, 1881-02-12
THE SCHOONER "VIGILANT,"
AND THE CAPTURE OF THE
PIRATE "LAFOUROADA,"
(FYom the ST. Thome Tidende)

(FT0n the st. Ih0n1R ItdeNde)
The little schooner VieS!ant it is agreed,
has q sort of charm for most of us-she is
regarded as a kind of pet-and there are
many tales told of her, some of which lead
us TO believe that she was not always that
peaceful packet craft, as in our day. The
story of any of her exploits is usually re.
lished with a gusto. By turning over a
page or two of Colonial history we have
come across an incident of her career
which, as far as we know, has been left
untold by 'our oldest inhabitant; it is not,
however beyond the memory of man, for
the hero of the event is yet alive, though
far across the seas enjoying that retirement
to which he is entitled both by age and
hard work.
Sixty years ago Captain LAFoURcADA
was a pirate9 in command of a fleet craft,
and he was tho scourge OF the West Indian
waters. acknowledgements then held o
commission as end Lieutenant in the DAN
ish navy, and was serving out here. La
FoURCADA had given so much trouble that
he was being hunted right and left by the
ships of war of various nationalities, and
amOnst them was the Danish corvette
NajGden. AT the time the schooner VSgi-
Mnt was an unarmed government vessel,
but Lieutenant 1RMINGER obtained leave
to take command of her and join in the
cruise for the Pirate. His strength c0nsis.
ted in a we'll armed body of p~rivates from
the garriSons here, and he was lucky
enough to fall in with the pirate at no great
distance from this island, A hot encoun-
ter enSued, in which, by q ruse, tthe Lieu
tenant got the better-when the pirate,
with a number of his men, were slain, and
the vessel with the remainder of the crew
was captured and brought to this port. 1t
was a gallant deed, and bespoke good for.s
tune for the little ViQiLamt and her brave
commander and crew. AT the time of the
surrender The pirate had on board q long
cannon, which was afterwards put on shore
and is supposed to be now in the fort.
This cannon, we understand, will shortly
be conveyed to Denmark, there to be
placed among other trophies; and it win
doubtless be a qualification for Admiral
IRMINGER once more to see a relict of 80
daring an exploit.
We may mention that Admiral IRMIN.
E was well known in the Danish West
Indies having served on several Of His
Majesty's ships commissioned for here, and
he once acted as harbor-master in this Is.
land for a space of two years, during the
0OoOANO vi AbO60Bs IA 0A9O
had command of His Majesty's brig Oryen
during the rebellion in st. Croix in 1S46,
and, in recognition of his services, was
presented by the planters of tho island
with a sword in a gold scabbard. 4sf
The present Executive Officer of ar; NJ.
s. Jyltand. Captain IRMINGER. is the son
of the hero of this little narrative, and it
may be pleasing for him to see the vessel
of which no doubt he has often heard the I
aged Admiral speak. She has had her
vicissitudes and has come very near going
off The stage of existence, as in 1876 she
went to The bottom in the harbour OF
~Christiansted, ST Croix, during q hurri..
cane. and was only accidentally discover.
ed some time after by a fisherman. She
has just undergone a thorough repair, il
trim and staunch, and there are few. who
think of any other craft when asquIck trip
is to be made between st. Thomas and
~Christiansted, st. Croix. ..
We hope that the gallant Admiral r.
MINGER will be hale and hearty to give
the gun in question as warm q reseptioni IN
his ripe old age as it vas prepared. to give.
him in the days of his youth,