wept bitterly but Tor . time Mr. Hallstt
was iiuplaca8le. On reaching home, how
ever, he consented Ia eemmnte the pnnish-
ment 10 imprisonment for life tn his dark
cellar, where be accordingly lodeed the
Gapiisess aBd SAINT I'M Asd 70 their fathers To- |
coMeAad take thenass sEi s5ssi:
IT is needless sos say that when old Mr.
Pratt and old Mr. smedlsy, both greatly
discouraged 70 ind that their se0ya had not |
been aeelAeatalsy dr6si nsd. rpssrSd T. the |
.iailsta soffssls. g. ssRsusd: Il