Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-14

PHILADELPHIA. june 1o.-Ahcy az
nearly all dead now. but here and there
along the American coast can be found an
old salt. laid UP In an ordinary, who, when
he first began his seafaring Ire py cruis-
ing 10 the West Indies in rum-and-mo-
lasses hookers, heard many tales OF the
pirate named Audain. Indeed, II is likely
that a few remain who have seen the
smooth rascal
A more remarkable combination of au-
dacity, pugnacity and hypocrisy was never
seen in the West Indies than Audain. He
came originally from Bristol England
where he left a wife, but whether 10
mourn or rejoice over his absence Is not
known He reached Martinique some time
near 1870. and landed at ST. Pierre after
a brief sojourn at St. Thomas.
ST. Pierre was then noted for It's res
taurants and hotels kept by women.
There was Betsy Parker. lone OF that
numerous tribe OF good natured hostesses
whom West Indians rejoice in-cunning
and obseouious to whites as If to negroes
and as proud and despotic over negroes
as II they were whites"-for light colored
mulattoes, every one, they were, some
were handsome and willowy like Betsy
Parker some were handsome and rotund
like Hannah Lewis, but all employed
cooks that were unsurpassed and all knew
how to mingle the juices OF lines ana
pineapples with good rum and how much
Madeira should be poured into the gashed
side of a guava. Well shaded hotels were
these. and the dining tables stood on We
randas overlooking yards or courNs hlled
with tropical foliage and flowers.
Audain stopped at the house of Dolly
Michaux. Dolly was accounted the
shrewdest and richest Of her class, and
there is no doubt that she outweighed the
largest of them. Audain was often heard
to say during his career that more than
H,a seaHvr,fra6 hong r,Ofna
in a woman" Very likely he told the
truth, and was therefore more or less
sincere in his admiration for Dolly Mi
chaux At any rate, he won Dolly's heart
and a most liberal share of her wealth.
Then, without open break he managed
that Dolly should grow weary of him,
when ne slipped away to Dominica, and
at Roseau announced that he was come as
a missionary.
Because he asked no salary from the
people, and because he was a fluent talker,
Audain soon commanded a considerable
CONGREGATION. How long this kind of work
lasted Is not recorded. but after few
months Audain built, with money he had
obtained from Dolly, a small schooner Of
wide beam and shoal draft, which sailed
ostensibly on a trading voyage to Mar
Unique.
AS It happened, this schooner returned
to Roseau on Sunday while Audain was
preaching. 00e was SAOWAy bOWAhB a. us
masted bark, and when Audrain saw the
two vessels round the weather point and
head for the anchorage he broke OF his
sermon and poured forth an enthusiastic
song of Thanksgiving.
The bark was deeply laden with Mar
Unique sugar, rum and other valuable
products The crew had disappeared
'lost undoubtedly in the hurricane that
dismasted her." said the captain of Au-
dams schooner, and everybody believed
him.
OF course, the wreck was taken before
an admiralty court, and large sum was
awarded Audrain and his men for sal
wage. But when the schooner crew OBJ
tanned their share Of the proceeds they
got drunk to a man, and some of them
said things about the discovery of that
dismasted bark on the high seas, and
steel-and-p powder gale that had destroyed
the crew instead of the plain West In
dian gale the captain had mentioned.
The talk did not amount to evidence
that Audain. or his men had violated the
law and nothing was done about It; but
Audain thought 1t wise to make friends
with the government officials and that
proved such an expensive business that
he went afioat in his schooner to retrieve
his fortune.
He landed at Basseterre, st. Kits Ga
British island), and by means of presents
and arts familiar to those who trade with
simple minded people, like Indians, he
managed to load his schooner with negroes
and send her away for a market In Mar
Unique But on her way she was captured
by privateer that hailed from st. Nevis,
and this speculation was ended then and
! there.
On hearing of the capture Audain be-
came wild with anger, and going to st.
Nevis. he challenged the owner of the
privateer to fight duel. The man re-
| fused, and Audain not only posted him as
coward, but for four days paced to and
| fro before the courthouse, armed with
sword and four big pistols.
Failing to get a shot he went back to
his preaching; and that he was able to do
so is an interesting portrayal of West In
dian ideas in those days. Soon, however,
he was afloat again. Dolly Michaux was
/ appealed to not in vain. Audain his own
captain this time, cruised about with his
eyes wide open and his teeth shut tight,
until he saw alec, on fine, breezy after
noon, a big. high-hooped Spanish galleon
deeply laden and homeward bound
1t was the chance of a lifetime, for such
ships always carried large quantities of
precious metal, cochineal and other valu-
able products Rarely was such a prize
worth less than 100000, and some were
worth over $1000,000.
Easing his sheets, Audain ran within
good viewing distance, when he came to
| the vino ana looked careIully lot guns;
but not a gun could he see. Then with
whoop, he reached for her, but when with
| in pistol range IA ports opened mysterious
| ~ and IA guns came out on the run. With
| a groan, but with his utmost speed, Au-
dain let go all halyards and surrendered.
Then he dived into the hold. turned big
empty cask bottom up, and with his mate
| cTawled under.
The Spaniards, boarding the schooner
| killed all the men on deck found Audain
under the cask, and dragged him on deck.