The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-01-03
On the Spanish Main


GUS tastes, enlisted on the schooner
Libertad liberty, that had fitted out
at Cadiz to prey on English commerce
on the Spanish main. During the cruise
the war between the two countries end
ed. and Captain Demonio who com
manded the vessel. decided to turn
pirate. lie announced bis intention to
the crew and offered to land any of
them who did not wish to join in the /
enterprise on one Of the Bahama is
lands. but so many Of them requested
to be put ashore that he reconsidexed
his proposition and forced them 70 re
main and act as pirates.
Jose Clemencin, who belonged to one
Of the first families In Spain, was ap.
palled at being obliged to turn pirate
He was brave man. but knew that
If he so much as lifted a finger for
resistance be would be murdered. He
therefore determined to bide his time,
convinced Demonio that he was with
him heart and soul and secretly became
the leader Of those who were forced
| TO be pirates against their Will.
/ One Of the first vessels captured was
an English ship, lured to destruction
by Demonio, since her captain, suppos
Ing Demonio did not know that the
war had closed and that he could con
| vince him OF the fact made no defense.
The BrltIsher carried an English gen.
| tleman. Sir Thomas Sanderson, who
was going out to assume the governor
ship Of one Of the Bahamas. His fami
ly were with him, including daughter,
Helen Sanderson, a girl Of twenty.
| When this family were marched
aboard the Libertad, deathly pallor
on every face, Jose Clemencln re-
solved that he would save them or die
with them. He told the captain that
he suspected Sir Thomas to be very
rich and able to pay an enormous ran-
som. This be did to excite the cap
tains cupidity and gain time. The
plan worked so well that instead Of
forcing the gentleman and his family
to walk the plank the captain confined
them in the cabin. Clemencln also got
the captains permission to retain sew
eral Of the Englishmen for the crew,
/ thus adding to the number of his own
, adherents, so that, counting the two di-
! visions, he found there were dozen
. men he could rely on to twenty who
would stand BY the captain All this
was facilitated by Clemencin's speak
ing a little English, while the captain
! could neither speak nor understand q
word but his own tongue. The captain
Z | directed Clemencin to arrange for 9
+. ransom, but Demonio was present Al
the Interview. and, although he could
Z not understand English, Clemencin did
!. not dare risk any betrayal Of his inten
lions. Sir Thomas was OF course glae
Of an opportunity to pay ransom, bui
Clemcncin knew the plan would be i'm
! practicable for the pirates.
: Then came one of the crew and told
/ CIemencin that three men had joinet
r those opposed to piracy, making hf
t teen. Clemencin resolved to make al
]. attempt to capture the ship. He ar
q ranged to take care Of the captain
= himself and appointed his men, eael
4 one 10 kill or bind or otherwise dispos'
!, of one of the pirates This left onl.
two men unprovided for. But as sool
as Sir Thomas could be released h
would be added to Clemencin's force
Every man on both sides was wei
armed, and there was, besides, good
s Iy stock of weapons In the cabin re
/ served for an armory, Of which th
o captain kept the key on his person.
. The captain the day after the cap
/ ture gave up the feasibility Of securing
:, a ransom without too great danger 0
being entrapped, and at 10 o'clock a
i night told CIemencin that Sir Thoma
and his family should walk the plan
r the next morning, Clemencin met on
OF his men on deck and whispered t
r him to pass the word that at elgh
j. bells, midnight. each man was TO al
tack the man assigned him. The frs
sc four to dispatch their men were I
Z rush on deck and attack the watcl
= Then It must be a free fight.
4 AT the last tap of the midnight bel
when the new watch was starting III
le the attack commenced. Three pirate
he we're stabbed in their hunks. On th
rs new watch pirates and honest me
Of were equally divided, and the pirate
lost one OF their side. Clemencins me
were instructed to use the dagger {
= cutlass, but their opponents used fir
arms. This awakened the captain
who, as he opened his cabin door We
= shot by Clemencin. Clemencin the
s. went on deck, where he found the o.
70 watch (all piratest standing paralyze
es Ciemencin shot two of them, and at Il
n same moment two of his own me
Is, came up from below. One Of the waite
p was thrown overheard and the othe
pinioned. Then Clemencin and his tv
Y men went to the forecastle, where Il
IL remnant Of the pirates were making
last stand against eight or ten ASA
y ants. Clemencin shouted that their ca
ar- tain was killed and called on them
g. surrender. They did so, and the sh
was saved.
sgs CIemencin went Immediately to Il
1u- cabin where the Sanderson fami
were confined and explained what hi
=