Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-05-24
TAKEN BY STRATEGY.
The Dreadful Doom of the Pirates
 of Sark.

of Bark.
 When was in the Channel Islands l heard the following story about the pirates of Sark, which is one of the most curious islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The waves that beat against its richly oolored but inhospitable cliffs and roar forever in its inaccessible caves, bristle with rocks and reefs of many . grotesque shape, which mako the approach to the island exceedingly dangerous The peril is greatly in- creased by the high tides and furious currents that rush past the Channel Islands, of which Sark is the most re- markable. The shores of tho little island arc lofty cliffs, steep as walls There Is only one possible landing place; this is Q shelving beach in g wee bit of Q cove, and the summit of tho island, where the people live, can only be reached by stops cut in the face of tho cliff, admitting only ono person to pass at Q time.
 Tho dwellers on Sark are now peace able folk, who raise a few cattle and vegetables which they carry over to the Isle of Guernsey when the weather Is clear and the sen not too rough. But at one time Sark was held by band of desperate pirates, who lured ships on the rocks by putting up false lights and beacons: or they attacked them in boats when becalmed in those uncanny waters murdered the crews and smuggled the cargocs into the ports of Franco.
 This nest of pirates finally became as pestilcnt as a swarm of angry wasps disturbing the guests at sumptuous dinner. It threatened to ruin the com merce of that region. And yet 1t was almost Impossible to roach the free- booters, for they had an abundance Of every thing on the island; and they could prevent any one from landing with the greatest ease. In those days, also, cannon did not carry far enough to make 1t possible for fleet to Lombard them from the distance at which 1t would be safe for a ship to approach the terrible cliffs.
 And yet some thing must be done to root out this pest of the seas and make those waters safe for merchant ships Tho matter was all the moro t1oklish because the pirates of Sark wore per- fectly we'll aware that they could only be vanquished by stratagem, and there- foro would keep their weather eye open for any attempts to subdue them by treachery or craft Those who should venture on any such attempt knew well, therefore, that they exposed them selves to the greatest peril in any un- dertaking against the desperate sea bandittt of Sark.
 And yet such mon were found, mon who for the common good wore willing to risk their lives. And this Is the way they went to work to circumvent tho pirates of Sark. They fitted out mer- chant ship with Q full supply of arms; they also took 6 largo long boat for landing in the surf; and company of brave and trusty adventurers prepared with the utmost coolness to execute one of the most hazardous enterprises ever undertaken.
 Ono calm pleasant morning the look. out at Sark discov cred Q ship heading for the island, as If with tho intention of making a landing The tidings flew at once from one end of the island to the other, and produced intense excite ment The surprise increased whom 1t became clear that tho strange ship was not a man-of-war, but a simple merchant chAkN hASh Sho ho ooPpOoo WOuiO steer as far as possible from the island. She dropped anchor loss than @ mile out, a still moro surprising ciroum- stance But when Q boat was lowered and was seen rowing toward the land- ing-plsce, every member of the pirate band was filled with suspicion, although white flag flow at the mast head of the ship and another waved at the bow of the approaching boat The men in the boat were also entirely unarmed, as became evident when they drew near the shore.
 In spite of all these signs-that what ever the errand of the strange ship 1t was peaceful-the bold pirates of Sark crowded down to the landing place bristling with arms, and ordered the boat to keep at Q safe distance from the beach
 "What do you want at sark9 Clear out from here; we allow no ono to land," cried the pirate chieftain, . tall, handsome Breton from Marlaix. dressed in bright colored. picturesque garh
 The mate of the strange ship replied, "We are bound southwest. laden with goods from Flanders. One of our crow died this morning; he was Q good Catho- nc; we wish to bury him In consecrated ground; unless wo 60 far out of our course there Is no such spot nearer than your holy chapel built by the pious Bishop of Dol All we ask is permission to land the coffin containing our poor comrade and inter 1t in the chapel We will come exactly as you sec us, without arms of any sort whatever. IT you grant us this simple request, which as good Christians you can hardly deny. we promise to make you suitable present of some of the goods we have on board our ship"
 After some deliberation, the pirates weFe so impressed by the earnest, con fiding manner and straightforward honesty of these good sea-tolk, who were so willing to place themselves un- armed in their power, that they gave the desired permission, the st-angers solemnly promising that