Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-06-27


cient size to hold largo man. After
dark the coffin was brought on deck.
Tho lid was firmly fixed in its place, and
yet so contrivod that tcould DO quickly
detached
The next morning, tho weather still
continuing fine, tho coffin was carefully
lowered into tho boat, and a flag was
reverently thrown over it. The pirates
were all at the landing to await the ar.
rival of this unique funeral procession.
Each sailor, as he stepped on shore, was
carefully searched. Relieved to find
every man of the landing party totally
unarmod, tho canny islanders laid aside
all suspicion and devoutly assisted to lift
the heavy coffin out Of the boat. The cof-
fin was large and heavy; evidently tho
dead man must have been OF portly pro-
portions. The seamen seemed tenderly
attached to their dead comrade They
insisted on lifting tho coffin themselves.
1t was q most anxious moment for all
concerned.
But the invaders still had far more
laborious and dangerous task before
them. The summit of tho island where
tho people lived, and whore tho chapel
Stood was over ono 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 coffin. There was only one
way of getting 1t to the top; this was to
hoist it with stout ropes by main force.
Surely never was q dead sailor buried
under greater difficulties! Not only did
the sailors havo to do this very hard,
severe duty, harder far than hosting
wet topsail, but it was also necessary
thatnQt one of the pirates should lend
u hand in hauling up the coffin; at the
samo. timo the task had to be done
without arousing their suspicious.
Death was in tho air; blood must flow
before the day would close.
The pirates were not men 70 show
mercy, and the least suspicion on their
part meant the massacre of every one OF
the invaders If attacked before they
woro ready. The landing patty con.
triv1d to start up the cliff steps first
and while some, nimble as cats,
skipped up quickly and proceeded to
hoist the coffin, the others fingered
along tho steps keeping tho inpatient.
but yet unsuspicious pirates in the rear.
While tho above incidents were &C.
curing several of the pirates, moved by
their covetous and treacherous natures,
thought it would be good idea to take
the ships boat and steal on board the
ship, whose crew they supposed to be
all on shore engaged in tho funeral GER
omonies They hoped to be able to
anticipate the reward promised them
by ransacking tho cabin. But when
they sprang on deck they were fearfully
taken aback to 500 number of lusty
fellows spring up armed from behind
tho bulwarks, who flew at them with
great fury, overpowered them, and
gagged and chained them to ringbolt is
In the deck.
This dono, the sailors sprang into the
boat and rowed to the aid OF their com
panions on shore. AS we shall see, they
reached there none too soon. Imme-
diately on getting the coffin to the top
of the cliff the invaders gathered around
| it, and hurried with it to the chapel
The pirates also FASTENED to arrive
there first; it was nip and tuck which
party should first enter the chapel But
tho coffin bearers, knowing we'll the
chances at stake, put forth herculeap
exertions; keeping together in close
group the sailors crowded into tho chapel
with haste most unseemingly for o
funeral, and closed and fastened the
door. As soon as this was done they
opened the mysterious coffin in a
twinkling. Instead of corpse it proved
to be packed with daggers, cloavors,
halberds, swords and blunderbuss or
two, with which tho sailors hurriedly
armed themselves and were soon ready
for tho deadly ARRAY.
Tho pirates were now furiously knock.
ing for admittance. If not exactly sure
Of tho purpose Of tho invaders, they
were by this time exceedingly suspic,
ious that such singular proceedings at a
funeral BODIED no good. There was mis-
chief brewing, and it behooved them to
find out what all this meant without Q
moments delay.
They found out sooner than they ex'
pected, and in very unpleasant way
when the capita in of the ship in tone
Of thunder cried: "Open the doorl And
now my brave men, do your bestl Cut
and Stay! Give no quarterl Strike
homer
The door flew open and forth rushed
a troop of armed men falling into the
midst Of the band Of pirates. Taker
altogether unawares, the latter al
though the most numerous, fed ii
every direction pursued by the
ships crew. Some were cut dowr
on the spot; others leaped panic-struch
oves the edge of the cliffs and were
dashed to pieces on the rocks below
Others threw them selves into the ses
and were drowned. But good mum
Der gathered in rocky angle, and be
Ing armed prepared to make desper
ate resistance which might have beer
successful, as they still nearly oqualet
the invaders in number. But at thar
critical moment tho other men from the
ship arrived; after short and desperate
fight tho pirates were overcome. Those
who were taken alivo we're thrown from
the cliffs, not one being left on The
island. AT sunset tho other pirate:
who had been seized on the ship vert
also hanged at the yardarm. Not one
escaped The vengeance was bloody in
deed; but then 1t should be remembered
that many hopeless crew had beer
sent to the bottom of the sea by thes,
same cruel and treacherous rufflans VIII,
for so long time had made tho islanC
OF Sark terror to tho mariners OF al
nations. Since that bloody tragedy tn,
island has been the abode of peace IS
G. w. Benjamin, in N. Y. independent