The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-01-23


foundlaDd to dispose Of his catch to the
English traders, huy his stock of provi-
sions and then return to his lonely dwell
ing 10 pass the long and dreary winter.
For several years he led this life, till by
his economy having amas5ed few hun
dred dollars q great longing seized him
10 see his native land. Accordingly he
crossed the Atlantic, and during the
round Of visits to his Scotch friends he
INST bonnie lass, whom he persuaded
b share his Labrador home. Fitting
cut a small vessel or schooner, he set
sa0 for America with his young bride
and 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
seTsnaded the most active and daring
tfrits in those parts to join him in a
CIV project. Toward the latter part of
,etober, 1907, he placed his effects on
board his vessel and quietly slipped out
Of the harbor, determining to lead a life
0 piracy, All his old habits of thrift
and industry seemed to have left him, a
wary demon of adventure seemed to have
driven out 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 astrange
land, far from home and kindred, the
fate of the unfortunate woman is not
known; most probably she did not sur
vfve her cruel treatment long.
On the coast there is now a small set
tlement 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 MJrts" 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
isiAnd which is easily mistaken for the
mainland Under the rugged and frown-
ing cliffs which overhang the Bay Of the
Dead, 90 called because an old burying
ground was there, Manning and his
companions landed. Securely sheltered
there they perfected their plansfor life
Of piracy and bloodshed; and in truth
no spot could be more admirably adapt
ed for such conclGve.
The course taken then by vessels on
their way to Quebec from Europe was
through the StTaits Of Belle Isle, close
70 tho 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 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 weIl, and was on the lookout
for the vessel. Unsuspicious Of danger,
she neared the island, when Manning
with his ship darted suddenly from his
place Of hiding and gwooped down upon
her. She fell an easy prey, Her unfor-
tunste captain and crew were butchered,
thu treasure removed, the vessel scut
tied, and no trace Of the foul deed left,
At Quebec the overdue ship was anxious,
1y loolzed for, but hops died out at last
and it was thought that she had sue,
cumbed to tho fury of the Atlantic. The
following year another packet was seni
Out, and she shared the fate of her pre-
deceSsOT
The loss Of two vessels and their crew!
in such short time aroused suspicion
and third was sent out, but with her ,
man-of-war. All went well till th'
vicinity Of tho Bay Of The Dead wa
reached, when, the man-of-war having
fAIlsn far astern, the pirate schoone.
dArted out, quickly captured the packet
secured tho treasure, and destroyed al
the crow with one exception. This wa
a AegTD, whom Manning wished to keel
for a ssrvant This man, hoping to pro
pitiate his captor, told him that tn
mEn-of- war was cluse behind them. Tn
uswB 30 alarmed the pirate that he bea
a aPrscipttate retreat to the island. Tha
night another dread crime was added h
tho long list already committed by tn
bloodthirsty wretch Fearing discovery
and believing in the adage that dea
men tell no tales, he changed his min
sbout the negro, He resolved to bur
h1a treasure, and, under cover Of a blind
ing Storm, while the thunder rolled an
DE lightning cleft the sky, he conscte
his id gotten gains into i've small casli
With the assistance Of the negro h
placed them in as many holes dug in tn
cid burying ground Of the Bay Of th
Dead Having accomplished this
su1denly Hprang on the unfortunate nj
gro and plunged knife into his hear
AS the life blood slowly ebbed away
tHizted the limp form Of his victiI
srOupd the central casll At this drea
monent the old Scottish supersGdousu ma
ture asserted itsolr, and he believed tina
ths "WTaith' of the negro would kee
guard over tho treasure, preventing an
adVent nturUus outsider from uue5rthlug II
Hs then hslped up the earth over tn
GEe'casks in the form of graves, judgin
THAI no French habitaut, whose revel
enoe for the dead is pTlverhial, woul
nobest them, and 8t each appareu
grave he placed q stone, to carry out th
inmtDn.
Az dawn the pirate senLnels saw th
man-Of-war sailing through the we5ter
passage and heading toward their r,
treat, Sail wss quickly set, and tn
H1ihoonor escaped through the easter
outlet. The storm of the previous nigt
sail ragged wild and fierce. The sen wa
lashed to fury, The waves ran higl
striking the vessel with reaistless fore
throwing her on q sunRen reef. Wit
dsspairing Ehrieks and prayers TO ii
God whose laws they had outraged, hU
Wretcled crew were launched into etc
nifty. All were thought TO have pc
ished.
Twenty years passed, O new gener
ton grew up, and the story Of Manniu
and his exploits was well nigh forgotte
Then. a. now, trading vessels from Nov
Scotia frequented the coast to supply Il
scatterod settlements with the neceEs
Ties of life, receiving in return furs an
hsh.
In the year 1890 the captain Of one
these vessels happened to be in an inn
HAlifAI talking over his summer yo
ages, while smoking pipe with frien
They observed that an old man. sittiI
at a table near them slipping his whisl
and water slowly, appeared highly inte
ested IN their conversation.
When Captain Black left the inn q
old man followed him into the street an
eagerly questioned him about tho Labr
dur coast. Before they parted he ma
tho captain promise DO take him to Il
Bay Of the Dead the following sprin
Captain Black had harb0red thoge ou
during . great storm. In the sprin
When the warm rays Of the sun hi
loosad tho icy barriers of the coast, Ca
tHin Black, mindful Of his promis
sought the mysterious old man, b
sound him dying Of fever Amid &
rawlings uf delirium the ast0nishe6 al
bsrEsE stricken captain was told 4