The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-16

Sylvester Cannon, the owner OF the Doats
had escaped. but bis father, ii. p. Cannon.
the pirate chief. managed to ascertain that
no warrant for specific offence had been
sworn out against him. Hethercfcre came
boldly into Goose creek and on board the
Leila. The chief, who has been the moy-
ing spirit Of the piratical raid, IL small In
stature. with a sallow complexion and
gIittering gray eyes. lie was dressed In
q rough costume OF home-spun, and
four reyolyers were stuck In his belt.
Having some wears ago been JUS
tlce OF the peace, he Is thoroughly fa-
mi,isr with the law. when his sons boat
was turned over to Justice Robinson he
raised the point that the seizure was lille
cal. as Sylvester had not been caught on It,.
ard Justice Robinson was compelled to
admit the Justice OF the assertion. The
Maud Muller was released. just as the
father was sailing the boat triumphantly
out OF the creek his son Sylvester. carrying
q revolver In each hand, appeared on the
shore, where he had been in concealment,
and fred several shots in the direction OF
tue police boat. Captain Mitchell at once
ordered Captain Insly and two seamen TO
20 ashore and arrest the daring pirate.
Sylvester fired repeatedly ut them as they
were landing In the small boat, but, finding
his shots unsuccessful, plunged into the
dense underground and escaped.
TRYING TO ELL MAGISTRATE.
He then, as afterwards learned, went to
The house OF Justice Robinson. near by,
and, with lis pistols in hand, searched the
building from top to bottom, swearing TO
xiii the magistrate on sight. The latter was
fortunately on board the Leila. Sylvester
departed and promised to return. Tibet terri
fed ladies OF the magistrates family sent
off TO friends, and three gentlemen in the
neighborhood hurried to the house. thor
oughly armed. The pirate, true to his
promise, did return, but when he was
confronted by the three armed men he
made of.
He and his brothers remained in the
woods all day near the steamer. At night
the firing became so frequent that Captain
Mitchell, feeling that q riot was in pro-
gress, sent ten men, armed with rifles,
ashore. The still night enabled the out
laws to hear the approach OF the small boat,
and when the crew landed they found no
living thing in the dark forest. Pursuit
under the circumstances was impossible,
and the police returned to their steamer.
All the Cannon boys bear a terri
ble reputation. Sylvester carries in
his body bullet from the pistol OF Cap
tain Trayers, OF the oyster police, who
shot him two years ago for resisting arrest,
and nearly killed him. Alexander, another
son, is credited with having stripped one
OF his crew and left him on the deck Of his
schooner one cold, winter night on the
bay. The man was found frozen to death
the next morning. Milburn and Charley,
the other sons, have been concerned in a
number of shooting cases.
TUE PIRATE CHIEF INTERVIEWED.
Your correspondent interviewed the
pirate chief to-day, and obtained the fol-
lowing statement: "If I am a pirate, |
was driven to it," he said, "by the au-
liberties, who permitted men to work on
these beds without rebuke. Within the
last two weeks have seen 800, 900 worth
OF damage done TO the bed OF Fishing bay,
which might have been prevented ii Ii had
not been for the cowardice Of Captain ms
ley and his crew. The illegal dredgers
first descended upon Deals island. want
ed them arrested, and volunteered to assist
Captain Insley in night attack. He con-
scented, but when the dredgers began firing
he hove to and left me and my men to bear
the brunt Of the hight. The firing was so
heavy that our sails were riddled and my
crew compelled to go down below to escape
the bullets. Our men, seeing there was no
protection, dredged wherever there was
the best oysters. We had to do this or
starve."
Between the Cannons and their piratical
followers on the one side and the friends
Of Justice Robinson and Captain Insley on
the other desperate feud exists, which
will undoubtedly result in bloodshed.
TERRoRIzING THE VILLAGES.
All the pirates, some two hundred In
number, have been driven ashore, and now
infest the little villages in the vicinity OF
Fishing bay. Many OF them are in want,
and when they can't get food they take il
at the point OF the pistol. The Robinson
family are the recognized leaders OF the
Ilaw-and-order faction, and the excitement
of the past few days will have tendency
to bring matters TO q crisis. The whole
population OF the straits district have
taken sides either with the residents
or the pirates. The principals always
go armed, declaring their intention to
shoot at first sight any OF the opposite side
who interfere with them. SO great is the
terror in which the Cannons and their fol-
lowers are held that ii is difficult for the
authorities to get men to serve summons
Captain Mitchell ordered the Sheriff, Ruark
to summons posse to serve the writs
against the Cannons at all hazards. This
the Sheriff has done, and the Cannons will
soon be confronted with three dilemmas-
they must either fight, surrender, or run
away.
A DUEL THAT WAS NOT FOUGHT.
Late last night second volley OF shots
drew the crew Of the Leila on shore, with
instructions to capture all men found
armed. In the dense gloom that had set
| tied on the marsh, however, concealment
was easy, and no one could be seen. Cap
tain Insley, the commander Of the police
boat captured last week, about this time
disappeared, and several shots heard along
the shore later gave rise to a report
that he and Sylvester Cannon had gone
to fight o duel. This added to the gene
raj excitement. From the time the po-
lice left the steamer Leila kept up shrill
blast with her whistle. Guided by this the
crew succeeded in returning on board In
safety. Captain Insley's absence caused
much alarm, and search party was being
organized when he returned, with two OF
his men. Then the rumor was found to
be correct. He had sent word to Sylvester
Cannon that he would meet him, but Cam
non did not appear. With this adventure
closed the nights experience.
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