Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-11-25

James Hart aud Edmund Liston. carry
ing off most OF their property and
slaves About l O'Clock in the after.
noon, near Lisson's house, they ran to
a place where his daughter and negro
girl were Grabbing. Selling the neeress,
they bound her and nut her in the
boat. They then went to liston, armed
with guns, cutlasssa and pistols, and
admitted they were privRteers, and do
mauded his negroes, money and key,
He complied, and they went through
the place taking clothes, bedding,
furniture and whatever theT dis
covered. They put these Ia the hunt.
and placing pistol against Liston 8
breast. told him to lend them 10 llHrt's
plantation, about half a mile away.
Hart saw them coming and closed the
house and holted the door They first
chased negro till they caught her,
then called out TO Hart to Admit them,
or thay woud fra the house. He still
refused and they commenced to bonn
bard the house. a bullet struck his
wife In the hip, and she bled go much
that he surrendered ana opened the
door. He was bound, and then they
pundered the house taking the negroes,
the wearing apparel, some gold but
tons. and other articles something to
about 20 pounds. After packing up
their booty they set out again for their
boat. Hart and Liston toll the Coun-
Gil, hut the Council was poweress to
do anything without tho assent OF this
assembly.
Tho rrivateers kept up their work,
meeting with no opposition to incon
venienCs them. One of them manned
a Cape May pilotboat, and sent 1t up
the bay as far as Bombay Hook,
plupuering several of the hest panta-
tions.
As the winter OF l7iT approached the
weather put check upon the priyRteer-
ing operations for brief season. Most
CT them sought shelter 10 the West
Indies, but reports reached Delaware
that great rand was being planned at
the opening 0F the spring. Companies
were formed, and batteries we're erected
at different points along tho river. 1t
WAS curious coincidence that nearly
every one who reported having suffered
at tho hands OF tho priyateers, reportsd
that while most of their assailants
were usually French or Spanish. there
was always some me in the party who
| used good English. 1t was concluded
| from this that there were many of the
colonists who were acting with the
enemy. "a fact which might also have
accounted for tina successful manner
in which their expeditions usually
| terminated.
About the first Of June, Abraham
Wilthank, pilot of Lewistown. was
| appointed to command an intelligence
buHt He piled up and down the river
and hay from the capes to Philadel.
| phia, reporting the forces and move,
ments Of all privateers within sight.
| At New Castle there was a fort, hui
there we're only four guns to be raised
in the whole town. Tho defeucelesf
condition Of the coast can therefore he
well understood, and il is not to be
wondered at that the privnteers enter.
tanned no fear of whatever opposition
might be offered.
In July whols fleet appeared of
the southern coast OF the American
colonies, under the leadership of Dor
| Pedro, anu for time navigation was
at complete stanGstil. A part Of tht
British squadron in New England was
sent down and captured several of tht
privateers, and manned them to uppost
their old allies, and in this way Iht
robbers were once more dispsrsed
The credit of finally clearing the ba,
and capes of Delaware Of privsteers
was really due to the two men Of. war
the Hector and "Ottor." They cap
tured number and disabled few
others, 81 that before the close of tn,
year of l74S those that remained un
hurt had sought more hospitablt
regions and tho people were oncs mari
relieved from the strain OF rhei
enemies for two years. This was tb,
last attempt, either of pirates or priva
teers, to make any attack on Delaware
At rare intervals thereafter they woulC
spring out of the waves and SWEEP
down on an unsuspecting vessel; bu
they no longer acted with their forme
auhacity. With this, the curtain fail
on this most romantic and interesting
phase of pirates and prigateers.