Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-02

| your shoe. He entertains an especial fond
ness for the human foot, and will invariably
confne himself to that part of your anatomy
if you give him a chance.
So slight is his sting, that you scarcely
feel it; yet all the same he gets in his work,
depositing an infnitesimal egg beneath q
toenail, or somewhere under the CUTS.
Presently a slight itching ensues, and in a
day or two q membraneous sac is formed,
which must at once be pierced deep with q
needle, and afterward thoroughly washed
with tobacco juice. If the sac is allowed to
remain, a huge ulcer forms, and the victim
is likely to lose his toes; for the infant jig
ger that issued from the first egg is most
astonishing propagator, capable OF raising
several interesting families and becoming a
hale and hearty grandmother in a fortnight's s
time.
sIR HENRY MoRGAN's CAREER.
Most celebrated of the mountains of the
Isthmus, from which Balboa caught his
first glimpse of the Pacific is the Cerro de
los Bucaneros, or Hill of the Buccaneers,
from whose top the pirate, Morgan, had his
first view of ancient Panama, and at whose
base he encamped the night before his at
tack upon that city-just 221 years ago. As
that old-time buccaneer played so important
q part on the 1sthmus-at one time nearly
depopulating it, having destroyed the
proudest city in all the Spanish colonies,
whose fall gave rise to the Panama of to-
day-perhaps it may be we'll to recount a
few Of his exploits. For partial compila-
tion thereof we are mainly indebted to Mr..
Thomas W. Knox and his inimitable "Boy
Travellers"
In those days piracy was fashionable, and
it was not long after the treasure galleons
began to traverse the "Spanish Main" be-
fore piratical crafts were in hot pursuit.
Many of them brought their families to the
New World or married Indian women; and
while these remained on shore, hunting
wild game and raising crops for the sus-
tenance of their fellows at sea, the more
adventurous sailed in search of plunder,
returning occasionally to the colony to de-
liver their share of spoils to the settlers on
land, from whom provisions were obtained
for another voyage. Sometimes prisoners
were brought to the colonies and kept as
slaves, some of them scioDs of the proudest
houses of old CASTLE; but as a rule they
were released on payment of heavy ram
som, or put TO death if no ransom was forth
coming.
A RECORD OF ATROCITIES.
Morgan had earned an excellent reputa-
tion as a buccaneer, the stories of whose
atrocities would fill volume. He had cap
tured several cities and murdered many
people, often under circumstances of unpar-
alleled cruelty, all his prisoners whom he
could not sell into slavery, men, women,
children and priests, being slaughtered
without mercy. He was = Welshman of
low birth and most of his followers were
outlaws from that country and others of the
British Isles. At one time he had 1000
D
ships; but as his piracies were directed
against the Spaniards, with whom
the English were at war, Albion looked
upon him with kindly eye. Therefore,
when he organized theexpeditiop that ended
with the destruction of the proud old city Of
Panama, the Governor of Jamaica ordered
an. English vessel of Sc guns to go along
and help him, and conferred authority on
Morgan to act in English interest.
Before proceeding to Panama the fleet Of
legalized pirates captured Maracaibo, Saint
Catharine's and several other places, COM
mitting innumerable atrocities and murder
ing many people. After capturing the city
OF Chagres at the mouth of the river of the
same name, Morgan rebuilt its fort, garri-
soned it with 500 men, left 150 more to take
care OF the ships and with only 1,2O0 men
started across the Isthmus. They assembled
the Chagres river as far as possible, and they
marched through the forest, cutting a path
before them. They nearly starved to death
during the terrible journey, but, apparently
BY direct aid of the Evil One, they lived
through it somehow, and upon the summit
of the ''Hill of the Buccaneers" looked down
upon the richest city of New Spain.
THE SACK OF PANAMA.
An army of 5000 Spaniards came out to
the defense of Panama, but within three
hours after the firing of the first shot the
handful of half-starved pirates were in full
possession. They plundered the churches
and converts and the houses OF the wealthy
and tortured many of the priests and citi-
zens to make them disclose more hidden
treasures. The wise Pauamaians, in antfci-
patton of such an emergency, had previously
loaded ship with the gold and silver and
Jewels of the churches and converts, the
Kings plate and precious stones and private
valuables of every kind, which set off for
Spain the moment the tide of battle turned
in favor of the invaders. Apprehend-
ing something OF this kind, Morgan
had sent out ship ON purpose to intercept
any departing vessels; but her officers
and crew, eager to do their share in plunder-
ing the captured CITY disobeyed orders; and
thus the richest treasures were lost In a
fury of rage at finding themselves thus
thwarted of the objects of all their toll and
greed. the disappointed robbers out-did
themselves in deeds of barbarity and at last
reduced the once splendid city to ashes.
They carried away 600 prisoners and 175
beasts laded with plunder and left behind
a wide swath OF rapine and desolation
These distinguished services were promptly
recognized by the British Government and
the murderer, Morgan, was at once knighted
by King Charles II. The war with Spain
being over, his occupation as buccaneer
was gone; and SO he was given an important
commission and to the end of his days
figured as Sir Henry Morgan.
FANNIE B. WARD.