West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-05-08
THE PIRATES OF SARK.
DY $. O. W. BENJAMIN.


When was in the Channel Islands 7
heard the following story about tho nj.
rates OF Sark, which is one of tho mnst
curious islands In tho Atlantic Ocean
inc waves that beat against its richly
olored but inhospitable cliffs. and roar
'roVer In its inaccessible caves. bristle
lth rocks and reefs of many grotesoue
lape, which make the approach TO the
land exceedingly dangerous. The peril
greatly increased by the high tides and
nrious currents that rush past the Chan.
'el Islands, of which Sark is the most re-
"rkaole' The shores OF the little island
re- lofty cliffs, steep as walls. There is
My one possible landing place; this is
helving beach in a wee bit Of cove, and
nc summit of the island, where the peo
he i've, can only be reached by steps cut
the face OF the cliff, admitting only
one person TO pass at a time.
The dwellers on Sark are now n peacc-
aole folk, who raise few cattle and veg
ctables, which they carry over TO the Isle
81 Guernsey when the weather is clear
ind the sea not too rough. But at one
time Sark was held by band Of desperate
pirates, who lnred ships on the rocks bv
putting up false lights and bcacons; or
they attacked them in boats when be.
Gained In those uncanny waters, muir
dered the crews and smuggled the cargoes
into the ports OF France
Ihis nest OF pirates finally became as
pestllent as a swarm of angry wasps dis
turbing the guests at a sumptuous dinner.
IL threatened TO ruin the commerce of
that region. And yet it was almost inn
possible to reach the freebooters. for they
had an abundance of everything on the
island; aud they could prevent any one
from landing with the greatest ease. In
thosc days also, cannon did not carry far
enough to make it possible for fleet 10
lombard them from the distance NJ
which 1t would he safe for a ship TO an
proach the terrible cliffs.
And yet something must be done 70
root out this pest of the seas and make
those waters safe for merchant shins
Inc matter was all the more tickIish be-
cause the pirates OF Sark were perfectly
well aware that they could only be van
pushed by stratagem, and, therefore
would keep their weather eve omen for
any attempts to subdue them by treach-
cry or craft. Those who should venture
on any such attempt knew well. there
lore, that they exposed themselves TO the
greatest peril in any undertaking against
the desperate sea banditti of Sark.
Ana yet such men were found. men
who Tor the common good were willing
TO risk their lives. Aud this is the way
they went to work to circumvcnt the
pirates OF Sark. They fitted out n mer-
chant ship with full supply Of arms
,hey also took large, long-boat for
landing IN the surf; and n company Of
brave and trusty adyenturers; prcparcd
with the utmost GOODNESS 70 execute one
OF the most hazardous enterprises ever
undertaken.
One calm pleasant morning the look
out at Sark discovered n shin headline
Tor the island, NJ IL with the intention Of
making landing. The tidinps flew NJ
once from one end OF the island 10 the
other and produced intense excitement
Inc surprise increased when il became
clear that the strange ship was not a man
oi-war, buta simple merchant ship, which
one might suppose would steer as far as
possible from the island. She dropped
anchor less than mile out, a still more
surprising circumstance But when n
boat was lowered and was seen rowing
toward the landing place, every member
of the pirate band was filed with sus-
picion, although white flag flew at the
masthead Of the ship aud another waved
at the bow Of the approaching boat
The men in the boat were also entirely
unarmed, as became evident when fhev
drew near the shore
In spite Of all these signs-that what.
ever the errand Of the strange shin. II
was pcacoful-the bold pirates OF Sark
crowded down TO the landing place brist-
ling with arms, and ordered the boat To
keep at safe distance from the beach.
'What do you want at sark2 Clear
out from here; we allow no one 20 land. n
cried the pirate chieftain. tall. hand
some Breton from MarIaix, dressed In
bright colored, picturesque Rarb.
The mate Of the strange shin replied
''We are bound southwest, laden with
goods from Flanders. One Of our crew
died this morning; be was a good Catho-
licf we wish to bury him In consecrsted
ground unless we 90 far out of our
aorSsc there is no such spot nearer than
your holy chapel built by the pious Bishop
Of Dol. All We ask is permission 20 land
The coffin containing our poor comrade
md inter IL in the chapel. We will come
exactly as you see W, without arms Of
iny sort whatever II you grant us this
simple request, which as good Christians