The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-11-05

with such a crew that Pierre le Grand set
sail in IA little open boat and SKINNED
away out of the great wide waters of Ba-
hama channel in search OF a spanish BOAT
TO fight.
Il was not until they had reached off
Cape TiburOn. on the west side of HiSpa-
nioia. that Pierre and mis- party fell in with
THE boat says one historian OF this
adventure in his quaint English Of King
C'harles's dav-"the boat wherein Pierre le
Grand was with his companions had now
been at sea a long time without finding
anything, according 10 his intent of piracy,
suitable 10 make a prey. And now their
provision BEGINNING to fail. they must of
necessity starve. Being almost reduced to
despair. they eSpied great snip of the
Spanish hota, which has separated from
the rest. This bulky vessel they resolved
to set upon, and to take or die in the at
tempt
Spanish tlota, or fleet. and it was loaded
wien gold and silver plate.
It WAS about aYening when the pirates
sighted her. The shin was then probably
riding at anchor: huge. unwieidly struc-
ture rising ana falling on the SLOW ground
swell OF the hot. smooth sea. big aad BLACK
aGainst the western evening SKY. far
away in the distance was the scattered
fleet also riding at anchor. The little open
boat with the buccaneers IN II sailed To-
ward her. That very day says the MS
torian. the captain Of the ship had been
told by some Of the seamen that a boat
which was I'm view cruising was a poat OF
their advice. made answer: What, then;
must , be afraid of such a piuiul thinS as
that IS? No; nor though she were a snip
as bic and strong as mine IS.
So now Pierre le Grand and his pirates
were rowing silently toward the plate snip
through the dusk of the evening that Ieli
as il fails i'm the tropics. swiftly ana sud
denly. They drew nearer ana nearer, tlIu
thu Standards did not see then. Pierre
made All of his men swear solemn oath
to stand by him in the hour OF coming
DANCER: then he ordered the surgeon To
bore holes in the bottom OF the Ittie boat
in which they were, 50 that II Woulo SINK
beneath them and they would nave no
means of escape. 50 that il would b. either
to fight and to conquer or else 10 die
They came nearer and nearer the span
iardS. Now they We're very close aDodIu.
and the great bulk doomed up above Ihein
big ana still in the gathering darkness ana
the murmuring silence of the tropical nlSht:
Pierre and the others reached out and
stopped the on-Coming Of their httle BOAT.
The surgeon had done ms WORK, anu anu! II VIZ
already filling under them, the water pour
Inc gurEmgly into it. There was no
longer amy time FOR delay, They must
them. Up the side they Swarmed IN the
darkness and over the rail OF the ing snip
This" says the historian. was perform
Ell accordingly and without any other arms
than "A pistol in one OF their hanuS ana 4
sword In the other
The next moment there was patter ana
q sCufile of bare feet on the smooth, stu
deck of the Spanish vessel; dark rush Of
mems figures hitler and thither. Pierre at
swiftly through the darkness across the
deck and into the great cabin. others ran
to the EuCroom ana took possession OF the
guns and ammunition.
In the cabin the captain of the ship was
sitting with some friends playing cards by
the dim light of the lantern swung over
head from the deck above. Pierre burst
the door open with a kick ana a blow ana
rushed directly up to the captain, thrust
ing out his pistol and pressing il against I
that officers breast, commanding him, /
says the chronicler. Ito deliver up the ship !
says he. seeing the pirates aboard their |
ship without scarce having seen them at |
once cried out: Heaven bless us! Are |
these devils or what are they "
They were neither OWLS nor men. They !
were the first buccaneer pirates of the /
Spanish main.
Thus at a stroke and without n drop of /
vice admiral. the treasure ship, with, no /
man COUld tell, how great treasure /
aboard and without single other one of |
the Spanish feet knowing that there were /
Pierre Ie Grand set the captain and !
number of the crew of the Vice Admiral !
ashore In the darkness. the rest being kept /
on board the boat to man her Then with |
out waiting for morning they slipped the /
e.; hleS and sailed away toward France.
How great was the treasure they gain I
ed. how vast the amount OF gold and silver, !
there is record. II must have been |
Pierre reached France in safety. There
saws the chronicler he continued without |
ever returning unto the parts OF America; !
such is the famous exploit of Pierre le I
Grand the first buccaneer pirate who. at I
q single bold dash up the side of the great /
Spanish ship, gained inestimable wealth |
and fame in five minutes time 1t !
the first spark that set all the West In I
dies into a blaze, that of piracy and |
pine, that did not cease for over twenty |
years.