Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-04-03

"
ed as first mate of the brig Zephyr,
a Mr.. Lumsden being master. On
the 10Th of June the voyage to
Englan com menced. Some days
brought the brig of Cape st. An
tonic, whence size stood eastward.
On the next day at Up. m, a
strange schooner stood out from
the coast of Cuba toward the
Zephyr. The master was inform
ed of this by Smith and one Capt.
Cowper. a passenger, but obsti-
nately refused to change his course
supposing-I presume, on the cir
is ROmGnus principle--that as he
bore the English flag, none would
modest him. Mr.. Lumsden was
doomed 10 be harshly undeceived.
The grim schooner came on swift
| ly, her decks full of men and low
cred boats. Next came a hoarse
order to lay-to, enforced by a VOL
ley of musketry, which increased
the rising terror OF the Zephyr's
master. The brig was now board
ed by the pirates boats, which
were filed with armed men. The
chief ferocious fellow, staid in
the schooner, and had Lumsden,
| CoWper, Smith aud others brought
before him on his deck. His ques.
lions. in broken English, AS to
cargo, etc., were enforced by
threats of burning the Zephyr and
every soul belonging to her if the
truth was not told. Smith was
informed by the pirate captain
that he would be kept to navigate
the schooner. The mate entreat-
ed to be released, and drew har-
rowing picture of an imaginary
wife and children longing for his
return; but all in vain, Ultima ely
he was forced to go on board the
brig, collect his property and
necessaries for navigation, and re-
turn to his new master. In the
interim Lumsden and Cowper
were dashed to the pumps, and
combustibles placed round them
and fired, to extort confession as
to hidden treasure. The pirates
plundered the brig, and Smith
was driven at the point Of the
knife into the pirate schooner, and
saw the brig and his companions
sail off, leaving him in captivity.
In due course the schooner touch
ed at harbor- Rio Medias-where
an evident understanding existed
between the pirates and the Span
ish magistrates, and where a dance
took place between the crew and
the fair ladies of the neighborhood
at the chief Magistrates house
| Our hero. compelled to share in
the festivities, made the acquaint-
ance of young Spanish beauty,
Seraphina, who seems to have ex-
cited a reciprocal attachment in
his heart. These Arcadian de-
lights of music and dancing and
hobnobbing of Spanish authorities
| with corsairs, were followed by
the sale on board the schooner OF
the briggs cargo, the love-making
on Smiths part to Seraphina, and
his promises of marriage if she
would aid his escape, and wound
up by furious fight between two
of the pirates, one being stabbed.
Smith was ordered, despite his
protestations, to act as surgeon,
the captain admitting no plea of
ignorance, and the unhappy cap
tive had to stanch and bandage as
best he could. The cause of the
quarrel was Investigated. The
wounded man informed his cap
tain that the other had formed a
plot to assassinate him, The crew
simultaneously rushed Gown, cut
off the poor wretch's legs and arms
with a blunt Ratchet, and threw
him overheard. Such was Smiths
first experience of pirate customs,
and while he still shuddered, the
captain told him this would be his
fate if he concealed information
from him.
The schooner cruised out to sea,
and at last came back to harbOr.
Out to meet her came the chief
mate, with that portion of the
crew who had been left behind.
These were implicated in the as
sassination plot. A white hand
kerchief was held up to decoy
them, and, when close, a volley
fired among them. But one man
survived, and he was doomed by
the captain to die in the favorite
| fiend-like mannar of the Cuban
pirates. For three hours boats
crew was occupied in rowing up
and down narrow bush-fringed
channel, the unhappy victim be-
ing stripped naked and pinioned
in theIboat, while myriads of mos
quitoes and sand flies lowered
round and closed on his flesh.
Says Smith: "We had been scarce
ly half an hour in this place when
the miserable victim was distract
ed with pain; his body began to