Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-05-24

The lto was nrmly nxe0 Tn its place, ana yet so contrived that 1t could be quickly detached.
 Tho next morning. the weather still l continuing fine, the coffin was carefully lowered into the boat and D dag was reverently thrown over 1t. Tho pirates were all at the landing to await the ar- rival of thls unique funeral procession. Each sailor, as he stepped on shore was carefully searched. Relieved to find | every man of the landing party totally unarmed, the canny islanders laid aside all suspicion and devoutly assisted to lift | the heavy ooIln out of the boat The cof- fin was large and heavy; evidently the dead man must have boon of portly pro- 1 portions. Tho seamen seemed tenderly | attached to their dead comrade They insisted on lifting tho coffin themselves | It was a most anxious moment for all | concerned
 But the invaders still had far more laborious and dangerous task before them. Tho summit of the island where the people lived. and where tho chapel stood. was over ono hundred feet above the landing and could be reached only by narrow, steep steps, cut in tho rock, up which 1t was simply impossible to carry the coffin. There was only one way of getting 1t to tho top; this was to hoist 1t with stout ropes by main force. Surely never was a dead sailor buried under greater difficulties! Not only did tho sailors have to do this very hard, sevoro duty, harder far than hoisting a wot psail. but 1t WIS also necessary that got ono of the pirates should lend hand in hauling up tho coffin; at the sam time tho task had to bo done without arousing their suspicious Death was in the air: blood must flow before the day woulc close.
 Tho pirates were not men to show mercy, and the least suspicion on their plrt meant the massacrc of every one of tho invAdors II attacked before they wcro r,ady. The landing party con- triv d to start up the cliff steps first and whil, some, nimble as cats skipped up quickly and proceeded to hoist tho coffin. tho others fingered along the steps keeping the impatient. but yet unsuspicious pirates in the rear.
 While the above incidents were oc- curing several of the pirates, moved by their covetous and treachcrous natures, thought 1t would bc a good idea to take tho ships boat and steal on board tho ship whoso crew they supposed to be all on shore engaged in tho funeral cer- emonies. They hoped to be able to 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 tho bulwarks, who flew at them with great fury, overpowered them, and gagged and chained them to ringbolts in the deck.
 This done, the sailors sprang into the boat and rowed to tho aid of their com panions on shore As we shall see, they reached thcre mono too soon. Imme: diately on gotting the coffin to the top of .he cliff tho invaders adhered around 1t. and hurried with 1t to the chapel Tho pir.t's also hastencd to arrive there first; it was nip and tuck which party should first en ter the chapel But the coffin bearers, knowing well the chances at stako, put forth herculean exertions; keeping together in close group the sailo crowded into tho chapel with haste most unscomingly for funeral, and closed and fastened the door. As soon us this was dono they opened the mysterious coffin in twinkling. Instead of a corpse 1t proved to bo packed with daggers, cleavers halberds, swords and blundcrbuss or two, with which the sailors hurriedly armed themselves and were soon ready for the deadly affray,
 The pirates wore now furiously knock ing for admittance. If not exactly sure of the purpose of the invaders, they were by this time exceedingly suspic- ious that such singular proceedings at a funeral boded no good. There was mis- chief brewing. and it behooved them to find out what all this meant without a moments delay.
 They found out sooner than they ex- pccted. and in Q very unpleasant way. when the capta In of the ship in a tone of thunder cried: Open the doorl And now my brave men, do your bestl Cut and slay! Give no quartcrl Strike homel"
 The door flew open and forth rushed a troop of armed men falling into the midst of the band of piratea Taken altogether unawares, the latter, al though the most numerous. fled in every direction pursued by tho ships crow. Some were cut down on the spot; others leaped panic-struck over the edge of the cliffs and were dashed to pieces on the rocks below. Others throw them selves into the sea and were drowned. But 2 good num- ber gathered in a rocky angle, and be- ing armed prepared to mako a desper- ate resistance which might have been | successful. as they still nearly equaled the invaders in number. But at that critical moment the other men from the | ship arrived; after short and desperate fight tho pirates were overcome. Those l who were taken alive were thrown from the cliffs, not one being left on the island. At sunset the other pira tes who had been seized on the ship were also hanged at the yardarm. Not one escaped. The vengeance was bloody in. deel: but then 1t should be remembered that many hopeless crew had been sent to the bottom of the sea by these 0rilal md