Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-11-10

atty, having captured among other
prizes more than a half dozen ships
belonging to New York and Boston.
His recent performances whetted his
taste for blood, and in almost eyery
case where he met with resistance hs
sent both ship and crew to the bottom
as soon as he could secure whatever
spoil she might be carrying. Some of
the sport he INDUCED in at this time
showed a brutal originality, which,
while unique, was by no means any
the more pleasing to his victims.
On selling New England vessel
called the Amsterdam Merchant. he
proceeded to inflict some peculiar out
RACES on Captain Willard, the master.
He cut off this shippers ears, slit mp
his nose, and after treating several of
the captured crew in a similar manner
sent them on their way, not, however,
until he had stolen everything of value
from the vessel. About the same
time, becoming displeased at remark
made by the captain of small coast
wise vessel he had seized, he punished
him by tying lighted splinters between
his fingers until the flesh was charred
to the bone. He then babe the offend
er bon voyage and permitted him to
sail without further molestation.
In June, 1923, Low entered into a
compact with another pirate named
Charles Harris, and the two together
sailed up the New England coast and
commenced a series of daring outrages
on the shipping of Boston and New
York. Their exploits at last became
so bold and frequent that the British
warship Greyhound, which was sta
toned on the coast, cruised out to sea
with view to intercepting the pirates
and giving them battle. After beat
ing about for several days the Grey
hound sighted the enemy, and Low,
installing her for a merchant vessel,
bore down upon her, at the same time
clearing his decks for action. The
Greyhound had 20 guns under deck
and ten times as many men, but the
captain, seeing an opportunity for the
preparation of an excellent Joke,
showed her poop and pretended to be
in great haste to get away from so
dangerous customer. Low followed
with all sail and chased for over two
hours, gaining slowly on the flying
Greyhound.
On coming within gunshot Low ran
up the black flag and opened fire, but
a sad surprise was in store for him.
AS he opened his guns the Greyhound
came suddenly about, and pouring
tremendous broad-side into the pirates
closed in for fight at close quarters.
1t was now the pirates turn to show
their poop, which they did with cred
liable dispatch. Harris wished to give
battle and trust to fortune, but Low
who was a coward at heart, fled. Har-
ris accordingly followed hard after
him, while the Greyhound came flying
down the wind behind them. Harris
was taken after desperate resistance,
in which large number of men were
killed on both sides, but Low, avai1ing
himself of the engagement which was
in progress, sailed out of range and
finally escaped.
Harris vessel was carried into Rhode
Island, and the capture was made the
occasion of great public rejoicing A
court of vice admiralty was convened.
Harris and his crew were given full
trial, and on July 10, 1923, the entire
number-26 in all-were swung from
as many gibbets near Newport, where
their bodies were left for many weeks
swinging, black and putrefying, in the
wind and sun as a warning to all evil
doors.
When the archpirate Low gave the
Greyhound the slip, he fled fast up the
coast, breathing threats of dark re-
venge, and his after career proved that
he wreaked his vengence to the ut
most extent whenever circumstances
gave his barbarous ingenuity room
for play. His first capture after his
escape was that of a small wha1er
which he seized about 100 miles from
land. He subjected the master of this
boat to the most frightful tortures and
finally put tardy end to his terrible
sufferings by shooting him through
the head. The crew he then placed in |
a rowboat and turned them adrift at |
sea, expecting that they would die of |
slow starvation or be lost in a storm.
By almost a miracle, however, they |
to reach Nantucket after en-
during untold hardships.
Low remained on the coast for sew
era1 weeks, hoping for an opportunity
for further revenge. During this |
time he captured a fishing vessel and |
stated his appetite for blood by cutting
off the masters head, after which he |
sent the crew into shore. He was far |
less merciful with his next captures,
however. These were the crews of two
wha1ers taken off Rhode Island. The
masters of these vessels he treated
with the most revolving cruelty and
would have wreaked similar punish
nent on the crews had not his own viii
ainous followers, touched by the
vft1l SufferinD of the officers |