Nevada County picayune., 1891-04-30
TAKEN BY STRATEGY.
The Dreadful Doom of the Pirates
Of Sark.

pirates of Sark, which is one OF inc
most curious islands in the Atlantic
Ocean. The waves that beat against its
richly colored but inhospitable cliffs
and roar forever in its inaccessible
caves bristle with rocks and reefs OF
many grotesque shape, which make
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 are lofty cliffs, steep as walls.
There is only one possible landing
place; this is shelving beach in wee
bit of cove, and the summit of the
island, where the people live, can only
be reached by steps cut in the face OF the
cliff, admitting only one person to pass
at q time.
The jewellers on Sark are now peace
able folk, who raise few cattle and
vegetables, which they carry over to
the Isle of Guernsey when the weather
is clear and the sea 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 cargoes into the ports OF
France.
This nest of pirates finally became as
pestilent as q swarm of angry wasps
disturbing the guests at sumptuous
dinner 1t threatened to ruin the oom-
MERGE of that region. And yet it was
almost impossible to reach the flee.
hooters, 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 it possible for fleet to lombard
them from the distance at which 1T
would be safe for ship to approach the
terrible cliffs.
And yet something must be done to
root out this pest of the seas and make
those waters safe for merchant ships.
| The matter was all the more ticklish
because the pirates of Sark were per-
| fectly well aware that they could only
be yanquished by stratagem, and there
! fore 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
/ we'll, therefore, that they exposed them
! selves to the greatest peril in any I'M
/ dertaking against the desperate sea
! banditti of Sark.
/ And yet such men were found, men
/ who for the common good were willing
/ to risk their lives. And this is the way
they went to work to circumvent the
pirates of Sark. They fitted out a mer-
chant ship with a full supply of arms;
they also took large long-boat for
landing in the surf and company of
brave and trusty adventurers prepared
with the utmost GOODNESS to execute one
of the most hazardous enterprises ever
undertaken.
One calm pleasant morning the look
out at Sark discovered a ship heading
for the island, as If with the intention
of making landing The tidings flew
at once from one end of the island to
the other, and produced intense excite
ment The surprise increased when it
became clear that the strange ship was
not man-of-war, but simple merchant
ship, which one might suppose would
steer as far as possible from the island.
She dropped anchor less than o mile
out, still more surprising circum-
stance. But when boat was lowered
and was seen rowing toward the land
ing-place, every member Of the pirate
band was filled with suspicion, although
white flag flew 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, it
was peacetul-the bold pirates of Sark
crowded down to the landing-place
bristling with arms and ordered the
boat to keep at a safe distance from the
beach.
"What do you want at Sark? Clear
out from here; we allow no one to
land" cried the pirate chieftain, a tall,
handsome Breton from Marlaix, dressed
in bright colored, picturesque garb.
The mate of the strange ship replied:
"We are bound southwest, laden with
goods from Flanders. One of our crew
died this morning; he was a good Catho-
lic we wish to bury him in consecrated
ground; unless we go 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 it in the chapel. We
will come exactly as you see us, without
arms Of any sort whatever. If you grant
us this simple request, which as good
Christians you can hardly deny, we
promise TO make you a suitable present
of some of the goods We have on board
our ship"
After some elaboration, the pirates
were so impressed by the earnest, con-
fding manner and straightforward
honesty Of these good sea-folk, who
were so willing to place themselves I'M
armed in their power, that they
gave the desired permission, the
strangers solemnly promising that
they would allow themselves TO be
searched on landing,
The boats crew returned TO the ship
in high glee; they hardly hoped for such
success. In anticipation Of the plot
they had planned the ships crew had
brought with them stout coffin of sut1i-
eient size to hold a large man. After
dark the coffin was brought on deck.
The lid was firmly fixed in its place, and
yet so contrived that it could BIO quickly
detached.
The next morning, the weather still
continuing fine, the coffin was carefully