New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-28
CAPTAIN THUNDERBOLT.
THE MYSTERIOUS PIRATE Of
ANTE REVOLU7IONARf
DAYS.
THE TERROR OF wEsTVILLE, CONN
HIS ENCOUNTER WITH AARON
RrRR-FAILED TO GET THE
WIFE HE SOUGHT.


,leU-Haven, Conn, Sept 2 tSpeciap--" -,
one Of the Oldest and most picturesque u -
T5aver's neighbors. has long oeeh 4diiio Of
ocauties connected with the historic 80
-, r,.,.r1as.s regicides from the Engiish ems
<srses sent 70 the Colonies 70 effect their odt
F3ut its pirate legend is less wei KNOW ,d
rbe basis for il is not less acceptaoie- AoO' -
Is rich with stories of the old huccaneer' anu ~
,Dr the early part Of the last century tales "a ~
9.ri,,q and lravado Of the unwelcone NiSl'oI u 'N
village we're many. ,4s
IT, bo,sa which is connected with the leseh's
of Westyille's pirate stands on the Siotee -.
Book on what is known the lower "oo' %
49ad. or The Naucatuck Turnpike, the ola sIae7
road from New-Iianen up into the to"IS anu ~
lagos of the upper Naugatuck River II Is d NUS
that woild attract attention from the mos '
,,asserh,, because Of its odd construction -
stands off some two hundred yards from the ma
road directly under the towering slope Oh 'iie
rock which shelters it from winter WINS
the north and east. Substantially Dull % S
succeed over a dull gray, the captain li'"liu,
holt house is one of the landmarks OF '"e lo'4s'
The doorways Of the house are rounded WINE ''47
window frames are set with the muittudlhouS
small panes usual in the architecture OF d h|.iu1
years ago But the main characteristics o. ''-s
house are the unique pillars ana the pat'o'' 20
runs along half of the southern side II Is 'ouo
of southern architecture that is unique among
Colonial buildings.
II was in this house that Captain ThunderooI'
as he was known TO the villagers. lived N nuns
for several years previous the outbreak OF 'Le
Revolutionary Mar History has II that odi'A'''
rrhuneerbolt as he chose call himself, was d
well known English buccaneer and pirate VIZ
ploodthirsty deeds on the high seas hao "'NAt
81 ,ba attention Of the British Admiralty courts
and who had been forced into retirement III soIile
secluded village while the hue and cry aitef MS
an+ure was carried on in the large seaports. where
the rrivateers OF the time assembled IN large Nun
hers From the character whlch ne 6d4'4eu iO'
himself in wesville during the TWO or three yes
Of mis- life there about 40. Captain IhuhueIOoiN
had evidently passed through a lawless career
What his real name was history does not rec'iu
nor is anything definite known Of ms me previous
m or after his residence in Westviile MS Career
during his retirement. however. furnished enough
-ossin FOR the town and from all reports he car
ried matters with as high hand as did Steven
sons famous old Silly Bones
Westville in those days was known as ho'chhiss
VILE and was small hamlet, with small circle
If dwellings at the junction of the roads from the
hin country Ar.lity woodbridge, and Manga
tuck where Hhalley-ave. and Fountain-st now
meet. At this junction then stood the OLD tavern
and public house that is still! in use, which was
famous as a coaching place and stage tavern for
travellers passing out from New-fiaven over
the old Post road. The villagers were all farmers.
living quiet lives and subsisting on what their
garden produce could bring them from the markets
in New-Haveu. three miles east
Into this quiet and provincial hamlet. that haC
never known a disturbing element, there dropped
as from the zenith in NO. gaudy dressed ana
terocious hammered man. who was accompanied by
two wild looking seamen, and who at once took
possession Of the village. He rented the house on
the road running north out of the town which
has been described. and Immediately entered into a
life that kept the villagers tiptoe with excite
nent and for the ensuing three years Who
he was and where he from one knew,
though dark and mysterious tales began 10 be told
about him almost at once He big fellow.
with broad shoulders and brawny fists. and he had
g big voice and way with him that sent the
peace loving villagers scurrying in all directions
whenever he gave order. He gave his name as
Captain Thunderbolt and met the few advances
OF his neighbors with such ferocious refusal to
supply information to his history that he
was soon left TO carry out his existence in undis-
turbed quiet Once week, on Saturday evenings,
he Numbered down the country road 10 the VII
lage inn, spread bag Of coin Of the tavern
tables and drank his full TIL midnight On such
occasions ne generally in a mood that brooked
little interference. though occasionally he
would break out into kind Of leonine generosity
when 1t worth mans life TO refuse 10 accent
his drinks.
On one such night a stranger to the ways Of the
village happened in the tavern habitues and
called for a drink OF ale Captain Thunderbolt at
neighboring table. eyed the stranger closely for
time and finally called out:
''od's life. man. you will drink with me this even
ing"
The stranger. who had not noticed the bronzed
old fellow before. declined with thanks He would
drink his glass and be gone.
Il say you will drink with me- and as long as
want your -- --- company" shouted the captain
while the villagers clustered al the other tables
shrank into their with terror eypectin IN 500
him take the stranger by the coat lapel az he bad
done to more than one country pumpkin. and force
bottle Of drink down his throat
''As for that said the stranger auiatlv ..T CIV
III do nothing Of the kind"
The bully was on his feet in an instant md .,
gering across the 10 the stranger grabbed t5s
coat collar with oath. Before he could n,I, bI,
10 his feet the stranger had planted his FIST ,,,d
the sailors chin and sent him spravlng. In p sec
ond the fight was Both men pulled pisto1e ana
blazed away at each other. while the frtgh+e,a5
Villagers scampered for the doors The straroa-
winged the bully his second shot and -
yanked him TO his feet by the red handkercbtet
Shcn ne mao wound around his throat and threw
him bodily into his seat
Now" he said drop that once and for all =,
hear Of your doing this sort OF thing again r,1
come back and give you the drubbing vo, desar
I've heard Of you before this. ana word IN tho
proper quarters may be even better than that
The stranger drank his ale and deuarre6 mill
the bully sulkily finished the evening cursi,r 80
drinking. while the cowed landlord supnIted IT.
WIZ wine The next day the story Of the enconn,ar
~ me tavern was village talk the iden-,t, ~
We sorIos man who mao taken the bully in hand
We mater OF much gossip. 4 farmer from reriaU
VINO heard the talk and the description Of ny ny
Your visitor last night was young Bnrr- .a-
.s name is-wno has been visiting friends IN nv M;
nine wears isfer ~ w ee s aaron Burr figured
se peg6g troops when the farmers Hooked into
But Captain Thunderbolt seldom Or have 49,.
rs match among the simple country foik me- me-
most part carried things with a high han6 Drb t.e
ever ne went Stories OF his overbes rinr 49,
We're current for generation after his
ne yer e Ps 5oie q TIE orgies at his house on