The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-04-11
Capt. Robert. and His Demon Crew.


a man OF spirit and intelligence.
with a touch of ehivalry in his nature.
and his bravery was something better
than the mere brute courage that cistin-
guished many Of the sea-rovers. Nor was
his career furnished by any OF those acts
Of treachery and meannsss which have
made the crimes of the pirates more ex-
ecrable and repellant Moreover. some Of
his operations were on a scale that Tesem-
bled the deeds of the fearless old tucca-
neers Of the previous century. rather than
the Outrages of the pirates Of later days
IL is estimated that during ais short but
brilliant career-it ran its course in about
four years-ROberts captured and plum
dered no fewer than 900 ships Of 81 ma
tons
Roberts was born somewhere about the
year 1872 in Pembrokeshire Of his earlier
years nothing IS known. II is not I'll MS.
when he was about thiTty-six yeas old.
that We find him as second mate OF a mer-
chant ship which had arrived off the coast
of Africa for a cargo of slaves. The ship
was attacked and captured by pirate
vessel named the Rover, commanded by a
certain Capt. Davis. The larger part of
the crew were forced to ioin the gentle
men of fortune" and among them was
Roberts. At first the life was intensely
hateful to him. But he was an ambitious
man; ne was tired of the hard toll and
hard tack and neager gains Of the mer-
chant service, and IT was not long before
he Overcame his repugnanee TO his new
surroundings. "A short life and a merry
one. said he: and. flinging of all re-
straint, he took heartily to the calling.
and soon bacame the boldest pirate OF
them all.
SO rapidly did his intelligence and manly
superiority impress his shipm1tas thai
within six weeks when Capt. Davis was
killed in fight with the Portuguese. Rob-
erts was unanimously elected to fill his
place.
Capt. Roberts was an imposing figure.
the nearest approach that We know of 10
the pirate of romance. He was tall and
very dark with a commanding and i'm
perious air. Where he was not loved he
was respected and feared. He dressed
magnificently. In his iast sea fight he ap-
peared on deck attired In a rich crimson
damask waistcoat and breeches. a red
feather in his hat a gold chain round his
neck with a diamond cross hanging 10 it,
a sword in his hand. ana two pairs of pis-
tolls hanging at the end of silk sling
flung over his shoulders after the fashion
of the pirates.
Having first avenged the death OF their
companion the pirates sailed for the
coast of Brazil. capturing several vessels
on the way. Up and down the coast they
cruised for two months or more without
success. and were about TO make their way
in disgust to the West Indies. when sud
denly they came upon a great fleet of for
ty-two Portuguese ships. lying ready TO
start for Lisbon, and waiting for two
powerful warships which were to convoy
them across the Atlantic. 1t was start
lingly daring thing for a single ship of
no great size to venture among more
than two score of an armed enemy. But
the pirates had boundess faith IN them
selves and an almost equal contempt for
the Portuguese.
Roberts decided promptly UPON line Of
action. Steering boldly among the ships,
as if he were one of themselves he ran
close up to a trader and quietly but per-
emptorily called the master aboard, at
the same time fiercely warning the crew
that IL they made the slightest resistance
or attempted 10 signal TO the other ships
he would slaughter them without mercy.
At once the Portuguese knew that pi-
rate was alongside, but they were too
much frightened and surprised to think
Of resistance. The Captain meekly obey
eI, and went aboard. Roberts received
him graciOusly and frankly told him his
purpose. He wished to have the richest
ship in the fleet pointed cut to him. Threat
ened with death on the spot il he refused.
the CAPTAIN pointed to a vessel which
the Rover. But to the pirates these were
trifing details; they made straight Ger
their victim.
The pirates thought to take the ship by
stratagem; and with this intention the
Portuguese Captain was instructed to in
vite the master Of the great ship aboard,
as if he had business with him But per-
ceiving by the sudden commotion that
they were discovered. the pirates threw
off all disguise poured in bToadside, and
closed and boarded
The fight was short and sharp. In a
few minutes the deck of the Portuguese
vessel was streWn with dead, and the ship
vas I'm the hands of the pirates But by
this time the whole feet vas in an up
roar Guns doomed forth the alarm, and
every ship was signaling frantically for
the warships to come 10 their aid. The
men-0f-waT, however, were none too
eager for the fray, they bent TO the chass
so tardily that Roberts was off and away
with a long lead almost before they had
their anchors up. One of the warships.
sailing mucn faster than the other. came
after Roberts with a brave show. There
upon the pirates determined TO wait for
the enemy, hoping 10 dispose Of them De
fore their compaions could Join them But
when the pursuers saw the pirates ma
neuver. they ca utiously sheered of TO wait
for the second ship before tacklinS the
pirate. AMI 50 Roberts sailed of tn
umphantly with his prize
II turned out 10 be well worth the risk
he had run. Besides a rich general cargo,
the vessel contained more than Bo,OyJ
in gold and many jewels Of great value.
The pirates were jubilant; their first
thought was 10 find a place where they
might have spell Of riot and debauchery
For this purpose. they fixed upon Devil s
Islands. on the coast Of French Guiana.
While stationed there they captured A
slcop. and learning from her crew that
arcther vessel, laden with provisions, or
which they were in pressing need Was
not far distant. Roberts went IN pursuit
with forty men in the slOOp. When h
returned. after an unsuccessful chase, IN
which ne and his men nearly perished
OF thirst. Roberts found that the Lieuten-
ant he had left IN eharge-a rascally
Irishman named Kennedy. who before
long ended his days on the gibbet-had
made of with the Rover and the prize
and all the others OF the crew.
Roberts went nearly mad with fury
from that moment he hated All IFishmen,
and when occa sion offered be took pains
10 show his hatred. But. meanwhile What
eOuId Roberts d02 With miserable little
sIoop. insuficlentIy armed and barely pro
y.sione1. he could not long keep the sea
OF piratical business Roberts and his
men took counsel together. and decided
10 make Cor the West indies, where they
could bsst hope, by juaieioGs capture 70
ma Ike good the loss their tTeachsr0us
comrades had inflicted rDon them.
But before setting sail they drew Up
seriee OF articles for the future reSgia-
tion OF their company. and every man
ev.ere on the Bible 10 observe them faith
fully By these fegulat tons playing 81
cards or dice for money was forbidden.
and certain restrictions Were placed upon
drinking Boys and women were not 10
b. allowed on board me ship and any
one nf the crew found guilty Of Eronging