West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-05-08

ing manner and straightforward honesty
OF these good sea-folk, who were so will
| ing TO place themselves unarmed in their
power that they gave the desired per
mission, the strangers solemnly promising
that they would allow themselves TO be
searched on landing.
The boats crew returned To the shin in
high glee; they hardly hoped for such
success In anticipation OF the r,ldt they
had planned the ships crew had brought
with them stout coffin of sufficient size
to hold a large mau. After dark the
coffin was brought on deck. The lid
was firmly fixed in its place, and yet so
contrivcd that it could be quickly de-
tachcd.
The next morning, the weather still
continuing fine, the coffin was carefully
lowered into the boat and flag was rev
crently thrown over il. The pirates were
all at the landing To await the arrival uf
this unique funeral procession, Each
sailor, as he stepped on shore, was care.
fuliy searched. Relieved TO find every
man Of the landing party totally unarmcd
the canny islanders laid aside all sus-
picion and devoutly assisted To lift the
heavy coffin out Of the boat, The coffin
was large and heavy, evidently tho dead
man must have been OF portly proper
tions. The seamen seemed tenderly at
tached TO their dead comrade. They in
sisted on lifting the coffin themselves. IL
was a most anxious moment for alt con.
cerncd,
But the invaders still had far more
laborious and dangerous task before them.
The summit of the island where the pco-
pie lived, and where the church stood.
was over one hundred feet above the
landing and could be reached only by
narrow, steep steps cut in the rock, up
which It was simply impossible TO carry
the colin, There was only one way OF
getting 1t To the top; this was 10 hoist it
with stout ropes by main force. Surely
never was dead sailor buried under
greater diiiiculhesG Not only did the sail.
ors have to do this very hard, severe duty,
harder far than hosting wet topsail,
but il was also necessary that not one of
tbs pirates should lend hand in haul
ing up the coffin; at the same time the
task had TO be done without arousing
their suspicious. Death was in the air: |:
blood must flow before the day would
close.
The pirates were not men TO show
mercy, and tho lenst suspicion on their
part meant the massacre OF every one of
the invaders II attacked before they were
ready. The landing party contrivcd to
start up tho cliff steps first, and while
some, nimble as cats, skipped up
quickly aud proceeded to hoist the coffin,
the Others fingered along the steps keep
ing the impatient, but ye, unsuspicious
pirates in the rear.
While the above incidents were occur
ring several Of the pirates, moved by
their covetous and treacherous natures,
thought IL would be a good idea to take
the ships boat and steal on board the
ship, whose crew they supposed TO be all
on shore engaged in the funeral cere-
monies. They hoped to be able 60
anticipate the reward promised them by
ransacking the cabin. But when they
\ sprang on deck they were fearfully
taken aback TO sec "A number OF lusty
fellows spring up armed from behind the
/ bulwarks, who flew at them with great
fury, overpowered them, and gagged
and chained them TO ringboIts in the
/ deck
This done, the sailors sprang into the
boat and rowcd TO the aid Of their com
panions on shore. AS we shall see, they
reached there none too soon. Immedi
ately ON getting the coffin TO the top OF
the cliff the invaders gathered around it,
and hurried with II TO the chapel. The
/ pirates also hastened 90 arrive their first;
1t was nip and tuck which party should
/ first enter the chapel. But the coffin
/ bearers, knowing we'll The chances at
stake, put forth herculeau exertions;
/ keeping together in n close group the
sailors crowded into the chapel with
haste most unseemly for funeral. and
I closed and fastened the door. As soon as
I this was done they opened the mysterious
/ coffin in twiukliug. Instead OF "A corpse
| it proved 10 be packed with daggers,
/ cleavers, halberds, swords and blundcr-
buss or two, with which the sailors hur-
riedly armed themselves and were soon
ready for the deadly effray.
I The pirates were now furiously knock
ing for admittance. If not exactly sure
of the purpose Of the invaders, they were
/ by this time exceedingly suspicious that
such singular proceedings at a funeral
boded no good. There was mischief
I brewing, and It bchooved them 20 find
/ out what all this meant without mo-
ments delay.
| They found out sooner than they ex-
/ pected, and in very unpleasant way.
when the Captain OF the ship in tone
Of thunder cried "Open the door, And
now, my brave. men, do your bcsti Cut
and slayl Give no quarterl Strike
| hOme"
The door flew open and forth rushed
a troop Of armed men falling into the
midst Of the band OF pirates. Taken al
together uDawares, the latter although
the most numerous, 6cd in every direc-
tion pursued by the ships crew. Some
were cut down on the spot; others leaped
panic-struck over the edge Of the cliffs
aud were dashed 20 pieces ON the rocks
below. Others threw themselves into
the sea and were drowned. But n good
number gathered in rocky angle, and
being armed prepared 20 make a desper-
ate resistance which might have been
successful, ~ they still nearly equaled
the invaders in number. But at that
critical moment the other men from the
ship arrived; after short and desperate
I EfrInf fNtm rtfa