St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-18
PRIEST AMONG PIRATES.
Pere Labat on a Voyage With
Capt. Daniel.

Ou wy
Capt. Daniel.
Pere Labat. going once from Martin
ique to Guadalupe, had taken berth
with Capt. Daniel, one of the most
noted of the French corsairs of the day,
for better security, says Froude in his
England in the West Indies. People
were not scrupulous in those days, and
Labat and Daniel had been long good
friends. They were caught in a
gale off Dominica, blown away, and
carried to AYES, where they found
an English merchant ship lying
wreck Two English ladies from
Barbados and dozen other people had
escaped on shore. They had sent for
help, and large vessel came for them
the day after Daniels arrival. Of course
he made prize of it. Labat said pray
ers on board for himsbefore the engage
ment, and the vessel surrendered after
the first shot. The good humor of the
party was not disturbed by this Incl
dent. The pirates, their prisoners
and the ladies stayed together
for fortnight at AYES, catching
turtles and bOucanning them,
picncking and enjoying themselves.
Daniel treated the ladies with the ut
most pOliteneSS, carried them afterWard
to st. Thomas, dismissed them unran-
somed, sold his prizes and wound up the
whole affair to the satisfaction of every
one. Lebat relates all this with Won
derful humOr. and tells, among other
things, the following story of Daniel:
On some expedition, when he was not
so fortunate as to have a priest on
board, he was in want of pro-
DAs, Ion hn nntrld
not furnish himself in open port.
Dor of a small island called Los Santos,
not far from Dominica, where only a
few families resided. He sent boat
Oh shore in the darkness, took the priest
and two of the chief inhabitants out OF
their beds and carried them on board,
where he held them as hostages, and
then under the pretenSe OF compulSion
requisitioned the island to send him
what he wanted. The priest and his
friends were treated meanwhile as
guests of distinction. No violence was
necessary, for all parties understood one
another. While the stores were being
collected Daniel suggested that there
was a good opportunity to hear mass.
The priest of Los Santos agreed to say
it for them. The sacred vessel, etc,
were sent for from the church on shore.
An awning was rugged over the fore
castle and an altar set up under it. The
men chanted the prayers. The cannon
answered the purpose of music. Broad
sides were fired at the first sentence, at
the exaudiat, at the elevation, at the
benediction, and fifth at the prayer for
the king. The service was wound up
by "Vive lie Roiw A single small
accident only had disturbed the
ceremony. One of the pirates, at the
elevation, being of a profane mind,
made an innocent gesture. Daniel re-
buked him, and as the offense was re-
peated, drew pistol and blew the mans
brains out, saying he would do the same
to any one who was diSrespectful to the
holy sacrament. The priest being lit
tie startled, Daniel begged him not to be
alarmed; he was only chastising ras-
cal to teach him to do his duty. At any
rate, as Labat observed, he had effect
ually prevented the rascal from doing
anything of the same kind again. Mass
being over, the body was thrown over
board, and priest and congregation went
their several ways.