Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-09-17

sorrowfully
NO, no, nobody scould do anything for
me. Go away No, stay until die Don't
leave me for the demons will come back.
Sit down. will tell you the story of my
life. Confession will ease my guilty SOUL
He took drink from silver goblet
that stood near him, then began to relate
the extraordinary events through which he
had passed. His eyes We're constantly
wandering about the cave as if in anticipa-
tion Of some object of dread.
Years ago" he began, Il lived in
happy home in England, How well re-
member those ivy-clad walls, the wide
spreading elms, and the green lawns on
which | played in childhood. My father
was wealthy, and spent most of his time
in business affairs. My mother dead, my
only companion was my little sister. Eu-
lala. Together we spent the sunny hours
of childhood which lasted oh so short
time, even as the bloom upon the peach,
the down upon the butterfiy's wing, the
tarry over those lost days. How my little
sister cried when left for oxford She
said she would never be happy until re-
turned. | have never seen her since. |
read novels of the daring exploit, of the
Barbary pirates who were then making
such havoc among the fleets OF Europe. |
ran away from school. and, at London,
shipped on board of an African bound
SLAYER. soon became accustomed to the
new life and was delighted with it. For
three years we sailed between the coast OF
Guinea and the different European ports.
But one trip as we were returning with a
cargo Of some two hundred slaves besides
large quantity Of gold and ivory, when
three days out We were oyerhauled BY a
craft which we thought to be a war-ship.
We quickly sunk our slaves into the ocean
a fate which many of our poor sailors
soon shared, fer the ship proved to be the
pirate craft Terror. They soon attacked
Us. Every man on our ship fought with
desperation knowing it was for his life
But superior numbers and skill soon over
powered Us. The pirate captain boarded
u-. and those who had escaped the sword
found watcry grave. Myself and an
other boy alone were saved. The gold,
ivory and other valuabe> were transferred
on board the Terror. We saw the burn
ing wreck of our SLAYER sink beneath the
waves. A new road to crime was opened
to NE. Oh, could | but turn back the
pages of my years to that day, how differ
ent the history of my life would read But
no, had found the life for which left
my home. | was not sorry for the change.
Life on the old SLAYER was getting monot-
onous.
we now sailed for the West Indies
There we secured the seas for years prey
ing upon the merchant ships entering or
leaving the gulf We made our headquar-
tiers at the Bahama Islands where often we
have lured ships into dangerous passages.
and when upon the rocks We would secure
their valuables snt dispose of their crews
No mercy was shown, no age or sex was
spared for Dead men tell no tales
we had accumulated a large amount of
treasure and were about to set sail for Eu-
rope when we sighted Spanish brig Fl
Dorado, from San salvador, loaded with
silver ore. We gave chase and in a few
hours succeeded in ovcrhauling them
our vessel was well disguised We ran
near them and asked them if they could
spare Us little provision as We had been
greatly delayed in our trip up the gulf
They realty consented to supply Us, and.
without awakening any suspicion, We went
aboard. When in hight positions We sprung
upon their crew and soon had them over
powered. The old captain as well as the
crew was compelled to walk the plank in
spite of their entreaties to spare their lives.
The Ell Dorado was remarkably line
brig, and our pirate captain put me aboard
with fifteen trusted men To take her to the
Bahamas while he continued his voyage.
But no sooner had the Terror left than we
started out on cruise up the gulf Then
were repeated all the acts of robbery and
blpodshed | have seen the water red with
the blood of the slain, yet | had no remorse,
no pity. But now their cold forms come
back and taunt me in my dying hours, and
| dare not ask them to have mercy. We
secured the seas until we had loaded our
brig with riches brought from every cline
While sailing toward the north, we
sighted Spanish warshp which had been
sent out to capture us They were fast
overhauling US when We came into the fog
among the islands near the coast. We
eluded her, but in our effort TO escape from
the bay We struck on yun sunken rock
The waves were running high, and our
crew made desperate attempt to escape,
but they were all washed into the sea ex-
cept myself and two sailors | was un-
conscious when the sailors drew me upon
the rocks but l soon revived. We did not
dare to throw ourselves upon the hospital
ity Of the fishermen for fear that they
would deliver us to the warship that was
lowering near US.
f. .tSoon the tide went down and We could
get aboard our brig. We removed all
that you see here, besides all the money
we had accumulated. That night the brig
broke up and went to sea- In exploring
this island for place of shelter, we acci-
dentally found this cave with only small
opening. We transported all our stores
here and buried the money. We fitted a
stone into the opening of our cave SO that
it appeared like solid rock.
1--WE three were left together, but one Of
our men soon after died from injuries sus.
tanned when we were wrecked The other
died some six months later, and was left
alone. Then armies of murdered men
came for me on every dark ana stormy
night That's when fear them most
have stood for hours on yonder rock with
my sword to keep them in the water"
The old man sank back exhausted. The
death dew was on his brow. His face as
sumed a more Mortified look as he mur-
INJURED II dare not live, yet am afraid of
DEATH
| .sWherp did Won hnrv vOur nopav ., osl