The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-01
FITS CAPTURE BY PIRATES.
STORY THE LATE JOHN .-ATTlS
or SALEM USED TO TELL.

Brig Mexican and m Auempf Wes
Made to Burn the crew AAve-Cspt-
ure Of the PIRATES BY . British snip.
SALEM, Mas. Feb. 2I.-The death OF
John BATHS OF this city the other day leaves
but one survivor OF the crew Of the famous
Salem brig Mexican. q craft that helped
TO make marine history for this old port
because OF her capture by pirates In 1887
The only member Of the crew that sailed
on the brig now alive is Capt. Thomas
Fuller, also Of this city.
Mr.. BATHS has often told the story OF
the capture Of the brig by pirates. the
wonderful escape Of he Grew from beiow
decks, where the " gang had I'M
prsoned them before setting the ship on
Fire, and Of the subsequent trial OF the
pirates in Boston. The last time he re-
lated the narrative was about four years
ago, whom he was talking 70 some school
children. He told the story substantially
| as follows:
Aug. 20, 1882, the brig Mexican sailed
out OF Salem Harbor, bound under sealed
orders for a South American port and
carrying $4,000 in specie. with which to
purchase a cargo. Curiously enough, the
brig carried thirteen hands, all told. and
took her departure from port on Friday.
Until the vessel came into the neighbor-
hood Of the Island OF st. Thomas, In the
Danish West Indies, at the expiration OF
twenty-one days, the voyage was unevent-
full As she proceeded to the southwark
her skipper, Capt. John G. Butman OF
Beverly, had kept up such a continual
harping on the subject Of pirates that
gradually an ndistinct feeling OF dread
and apprehension had crept into the hearts
| Of all on board.
| Finally, one morning at daybreak, Tar
ahead on the horizon, strange sail was
picked up that filed the briggs crew with
suspicion from the moment her general
appearance and style could be distins uished.
| was then q boy OF Is. but was ordered
aioft to the fore topgallant yard for
onR look, which confirmed my suspicions.
Capt Butnan at once put his vessel about
on anoth her tack to avoid her. Directly he
showed his hand in this way the stranger.
faster sailer, drew up on him and finally
came within hail.
THE number Of men that could be counted
aboard the schooner, thirty. settled all
doubt that the Mexican's crew had In their
, minds. The captain Of the schooner
which was called the Psnda, hailed the
brig In broken English. ordered her TO
heave to and send boat alongside which
she did
Unexpectedly. as the boat pulled by
four men. came under the schooner's quar-
, ter, Ave OF the strangers with long knives
In their belts dropped into her. At the
same time their captain whose name was
. GILBERT, ordered the Mexican's men to
, null back TO their vessel To the mate In
Charge of the boarders he gave instIio-
. tions to ransack the brig and to bring back
whatever there was OF value. adding:
About the crew. you know what to
do with them
Soto, expostuiate but after a futile argu-
ment with Gilbert, he finally started Tor
! the brig. The I'VE pirates climbed over
. the Mexican's SIDE ordered the men In the
knives as arguments, turned their atten-
! They discovered the specie with such
! ease that 1t appeared as II they must have
they forced the crew to fetch il along to the
| small boat packed as it was In ten wooden
boxes containing 81 900 each.
Not content, they came aboar ] again
j. | and began TO cripple the brig as much Al
+. possible, hacking the spars and standing
n gear and mutilating the sails In every way
o Finally, to cap the climax, they started TO
1 carry out u plan more fendish that the
y game OF walking the plank traditionally
e attributed to pirates.
d in the forecastle, they kindled a FIRE in the
! ! galley and started at last for their own
4 Vessel In the Nexican's long boat. As
! which dropped down over the briggs galley,
0 burst into flames
aBy their united efforts the Mexican q
crew forced an opening through the fore
castle skylight, through which Capt BUT
man, followed nv the rest, worked his way
70 the deck. Lively work by all hands
,, succeeded finally In putting out the flames.
, but not before the brig was everywhere
, , disigured on deck and aloft Meantime
FINALLY. sails and rigging were put into
somewhat serviceable SHAPE The Mexi-
!. / can standing to the east ward ran all night
before a southerly gale and eventually.
made land in the neighborhood Of York
; Beach, Me- Running down along the
+ coast she passed inside OF Bakers Island
, and M length appeared again under curious
, rig in Salem harbor TO the immense aston
ishmcnt Of the natives.
The subsequent chase and capture OF
the pirate schooner seems even more re-
marEable than the return home OF the
salem brig. The day after her arrival the
brig Cleaner Of Salem. Capt. Hunt, sailed
| away for Africa, carving copies OF the
y salem papers filed with descriptions OF
a the piracv. -.
y | Hunter TOUCHED AT 81. Thomas and saw q
!. vessel he believed 90 be the Panda lying
' sheltered in cne Of the coves of the land
a locked harbor. Unwisely he hurried ashore
4 | snd scattered his opinions broadcast.
: | The pirates as the SUSPECTS proved Va
A | he getting wind ~ this. hove up anchor
!. aud raced out 10 sea Capt. Hunter wildly
|. started In pursuit, but luckily for him
a perhaJ~, Just outside the harbor fell Y
With an Eaglish man-of war inward bound
I The man-o war put about and started
a across the ocean IN pursuit
= The Panda. closely followed 10y the Fang
: | lishInan, made the western coast ~ Affios
!, aud ran up a small river. where The cres
y Abandoned her Here they bundled 'heii
: stolen specie ashore. and arer hurriedis
n n,rying n about the ne,ghDofhood. sspA
a rated and went Ia hiding
= m. tnxli.hmAn, Close bsliind. ssiz<s
!, | th. deserted ..,lioon.T and started Ia tos
! h~r To sea Ia thls, however, they neN.l
4 s,,oc-.si..d sinoe the pirates, before ihell
. flight had sst stsdi rkiliul mines - Ia blov
& the panda up i-for. the n'~ NOUN "a
y T.aol,.d 49,
4 ssi ashorr and hassn 10 beat sboDi ~
\ countTy ~ ssafcl ~ tho Iafstss H tis'
- thirt. men sho tad i4.sn ooanisd ~ IA.