The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-04-30

colOrS.
As soon as they cspied the boats the
pirates took to their boats and hurried
to the shore. One man apparently moro
dilatory than the rest remained behind,
but soon followed his comrades in a
canoe.
Captain Trotter made directly for the
boats, but was too far Off to come up
with them, seeing which he, with the
other boats made for the schooner.
Smoke was seen to issue from her, and
it was found that she had been set on
fire under the magazine, in which were
stored 16 barrels of powder.
The fire was extinguished and search
was made for the papers, but without
success, nor could any valuable property
be discovered. A few private letters
| proved her to be the Panda, of which
| they were in search. While the schooner
was being searched a Portuguese named
! Simon Peter was brought off by the ma
tives, and four others of the pirate crew
were afterward seized
The schooner was then removed to the
mouth of the river, where the Curlew
had been left.
The pirates, meantime, had escaped
to the town of Nazareth, where, despite
the fact that they had come to secure a
cargo of slaves, they were secreted and
given shelter by the natives.
Captain Trotter vainly tried to prevail
upon King PASCAL, the native chief, to
give up the pirate Captain and his crew.
All sorts of fair promises were made.
but none were kept. Finally, exas-
perated by the Kings duplicity, the
British Captain threatened the destruc-
ton of the town. The Panda was
brought up the river, and at the expira-
ton of the appointed time, the demand
not being complied with, a shot from the
long 12-pound gun amidships was fire d
upon the town.
This shot came very near being fatal
to the expedition. Some loose powder
on the deck became ignited by Il spark
from the gun, which communicated with
the powder in the magazine, and an ex-
plosion took place, completely de-
molishing the schooner. -Four men
were killed. Captain Trotter, who was in
the rigging, was thrown into the water,
but happily escaped without injury.
This accident compelled an abandon
mento the pursuit at that time. Captain
Trotter sailed in the Curlew for Cab
boon, where he was joined by the ship
Princess, and the two ships sailed in
company for the African shore.
A different policy was now de-
termined upon. Both ships were dis
guised as slave ships, and negotiations
were opened with King Passall for a
cargo. Arrangements were made for a
great feast on board the ships, and a
large number of natives, including the
Kings son, were induced to 20 on
board to join in the festivities.
As soon as they were safely on board
the ships the natives were made pris-
oners and detained as hostages. The
King was informed that unless he sur
rendered Don Pedro Gilbert, the
Captain of the pirates, and the rest of
the crew who were with him, his son
would be taken away as a prisoner.
This had the desired effect and the
pirates were surrendered. Captain Trot-
ter then sailed to the island of St.
Thomas, where, after some delay, he
secured the mate, carpenter and three
seamen of the Panda, where they ar
rived just eleven months after the capt
ure of their schooner. They were then
placed on board the ship Savage, in
which they were conveyed to Salem.
Old residents of that city still remem-
Der wildly the scene on the afternoon
of the 2Sth of August, 1854, when the
pirates were landed on Crowninshield' s
wharf. They were placed in carriages
and conveyed to the Town Hall, where
the preliminary examination took place.
Twelve of them, handcuffed together,
took their place at the bar. They were
afterward conveyed to Boston, where
they were tried before the United
States Circuit Court, Judge Story pre-
siding. After "a long trial, which pro-
duced considerable interest in the pub
lie mind, six of them were condemned
to death. The mate was recommended
to mercy, having in 1881, when in COM
mand of the ship Icons, gallantly
saved the lives of 70 Americans from
the Minerva, which he fell in with
while laundering at sea, and for which
service he had received the thanks OF
the President of the United States
The Captain and four of the crew were
executed in Boston, June IL, 1885.
This was the last act of piracy which
attracted general attention in this sec
ton of the country. Piracies were COM
mitted from time to time until as late
as the year 1915. BY that time the war
vessels of the great powers Of the world,
put more especially the employment OF
steamships, had practically driven pi-
rates from the seas.-Sam Roads, Jr., in
| RoctOn Globe