The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-24
THE PIRATE DAYS Of OLD.
STIRRING DEEDS OF MORGAN AND
HIS FREEBOoTTxG RAND.

Terrors of the Ocean--Their Hoad
Capture Of Panama and Its Golden
Loot-A Pcrilous Expeaitian-Eug-
land Rewards the Freebooter.
TIE trouble that the Spanlsrds are hav-
ing IN Cuha naturally recalls prevfous ex-
persences OF the same nation in the West
inaies- IN view OF che nature OF SPANISH
rue, 40 enc can be surprised 10 learn that
va. ZIG stahiaras have always had sroubA.
no. only In the West Indies but. in fact.
with every colony that Spain has found
gu IN any part az the world. Spanish AFRO
saHhce, greed and oppression have always
pFoauced legitimate results in insarrec1ioa.
domestic and foreign war. consequently
the history OF Spain in America, from the
oAsSossry 10 the present year, may be
written IN lines OF blood
When the Spanish occupied the West
Indies they set Gp claim yot only Ia ths,
ownership OF the American continent, but
ALSO 20 all the commerce With the new
world, and In attempting 10 maintain their
propfsetorship they sought to exclude the
ships and traders OF every other nation.
The English. Dutch and French Of those
DAYS Were enterpT1sing men. ard as their
ships We're forbidden 10 come openly TO
small. fleet vessels were fitted OUT TO do a
smuggling business. Manned by daring
crews. Wen armed and carrying a few
cannon. they We're able to resist the patrol
boats and revenue cutters of the Spanish
customs service. having fine sailing quail
ties. they could run away with ease from
the large Spanish mer-of-war, and with
caItains and pilots familiar with every
corner Of the West Indies. they could
easily evade Spanish vigilance and land
their goods almost anywhere they pleased.
mus an enormous smuggling trade grew
up between these three nations and tho
West India islands, a trade destined to
produce momentous consequences.
Days Of the Bucraneers. -
The Spanish policy OF determination OF
the natives had deponuiated most OF the
Islands. and Hispanioia in particular. al
most destitute Of inhabitants, furnished a
number OF comparatively safe harhors
which could be used as distributing
points, and which were resorted to by the
Spanish merchants who found in the
smuggied goods a source OF profit as great
as that which fell to the share of the
smugglers. The plains Of Hispaniola were
overrun by herds of wild cattle, the de-
scendants OF the few beasts which had es-
capped from the Spaniards. and the SNUG
glers found in these animals an additional
source OF profit, for the hides sold in
Europe at exceedingly remunerative prices.
AS Hispaniola became the center Of the
smuggling trade, 1t became also supply
depot for the smu2glers, and the business
Of killing cattle, preserving the flesh aud
baling hides for transport to Europe grew
side by side with the smuggling. Hence
the name OF buceaneer. the ierked or sun
dried beef. called boucan, giving its name
first to the men who killed the animals
and prepared their flesh, and then 10 a
race of hardy adventures who for coo
years proved the scourge OF the Spaniards
in America.
The buccaneers might have remained
hunters and snugglers had IT not been for
the crue! policy of the Spanish govern
ment, which. unable to suppress smuggling
or hunting, determined TO cut off the
source of supply. SO landed in Hispanioia
a large force of men, killed all the wild
oxen on the island. and thus drove the
buccaneers from the land 10 the sea. There
they were reinforced by men from every
nation in Europe, runaway seamen, de-
serters from armies. refugees from large
cities. whose only bond of union was
hatred of the Spanlards and desire for
plumber. The buccaneer war lasted off and
on for nearly 200 years, and among these
rovers OF the sea were many leaders who.
under a civilized government would have
risen to high rank as military command
of talent not surpassed by snat OF the IA
NOUS generals whose names appear as
models of skill.
Exploits of Henry Morgan.
Among the most famous OF these leaders
was the famous Henry Morgan whose
name was a terror word In Spanish Amer
lea. Morgan was Welshman. born about
1857. the son OF a wealthy farmer. AS a
boy his imagination was inspired by the
stories told by returned sarors OF the wars
with the Spaniards In the West Indies, and
he determined at the earliest possible day
TO leave home and seek fortune in the
New World. Before he was Il years old
he ran away and shipped as cabin boy
What adventures he underwent between IL
and IS are not recorded bat at the latter
age he turned up fin Jamaica as the leader
OF band OF buccaneers. who, conscious OF
his natural ability, had selected him for
their captain. A year or two later he had
a ship OF his own was picking ap Span
ish prizes wherever he could, and care
fully laying up his snare of the prize
money in Jamaica. as the foundation of a
fortune and TO serve as means for greater
enterprises in future.
Morgan soon commended himself. by his
energy and ability. 10 Admiral Mansfield,
a well-knowu buccaneer leader who had q
fleet Of his own, and associated the young
"a.
After the death OF Mansfield, Morgan took
charge OF the fleet and exhibited both
force of character and tact In controlling
his turbulent associates. Finding himself
in command OF body OF over 60 men. he
determined upon an enterprise more i'm
po-.ant than thas OF pIundering an occa-
sional ship, and proceeded to organize an
expedition against a Spanish city. Ills
companions at first objected 10 the bold
ness OF the plan. They were accustomed
10 predatory forays. but We're not prepared
for regular expeditions. Morgan, however.
overcame their objections. and after sew
eral months or preparation his expedition
sailed from Hlapanioia and landed on the
south coast of Cuba.
HIS objective point was Puerto Principe
4 city about swenty miles IN the Interior.
and supposed by its population 10 he pro-
fected from buccaneer depradafioas not
only b. it's Notifications, but by IT. dis
tanee from the sea. as the rovers seldom
venturei upon the land. The buccaneers
landed late in the afternoon, marched dur
ing she entire night. ard attacked the city
early next morning, defeating the span
ish forces In battle before the gates and
occupying the city. which they piunderef