The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-09-01
CAPTURED HY PIRATES.
Sthrtllng Ahycntur" "f tl,r Schooner
tn, nslt-Inblrs TURNED.

NEw i0nE, Angus, 3l.-A story, which
reads like a chapter from one Of Captain
Marryatl's nautical romances, comes to
this city from lhccoas Of Central America
in IN! official report received by Messrs
William lex 4 Co., shipping merchants, Of
No. 4s Beaver street. The steamer Nal.
lard, Captain Galloway, which arrived here
yesterday morning FROM Corn Island and
Belize, Honduras, consigned to Jex ( Co.,
brought to The firm ii brief letter from,
their agent ut BIne Fields, Nicaragua, Civ.
ing the bare outlines Of tho exciting exre-
ricuccs Of schooner owned by Jcx 4 Go.
in IN encounter with crew Of Spanish
pirates.
The schooner Transit is one OF n number
Of vessels owned by Jex ( Co., engaged in
tho Central and South American trade.
She runs between various points on the
Mosquito coas, Of Nicaragua, transporting
general merchandise, whicl, is taken irou,
this country to Corn Island hy. the steamer
Aiallard. The Transit is at American yes.
sci, line saier and IL very trim and yacht.
like craft ny the picture hanging in the
Office OF her OWNERS shows her to be-. She
Is commanded by Captain John Thompson,
All American mariner OF experience, and
has II crew consisting OF two men and Il
cook. About the lat Of August the Transit
lay ut anchor III the Buy Of Grucitsa. Dios,
the extreme northeastern point OF Nicar.
guu. The schooner WIS awaiting the ar.
rival OF the steamer anu lay three miles
out from the town, bat within the bar
across tho mouth Of the harbor.
In the dead OF night and when the Can.
tain was asleep in the cabin, and only one
man was 7on watch, the schooner was
silently boarded by six pirates, who had
stealthily approached the ship in two Gu.
noes, sheltered by the darkness The ma.
rauders were armed to the teeth, and, hay.
ing taken the Transit by surprise, were
able to seize Captain Thompson and his
three men, after brief but desperate
struggle. The Captain and crew were
gagged and bound hand and foot, and the
pirates took full possession OF their prize
and rarsacked tile ship from stem 10 stern.
The ships COMPANY were thrown into the
hold, aud the pirates then hoisted sail and
endeayoIed TO make for the open sea,
knowing that they could not hope to retain
the capture il they did not quickly get ont
port before their daring deed was discover.
ed. But The Captain OF the pirate crew
did not know the harbor and was unable
to get the ship over the bar. After ma.
nsuyerinu in vain for some little time he
threatened Capt. Thompson with death un-
less he piloted the vessel 10 sea. The Cap
tain c0usentet! to do 80 il he was released
from the ropes which bound him hand and
foot, and us he pcremptorily refused to
comply on any other terms the pirate chief
was constrained the accept the condition /,
Captain Thompson. WAS given the Use
OF his limbs aud navisatcd the Transit
over the bar and out 10 SEA. BY this time
the pirates thought themselves safc and
were indiscreet enough to indulge literally
in the ag,taraienh, Of which the ships
lockers contained plentiful supply. The
fiery siuH wa3 paftaken OF TO excess by all
hands, and soon the pirates We're in Il con.
idition Of almost helpless drunkenness
/ Captain Thomas wAs not the nun to LET
this golden opportunity slip. Watching
his chance lie ran below, cut the ropes
which bound the captive crew, and with
their help quickly attacked the pirate
band, subduel them and secured the
whole six safely in irons. The course OF
the ship was then altered and she WIS
headed Tor Blue Fields, $50 miles below
Graciasa.Dios, the nearest poiut at which
there WAS 4 United Suites consul. Arrived
here the six pirates were taken ashore and
surrendered to the authorities, and Cap
tain Thompson returned TO the port whence
he had been compelled to .sail so prelma-
turely and under such sensational circum-
sianres. The pirates were Spaniarls and
OF the most desperate churacier.