The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-25

ing papers the charge OF piracy could
not be sustained. Even Captain Rob-
erts or the Sparrow and his officers
forgot their prospective prize money
IN admiration OF the cool bearing OF
the audacious American.
1t was 1880 on the afternoon of the
second day of the trial. In another
half hour the court must close in ia
yer OF the American. The circumstan-
tial evidence against him was strong,
u he actual proof was not such as
would satisfy any ordinary jury. A
few minutes more and the court would
adjourn after having declared Captain
Briggs guiltless n the schooner Nan
cy free to proceed on her voyage to
Curacao.
While the preliminaries for closing
the court were about to begin the
booming of a gun was heard down the
bay. In a short time the news flew
through the court that the war brig
Abergavenny had just arrived from
the South coast of Hayti. There was no
reason why the arrival Of an English
man-of-war should in any way inter
fere with the proceedings Of the court.
a few minutes more and the gavel
Of the judge would announce the clos
ing of the court, and. to Briggs, the
favorable ending of the trial. In the
meantime an officer in undress uniform
entered the court and. advancing to the
bench, laid before the judge a bundle
Of water-stained documents. They
proved to be the missing papers of the
schooner Nancy.
Now comes the most remarkable part
Of this remarkable story, the part
which 1t would be hare TO believe were
II not backed by the sworn evidence
of the Abergavenny's officers and crew.
a few days before this a tender of the
Abergavenny, in fishing off the coast
Of Hayti, struck a shark. The shark
was taken on board the Ab%ergavenny.
There ii was cut open in order that
the sailors might secure the liver for
the sake Of the oil which il is known
TO contain. Great was the surprise of
the rude dissectors at finding in the
stomach of the shark a bundle of pa
pers. These papers were the records
of the schooner Nancy. which Captain
Briggs had thrown overheard when he
found that he was being overhauled by
the Sparrow.
Dramatists nave racked their brains
to produce a startling situation. but
there is nothing in dramatic literature,
nor in the pages of fiction, that at all
equals the scene that followed in that
Kingston court when Captain Briggs
was confronted with the evidence of
his own infamy and was declared by
JNSN "SSN ~ ~ Aiiii ~ "
a pirate. The evidence was overwhelm-
ing. Confronted with this testimony
from the sea, brave though he was,
all the courage and GOODNESS of the
American skipper departed. Feeling
that heaven had arrayed its power
against him, Captain Briggs confessed
his guilt.
This man must nave had in him some
of nobility, for when he found
that his own fate was sealed he tried
to shield his crew. He made a speech,
still remembered for its eloquence and
reason, in which he tried TO show that
he was the ruling spirit and that his
men were entirely guiltless, or at least
that they did not understand his pur-
and that in doing what they
did they simply obeyed orders. The out
come of the trial was that Captain
Briggs and his crew of seven men were
found guilty Of piracy, and soon after
ward were executed in accordance with
the law. by hanging from the yard
of the vessel on which they had re-
Gently sailed