The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-02

Carcenlng was very necessary oPci d
ton for the old pirate, Captain sharkey,
in the heyday of his powers long ago.
1t was impossible to retain his sailing
qualities unless he periodically-once a
year. at the Ieast-clcared his vessels
bottom from the long, trailing plants
and crustipg barnacles which gather so
rapidly in the tropical seas.
During the weeks which were thus oc-
cupied The ship was, of course, defense
less: but. on the .other hand she was I'M
approachable by anything heaviers than
an empty hull, and the place for careen-
ing was chosen with an eye to secrecy. so
that there was no great danger.
So secure did the captains feel, that it
was not uncommon for them. at such
times, TO leave their ships under a sliff-
cient guard and to start off in the long
boat. either upon a sporting expedition
or. more frequently upon a visit to some
outlying town where they turned the
heads OF the women by their staggering
gallantry or preached pipes of vine in
The market square, with threat to pis-
tol all who would not drink with them.
There was one pirate, however. who
never crossed even the skirts of civilZa-
lion, and that was the sinister ShaTke.
of the bark Happy Delivery. 1t may havC
been from his morose and solitary TEN
per, or. as is more probable, that h
knew his name upon the coast was sucl
that outraged humanity would against al
Gods, have thrown themselves upon him
hut never once did he show his face il
a settlement
When his ship was laid up he woul'
leave her under the charge of Ned Gallo
way. her New England quartermaste,
and would take long voyages in his boat
sometimes il was said, for the purpose G.
burying his share of the plumber an
sometimes to shoot the wild oxen
Hispaniola. which. when dressed and bar
becued, provided provisions for his mex
voyage. In the latter case the bari
would come round to some prearrangef
spot to pick him up ard take on board
what he bad shot.
There had always been hope in tn
islands that Sharkey might be taken o.
enc Of these occasions. and at last Their
came news to Kingston which seemed t,
justify an attemrt upon him. 1t ws
brought by an elderly logwood cutter VIII
had fallen into the pirates hands and l.
some freak of drunken benevolence ha6
been allowed to get away with n"thn'
worse than a slit nose and drubbng
Pts account was recent and definite Tho
Happy Delivery was careeuing at Torbec
on the southwest Of Hispaniola. Sharkey
with forr men. was buccaneering OH thu
outlying island of La Vache The blooJ
Of hundred murdered crews was call
ing out for vengeance. and now at las
IT seemed as If it might not call il
vain
Sir Edward Compton. the high nosed
Icd-faced Governor, sitting in golem
conclave with the commandant and IN
head of the council was sorely puzzle
in his mind as to how he should use thi
chance. There was no man-of- war near
or Tran Jamestown. and she was clums
old fyboat which could neither over
haul tic pirate on the seas nor reach he
in a hallow inlet. There were fort
and artillerymen both at Kingston an
Port ROYAL. but no soldiers available 70
an expedition.
4 private venture might be fitted out
and there were many who had a bloc
foud with Sharkey-but what could pri
vato venture do? The pirates We're nun
CToils and desperate. As to taking Shar
kcy and his four companions, that. o
course. would be easy il they could get
thcm: but how were they to get at ther
large. wcll-wooded island like l.
Vachc? 4 reward was offered 10 whoeve-
could hGd a solution. and that brougb
n man to the front who had singula
rlsn. and was himself prepared to carr
IL out.
Sterhen Craddock had been that mos
formidable person. the Puritan goD
wrong. Sprung from decent Salem fam
ilv his i'll doing seemed to be reco
from the austcrity of their religion. ar
he brought to vice all the physic9
strength and energy with which the viz
tues of his ancestors had endowed mir
He was ingenious. fearless and exceo|
ingly tenacious of purpose, SO that whe
he was still young his name became nc
tcrious upon the American coast.
As a SLAYER, ard even, as it was hint
ed. as pirate, he had left an evil nam
behind him in the Blight of Benin. FINAL
be had returned to Jamaica with a con
siderable fortune. and had settled dow
to life of sombre dissipation. This wa.
the man. gaunt. austere and dangerous
who now waited upon the Governor Will
Il plan for the sxtirpation of sharkey.
Sir Edward received him with little
enthusiasm, for in spite of some rumor:
Of conversion aud reforma ton. he haC
who might faint the whole of his little
1cck.
You came here to speak of Sharkey
Master Craddock." said he
The mar Sharkey is vessel of wrath
said Craddock. His wicked horn has
been exalted over long. and it is borne
in upon me that if I can cut him off and
utterly destroy him it will be goodly
deed. and one which may atone for many
tackslidings in the past A plan has
been given to me whereby l may encom-
lass his destruction.
The Governor was keenly interested
FOR there was a grim and practical air
about tho mans frecl1led face which
showed that he was in earnest After all
he was a seaman and fighter. and. if
il we're true that he was eager to atone
for his past. no better man could be cho-
sen for the business.
'This viii be a dangerous task. Mas
tor Craddook,' said he. What was your
PLAN"