Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-06-30
; SAVED FROM PIRATES. +!
TALE OF THE SPANISH MAIN.


In the beginning of the present CEN
Jury the Gulf of Mexico swarmed with
pirates, preying on the commerce of
every nation. One has only to refer
to the newspapers previous to 1926 to
recognize how great were the perils of
seaman's calling in those days. Ships
disappeared at times with their officers
and crews, and it may be years after
that some desperate sea rover brought
to the gibbet told the story of capture
and destruction. The worst locality
in the West Indies was the south side
of the Island of Cuba. Here lies the
Isle of Pines and succession of low
keys that afforded the pirates excel
lent opportunities for concealment.
All merchantmen went armed in those
days, but the pirate schooners, carry
ing one heavy 24-pounder, could cut
vessels spars to pieces and thus make
her defenseless.
In 1924 an English brig from ia
maica, bound home, was taken off st.
Antoine, her crew massacred and the
vessel beached on the coast of Cuba.
Her cargo was valued at over $780,,
900. The British government started
an investigation, and it was found to
be the work of Spanish Irishman
named Cain, who had fast topsail
schooner called the Esmerelda, with
crew of 200 men of all nationalities,
among them two Philadelphians
named Brent and Supplee. 1t was also
found that in disposing of the plunder
,el <vnorI yncoo1 ho1
veyed most of it to Havana for sale,
and that many Spanish officials were
interested in the affair, getting share
of the plunder.
The British government went for
the Spaniards in very vigorous man
her, demanding indemnity for the
past and security for the future. The
Spaniards yielded and agreed to equip
force to cruise on the south coast
and search the keys for marauders.
A fact sailing brig of war, Ell Toridor,
varying ten guns, was put in com
mission, under Captain Hermann. He
was fine sailor and an honest man,
and soon made it very unpleasant for
the pirates about the Isle of Pines and
Cayo Largo. At this time the United
States had a fleet of small vessels
doing police duty in the gulf, one of
which, the Enterprise. commanded by
Lieutenant White, was very active and
had captured several pirate craft and
cut up their crews. 1t was on the
same station as the Toridor, and ar
ranged with Captain Hermann to CO.
operate with him, and if in want OF
assistance at night to show light at
the mainmast head as signal.
Information had come to the
Spanish captain that consort of the
Esmerelda,a a very fast sailing schooner
called the Bonita, commanded by a
negro named Pinto, would try and get
into the Largo Key at night. She
had been on cruise away south and
was reported full of plunder. The
negro captain was bloodthirsty ruff
fan about so and was badly wanted
by the Spanish authorities, as he had
murdered a brother of Captain General
Galviz in oEe of the raids ashore. So
the Toridor lay out about thres miles
away from the pass between the Isle
of Pines and Cayo Largo, tossing and
heaving and keeping her copper bright
under short sail. 1t was said by Eng
lish captains in those days that you
might make Spaniards fairly good sea
men, but it took constant hazing te
make them stand decent watch. Nc
sooner was the watch set than one-hal
went to sleep and the other half te
play cards and gamble, leaving the
ship to itself. Such must have beer
the case on the Toridor on this nigh
of the 10th of August, 1922. Ever
the officers on the quarterback wer,
DOING while the captain was below
asleep The man at the wheel wa
the only one on the alert. Suddenly
from the northwest came bright flasl
and then the boom of gun and
shot whisted through the rigging, ant
then cry from the helmsman, "Ahoy
there; here's two boats alongside"
In those days muskets were KEEP
in racks under the break of the pool
the boarding pikes.were lashed to TIL
mainboom. To these the startled ere,
rushed, and the sides were alive wit
men coming aboard yelling, "Kill
killp' There is no want of courag
among Spaniards, and the crew tough
desperately. The captain was on dec
and at once sent man to the mast
head to light the signal lantern, an
with his officers and marines pitche
in; but the shore party had got frs
blood and they fought like tigers
while the heavy shot from a bi
schooner not over 300 yards ava
...o f,,+ rVl,a Tor;Joro ratrao@aJ 4
the 1usrterdeck aud encouraged b