Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-11-13
THE BAY OF
THE DEAD
A Story of Piracy and a Hid
den Treasure.

For years the deep and tortuous and
great bays on the Labrador coast afford
ed safe haven to bloodthirsty pirates
and rovers of the seas who, driven by
not pursuit from more frequented wa
tiers, repaired to this northern shore to
mend their shattered vessels. Here dur
Ing the short summer they recovered
from their wounds: here, too, they secret
ed their booty; here perchance the long
sought treasure Of Captain Kidd may be
hidden. Who can tell what secrets are
held forever in the recesses of these
wave beaten and rockbound shores?
Wondrous traditions are told OF hidden
wealth on Labrador, and that these are
not all old mems tales this true story of
Manning may convince the reader:
Toward the close of the eighteenth CEN
fury Scotchman named Manning set
tied on the Labrador coast and alone and
unaided followed the rough and precari-
Gus calling Of fisherman. At the close
of each season he visited Newfoundland
to dispose of his catch TO the English
traders, buy his stock of provisions and
then return TO his lonely dwelling to pass
the long and dreary winter. For several
years he led this life till, by his economy
having amassed few hundred dollars,
great longing seized him to see his native
land. Accordingly he crossed the Attain
tic, and during the round of visits to his
Scotch friends he met bonnie lass
whom he persuaded to share his Labra-
dor home. Fitting out a small vessel or
schooner. he set sail for America with
his young bride and a crew of hardy set
tiers and their families. This was in the
year 1906.
But after twelve months of industry at
Labrador Manning grew restless and per-
suaded the most active and daring spirits
in those parts to join him in a new prof.
ect. Toward the latter part of October,
1907, he placed his effects on board his
vessel and quietly slipped out of the har-
bor determining to lead life of piracy.
All his old habits of thrift and industry
seemed to have left him, very demon of
adventure seemed TO have driven out his
better feelings and wiped out all natural
affection, for with heartless cruelty he
basely deserted his wife and young child.
A stranger in a strange land. far from
home and kindred, the fate of the unfor-
tunate woman is not known. Most prob
ably she did not survive her cruel treat
ment long.
On the coast there is now a small set
Element called Mutton Bay or Meccatina
Harbor, and about mile east of this set
tlement is a deep inlet called by the
French "L'Anse aux Morris" or Bay Of
the Dead This bay is screened alike
from the fury of the sea and the observa-
ton of passing vessels by small island
which is easily mistaken for the main
land. Under the rugged and frowning
cliffs which overhang the Bay of the
Dead, so called because an old burying
ground was .here, Manning and his COM
panions landed. Securely sheltered, there
they perfected their plans for life of pi-
racy and boodshed. and in truth no spot
could be more admirably adapted for
such conclaye.
The course taken then by vessels on
their way 90 Quebec from Europe was
through the strait of Belle Isle, close to
the north shore of the st. Lawrence and
Just outside of the island behind which
Manning and his crew lay in hiding. AT
that date packet was sent out annually
by the British government with the pay
of the forces stationed in Canada on
board. Manning knew this only too well
and was on the lookout for the vessel.
Unsuspicious of danger, she neared the
island, when Manning, with his ship.
darted suddenly from his place of hiding
and swooped down upon her. She fell an
easy prey. Her unfortunate captain and
crew were butchered. the treasure remov-
ed, the vessel scuttled and no trace of the
foul deed left. At Quebec the overdue
ship was anxiously looked for, but hope
died out at last. and Ii was thought that
she had succumbed to the fury of the At
lantic The following year another pack
ct was sent out. and she shared the fate
of her predecessor.
The loss of two vessels and their crews
In such a short time aroused suspicion,
and q third was sent out, bit with her a
man-of-war All went well Ill the vicin-
ity of the Bay of the Dead was reached,
when, the man-ofwar having fallen far
astern, the pirate schooner darted out,
quickly captured the packet, secured the
treasure and destroyed all the crew with
one exception. This was a negro whom
Manning wished to keep for a servant.
This man, hoping to propitiate his cap
tor, told him that the man-of-war was
close behind them. The news so alarmed
the pirate that he beat precipitous re-
treat to the island. That night another
dread crime was added to the long list al
ready committed by the bloodthirsty
wretch. Fearing discovery and believing
in the adage that dead men tell no tales,
he changed his mind about the negro. He
resolved to bury his treasure, and under
cover of binding storm, while the thun-
der rolled and the lightning cleft the sky,
he collected his i'll gotten gains into five
small casks.
With the assistance of the negro he
placed them in as many holes dug in the
old burying ground of the Bay Of the
Dead. Having accomplished this, he sud
denly sprang on the unfortunate negro
and plunged a knife into his heart. AS
the lifeblood slowly ebbed away he
twisted the limp form of his victim
around the central cask. At this dread
moment the old Scotch superstitious ma
ture asserted itself, and he believed that
the wrath" Of the negro would keep
guard over the treasure, preventing any