The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1905-01-30
On the Spanish Main
(Original.1

a gentleman Of Madrid with a~Gventur-
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 10 turn
pirate. He his 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 r~econsidered
his proposition and forced them to re-
main and act as pirates.
Jose Clemencin. who belonged to one
of the first families in Spain. was APP
palled at being obliged to turn pirate.
He was a brave man. but knew that
IL he so much as lifted a finger for
resistance he 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
~ oAAN( hSk oRIetAA SdBPO
Ing Demonio did not know that the
war had closed and that he could con-
| vince him of the fact, made no defense.
The Britisher carried an English gen.
tleman. Sir Thomas Sanderson, who
was going out to assume the governor
ship of one of the Bahamas. His fami-
" were with him, including a daughter,
Helen SanderSon, a girl of twenty.
When This family were marched
aboard the Libertad. a deathly pallor
on every face, Jose Clemencin 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 he did to excite the cap
tain's cupidity and gain time The
plan worked SO we'll that instead of
forcing the gentleman and his family
to walk the plank the captain confined
them in he cabin. Clemencin also got
the captains permission to retain sew
eralS of the Englishmen for the crew.
t6uS adding to the number of his own
adherents, so that, counting the two di-
visions. he found there were a dozen
men he could rely on to twenty who
would stand by the captain. All his
was facilitated by Clemencin's speak
ing a little English, while the captain
could neither speak nor understand u
word but his own tongue. The captain
directed Clemencin to arrange for a
ransom. but Demonio was present at
the interview. and. although he could
not understand English, Clemencin did
not dare risk any betrayal of his inten-
lions. Sir Thomas was of course glad
OF an opportunity to pay a ransom, but
Clemencin knew the plan would be inn
practicable for the pirates.
Then came one of the crew and told
Clemencin that three men had Joined
those opposed to piracy, making ff-
teen. Clemencin resolved to make an
attempt to capture the ship. He ar
ranged to take care of the captain
himself and appointed his men. each
one to kill or bind or otherwise dispose
of IL of the pirates. This left only
two men unprovided for. But as soon
as Sir Thomas could be released he
would be added to Clemencin's force.
Every man on both sides was well
armed. and there was. eside a good
ly stock of weapons in the cabin re-
served for al armory. of which the
captain kept the key on his person.
The captain the day after the cap
S0A> So'S III IhO VI
a ransom without too great danger of
being entrapped, and at 10 o'clock at
night told Clemencin hat Sir Thomas
and his family should walk the plank
the * morning. Clemencin met one
Of his men on deck and whispered to
him to pass the word that at eight
bells. midnight, each man was to at
tack the man assigned him. The first
four to dispatch their men were to
rush on deck and attack the watch.
Then it must be a free fight.
At the last tap of the midnight bell,
when the new watch was starting up.
the attack commenced. Three pirates
were stabbed in their hunks. On the
new watch pirates and honest men
were equally divided. and the pirates
lost one of their side. Clemencin's men
were instructed to use the dagger or
~cutlass. but their opponents used fire
arms. This awakened the captain.
who, as he opened his cabin door. was
hot by Clemencin. Clemencin then
went on deck. where he found the old
watch (all pirates standing paralyZed.
Clemencin shot two of them, and at the
same moment two of his own men
came up from below. One of the watch
was thrown overheard and the others
pinioned. Then Clemencin and his two
men went to the forecastle. where the
remnant Of the pirates were making a
last stand against eight or ten assail-
ants. Clemencin shouted that their cap
tain was killed and called on them to
surrender. They did so. and the ship
was saved.
Clemencin went Immediately to the
cabin where the Sanderson family
were confined and explained what had
occurred. Lady Sanderson swooned for