The Delta independent., 1889-10-08
THE Rafzf FOR IIFE.


/ p take a ornise upon the salt water,
llnd, no sooner did the idea present it
telf than we set about putting the plan
l INTO effect. At Atkins Wharf. at the
North End, we found a small schooner,
ihe Othello, OF about q hundred and
twenty tons burden. She was Balti-
more built craft-a regular clipper
ihaped, long and handsome. carrying
ore-topsail and tob-gallantsail, and
saff topsail upon the main. She had
been used some in the West India trade,
Ind perhaps for other trades She
aad four portfolios, and some of our
party could detect the marks upon her
leck where gun-carriages had run,
though the faint marks might have
been made by a thousand other things
Just as we'll. The owners name was
Johnson-a short, dark complexioned,
ame man, but good seaman, and a
Eood man. The moment we proposed
hiring his schooner for a pleasure trip
ae was pleased with the idea. He pro-
posed that we should furnish a new
nainsail, find provisions and other
necessary fixings. engage our own
ikipper, and take him as private
member of the party. He asked no
more. OF course we accepted his
offer.
We found Tom Phillips lying on his
sars. We knew him to be good ship
master, and we engaged his services.
Then we got good cook, steward.
Ind one other experienced seaman, and
anally all our arrangements were made,
ind on the seventeenth of July the
0thello left Boston harbor, under fair
breeze, and with a happy crew on
board. There were twenty-four Of us
n all. johnson had had the vessel
thoroughly cleansed, and she was not
,nly neat and tidy, but we found her n
splendid sailor-gliding through the
waters like dolphin, and riding like
duck for gracefulness and ease.
AS soon as we were out OF sight of
and we took vote to decide which
course we should pursue. There were
twenty of us privileged to vote, and
zach one having written upon slip of
paper the place he wished first to visit,
it was deposited in the box by the
pinnacle. When the votes were all in,
we examined them. Sixteen were for
Havana, ono for Gibraltar, and three
or .Anywhere. So to Havana we
went. We had splendid run, and
when we reached the queen city of the
Antilles, we found no difficulty in land
Ing. We remained there week, and
having taken in a good quantity of
!ruit, we prepared to set sail again.
(Which way nowP' asked Senior
Torrijos, as we were preparing to
leave.
ITO Saint Domingo" answered
Phillips.
"a fine trip" returned the old mer-
;hant: .'but" he added, with sort OF
serious smile, ''you may meet Tradillo
on your way"
.'Tradillo?' repeated Phillips; "who
IS he?"
"What, have you been here a week
aud not heard Of Tradillo? Why. he
Is one of the most daring villains that
ever lived-a pirate who has infested
these seas for over three months, and
whom no amount OF strategy has been
able to conquer. His hand is turned
Ing. He has n crew rs bold and
bloody as himself, and he leaves no
witnesses TO tell OF his deeds"
"Then he kills all whom he cap
lures, does he?"
"Yes. He goes upon the principle
hat dead men tell no tales He was
formerly q native OF this place; but
sometimes during the year 1886 he was
apprehended for robbery, and con-
lemned to be whipped and then inn
prisoned. He was whipped in public.
but he made his escape from prison,
and now he has made his appearance
among our islands as q most terrible
avenger. But he must soon be appre-
hended, for many vessels are after
him."
docs he sail In . large craftP'
asked Phillips.
mo, his vessel is not larger than
yours. 1t is schooner, OF United
States build, and not a bit larger than
yours; yet he carries from fifty to a
hundred men, and six guns.''
'.But how do you know SO we'll his
crew, when he kills all his ,prisoners?''
"From two sources; he has written
two letters to the captain-general; and
three men escaped from him about a
month ago. They were ia brig that
he captured at night, and they jumped
overboard with life-preservers on and
were picked up in the morning."
'.And is he about here nowT'
There is no knowing where he is.
The last that we heard Of him, he took
a French barque of Anguilla, and MUIR
dered the whole crew. But guess
there won't be much danger, for /
think it very likely he is down on the
Brazil coast now"
This was not very cheering in
telligence, but then we had no real
fears-our hearts were too light for
that. 1t was after dinner when we
hove up our anchor and made sail, and
hofora do rL xva ,,oaaad tho haadlopd ~