The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-11-30
TIE LABRADOR PIRATE.
A Story Of the Search for Hidden
Treasure by The Bay
OF The Dead.

For years Inc ueep n CortuOus ana
great bays ON the Labrador coast afforded
u safe haven to bloodthirsty pirates and
rovers of the seas, who, driven by hot
pursuit from more frequented waters,
repaired to this northern shore to mend
their shattered vessels. Here, during
the short summer, they recovered from
their wounds; here, too, they secreted
their booty; here, perchance, the long
sought treasure of Captain Kidd may be
hidden. Who can tell what secrets are
held forever in the recesses of these
~wavebeaten and rockbound shores?
Wondrous traditions are told of hidden
wealth on Labrador, and that these are
not all old mems tales this tree story Of
Manning may convince the reader:
Toward the close of the Eighteenth
century a Scotchman named Manning
settled on the Labrador coast, and alone
and nnaided followed the rough and
precarious calling of u fisherman. At
the close of each season he visited New
foundland to dispose of his catch to the
English traders, buy his stock Of provi-
sions and then return to his lonely dwell
ing to pass the long and dreary winter.
For several years he led this life. till by
his economy having amassed a few hun
dred dollars a great longing seized him
to see his native land. Accordingly he
crossed the Atlantic, and during the
round of visits to his Scotch friends he
met a bonnie lass, whom he persuaded
to share his Labrador home. Fitting
out a small vessel or schooner, he set
sail for America with his young bride
and a crew of hardy settlers and their
families. This was in the year 1906.
But after twelve months of industry at
Labrador Manning grew restless and
persuaded the most active and daring
spirits in those parts to join him in a
new project. Toward the latter part of
October, 1907, he placed his effects ON
board his vessel and quietly slipped out
of the harbor, determining to lead a life
of piracy. All his old habits of thrift
and industry seemed to have left him, q
very demon of adventure seemed to have
driven put his better feelings and wiped
out all natural affection, for with heart
less cruelty he basely deserted his wife
and young child. A stranger in a strange
land, far from home and kindred, the
fate of the unfortunate woman is not
known; most probably she did not sur
vive her cruel treatment long.
On the coast there is now a small set
Element called Mutton Bay or Meccatina
Harbor, and about a mile east of this
settlement is a deep inlet called by the
French "L'Anse aux Morris" or Bay of
the Dead. This bay is screened alike
from the fury of the sea and the obser-
walton of passing vessels by a small
island which is easily mistaken for the
mainland. Under the rugged and frown-
ing cliffs which overhang the Bay of the
Dead, SO called because an old burying
ground was there, Manning and his
companions landed. Securely sheltered,
there they perfected their plansfor a life
of piracy and bloodshed; and in truth
no spot could be more admirably adapt
ed for such a c~onclave.
The course taken her by vessels on
their way to Quebec from Europe was
through the Straits of Belle Isle, close
to the north shore of the st. Lawrence,
and just outside of the island behind
which Manning and his crew lay in hid
ing. At that date a packet was sent out
annually by the British government
with the pay of the forces stationed in
Canada on board. Manning knew this
only too well, and was OF the lookout
for the vessel. U~nsuspicious of danger,
she neared the island, when Manning
with his ship darted suddenly from his
place of hiding and swooped down upon
her. She fell an easy prey. Her unfor-
tunate captain and crew were butchered,
the reasure removed, the vessel scut-
tied, and no trace of the foul deed left.
At Quebec the overdue ship was anxious
ly looked for, but hope died out at last,
and it was thought that she had sue
cumbed to the fury of the Atlantic. The
following year another packet was sent
out, and she shared the fate of her pre-
decessor.
The loss of two vessels and their crews
in such a short time aroused suspicion,
and q third was sent out, but with her q
man-of-war. All went well till the
vicinity of the Bay of the Dead was
reached, when, the man-of-war having
fallen far astern, the pirate schooner
OdElcu Out, IulCEif SdpiOACu eiV PaSASt,
secured the treasure, and destroyed all
the crew with one exception. This was
a negro, whom Manning wished to keep
for a servant. This man, hoping to pro-
pitiate his captor, told him that the
man-of-war was close behind them. The
news go alarmed the pirate that he beat
a precipitate retreat to the island. That
night another dread crime was added to
the long list already committed by the
bloodthirsty wretch. Fearing discovery,
and believing in the adage that dead
men tell no tales, he changed his mind
about the negro. He resolved to bury
his treasure, and, under v of a blind
ing storm, while the thunder rolled and
the lightning cleft the sky, he collected
his i'll gotten gains into five small casks.
With the assistance of the negro he
placed them in as many holes dug in the
old burying ground of tho Bay of the
Dead. Having accomplished this he
suddenly sprang on the unfortunate me-
gro and plunged a knife into his heart.
As the life blood slowly ebbed away he
twisted the limp form of his victim
around the central cask. AT this dread
moment the old Scottish superstitious ma
ture asserted itself, and he believed that
the wrath" Of the negro would keep
er,rar1 nxrar %ba traacrra nrovantinO any