The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-30
the Southern coast.


gents, whose base of operations was the
north side of the river La Plata. He IS
described as an illiterate fellow, whose
followers were little better than saw
ages. Under this flag it was claimed
that American citizens had acquired
fortunes, and had returned home to
''spend with extravaganza that which
had been gained at the price OF blood"
These stories may or may not have
been true; but whether owned by Amer
leans or not, the fact remained that
pirate ships were preying upon Ameri-
can commerce to an alarming extent
The stories told by some of the victims
on their return home filled the public
mind with Indignation and desire for
vengeance.
That which is most wildly remem-
bered and frequently referred to by
aged people Of to-day, is the robbery OF
the brig Mexican of Salem. This is not
only because of the circumstances at
tending the robbery, but from the fact
that the pirates were subsequently capt
ured, brought into Salem, and finally
tried. convicted and executed in Boston.
The Mexican was commanded by
Captain John Butman, and sailed from
Salem, August 29. 1882 for Rio Janeiro.
September 20, when in latitude 33 de-
grees, longitude 81 degrees 80 minutes
west, she was chased by pirate
schooner. which, as soon as she
was within gunshot, hoisted pa
triot colors, backed the maintop-
sail and fred shot. When within hail
ing distance Captain Butman was Or
dered on board the schooner. Know
ing that it would be useless to
resist, he obeyed the order. AS
soon as his boat came alongside the
schooner five ruffians instantly jumped
into it. They were each armed with
large knife, and told the captain to go
on board the brig again. AS soon as
their feet struck the deck they insisted
that there was money on board, and,
drawing their knives, threatened the
sailors with instant death unless they
were shown where it was hid
den. With blows and kicks they
finally succeeded in forcing the crew
to disclose its whereabouts and
| bring it from the run on deck. Ten
boxes, containing $40, 900 in specie, were
transferred to the schooner, the entire
crew of demons assisting their ship
mates in taking it on board. Not con-
tent with this, they soon returned to the
brig and began Wholesale system of
pillage. The officers and crew were
forced to GO below, and the companion
way, forecastle and after-hatchway were
fastened. Then, after destroying the
compass in the pinnacle, cutting away
the tiller ropes, halliards, braces and
mutilating the rigging and sails, they
took all the combustibles they could
find, put them in the caboose house and
set fire to it. On leaving they then
scuttled the briggs boat and stole the
colors.
! Having done all the mischief they
could think of. and leaving the crew of
the brig, as they supposed, to die a hor-
rible death, the pirates made sail for
the eastward.
AS soon as they left the brig the sail
ors confined in the cabin succeeded in
getting on deck through the scuttle
which had not been securely fastened,
and eXtinggished the fire, which was
ma king such Roadway that in a few mo-
ments the masts and mainsail must have
been in flames.
The reason for the abandonment OF
the brig without waiting to witness its
complete destruction now became ap.
parent. A ship was sailing to the south.
east and the schooner was in pursuit
To this circumstance, which seemed tc
afford an opportunity for additional
plumber to the pirates, the crew of the
Mexican undoubtedly owed their lives
The strange ship was not captured
while in sight Of the brig.
A minute description of the schooner
furnished by the captain of the Mexican
on his return to Salem, led to her sub
sequent capture. She was described as
a low, straight schooner of about 15t
tons burden, painted black, with mar
row white streak, large head with the
horn of plenty painted white, large
maintopmast, but with neither yard.
nor sail on it, masts raked very much
mainsail very square at the head, sail
made with split cloth, and all new. Shs
was armed with two long brass 10
Founders and . large gun on pivo
amidships, and had crew of about n
men, who appeared to be chiefly Span
iards and mulattoes.
The Mexican arrived in Salem in May
1882, where an account of the pirac,
was speedily published This accoun
; fell into the hands of an American mer
chant named Gould, residing in Por
Antonio, Princes Island. The descrip
ton agreed with that of Spanish vesse
named the Panda, that had sailed iron
! Port Antonio only few days before TO
Africa. The British sloop-of-war Cur
= lew, arriving at that port shortly after
, the particulars were given to the com
mander, Captain Trotter, with the add
tional information that the Panda wa
3 then supposed to be lying in the rive
t Nazareth.
l Captain Trotter Immediately went i
D search of her.
8 June the Curlew arrived at tn
Q mouth of the river, and her three boat
q manned with forty armed men, unde
Q command of the Captain, went in searc
r of the pirate After rowing all nigh
t the men in the boats got sight of tn
q object of their pursuit lying at anchor
In order to secure her capture the
kept inshore as much as possible
: avoid being seen, but from the natur
Q Of the river it was impossible to concea
: themselves long. They, therefore, whe
o within a mile Of her, displayed thei
Q colors.
s AS soon as they espied the boats tn
Q pirates took to their boats and hurrie
to the shore. One man apparently NOR
i dllatory than the rest remained behind