Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1879-03-12
A PIRATE STORY.

where, TOOK plsce before hlSD
Court Of Admiralty. The prisoner
who stood Arraigned, and who was
liable, If convicted, TO the penalty
Of death, had passed through 3
series Of mishsps and adventures
stranger than fiction, and only
rivAled by the career Of some Of
Dumas heroes Inroluntsrily the
associate Of crew Of nurderers
and buccaneers, whose deeds were
such Is struck terror into every
merchant shippers heart, the
prisoner, Aaron Smith, DOW stood ST
q criminal bar, and had 10 prove 10
3 jury that bis eonpAnionship with
pirstes had been compulsory. On
that proof his life hung on that
sharp December day. To nation
like England. rich in merchant
shipping. derived from il eDor-
nous wealth, the crime Of piracy
was always s heiDous one. Far
back IS the tEenfy-eighth year o!
Henry the Eighth's reign, statute
hsd made robbery on the high
seas punishable with death and
loss Of lands. When 10 this rob
berry. murder 10 il most cruel form
was added, il Is evident that 10
Englishnen the crime and the
criminals became 50 hateful as TO
he hunted down on every chance
The reports Of the atrocities Of the
West Indian sas-ihievss had come,
ever and anon, scross the ocean 10
England, and had reused both hate
and fear and honest wrath
The risk which Aaron Smith rsn
was 3 very dangerous one. He
was acquitted, however, for bis
story, which, during the space Of
some hours, held The court. jury
and public CENTRALIZED by its inter
est, was marked by signs Of truth
He called twenty witnesses 30
speak 10 bis humanity and honesty.
The girl 10 whom be Was bsir0tb-
ed. whose beauty attracted general
admiration, proved that their nRr-
rage would have long since taken
place, had not the prisoner been
detained abroad. The tears Of the
young lady, and the emotion Of
the prisoner, touched those present
IS sincere tokens Of grief, and
Aaron Smith WAS held IS deeply
injured nan, and set free. he
drew up 8 little volume called
ssTbe Atrocities Of The Pirates. "
containing 3 very simple and I'D
vanished record Of bis adventures,
aod which Was published in 1924.
In June, 1921, Aaron Smith left in
The usr-sbip Harrington for The
West Indies. There be staid 1bsT-
ing left the ship for some time,
engaged in various pursuits. when
be became engaged as FIRST mate
Of the brig Zephyr, Mr.. Luusden
being master. On the 10Th Of
June, the voyage TO England COM
neDced. Some days brought The
brig of Cape Saint Antonio,
whence she stood eastward
On the next day. At ? p m, q
strange schooner stood out from The
coast Of Cuba toward the the Ze-
pbyr. The master was informed Of
this by Smith and one Capt Cow
per, q passenger, but ohstinstely
refused 10 change bis course, sup
posing presume, on the eirfs
ROsgsrag1s priDeiple-thst as be bore
the English flag, none would noles'
him Mr.. Lunsden was doomed
10 be harshly uDoeeeived- Tbs
grim schooner came Cd swiftly, be-
decks full Of men, and lowered
boats. Next came q boarse orde,
20 lay-to. enforced by voIley o
muskerty, which increased tb'
rising terror Of Zepbyris master
The brig vas DOW boarded by tb'
pirate's boats, which we're 6lleC
with armed men. The chief. {
ferocious fellow. staid in bis scboon
or. and bad Lumsden. COvper
Smith and others brought befor'
him on bis deck. His questions il
broken English, rs to the cargo
etc we're enforced BY threats o
burning the Zephyr and ever
soul belonging 20 Der IL the truti
was not told Smith Was iDforDe'
by the pirate captain that be voul'
be kept 10 navigate the schooner
The mate entrested 20 be released
and drew q narrowing picture o.
srn.rsnarr wife and chilArer