Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-04-12

of the king OF Spain's dominions, now
proceeded to carry out certain neces-
sary repairs and had several OF his
ships actually careened upon the
shore. when Spanish fleet of thir-
teen sails hove In sight, carrying the
new viceroy of New Spain, Don Mar
tin Enrlquez de Almansa.
This gentleman took other views
regarding John Hawkins than his
ashore had done, much to
the alarm of that seafaring gentleman.
who repeated his former assurances,
These, however. not being quite sat
isfactory, hostages were exchanged.
The Englishman sent ten gentlemen
of birth. richly dressed and equipped,
the Spaniard corresponding.
Then. suddenly, the Spanhrds at
tackled the English who only had
three ships afloat. the Minion, the Ju-
dith and the Jesus of Lubbock All the
treasure was placed on the Mfnion,
and followed by the others, she made
for the open sea, the Jesus of Lubbock,
however, struck and became total
wreck. Nevertheless, by the most
daring seamanship, Hawkins forced
his ship over the boiling reefs and es-
capped, followed by the Judith, which
was commanded by Francis Drake,
afterwards the conqueror of the Ar
mada.
Many Englishmen were captured.
and with the aforementioned hostages
were badly treated. In the quaint
words of one of their historians:
"They took and hung them up by
the arms upon high posts until the
blood burst out of their finger ends"
Many of these unfortunates were de
ported 10 Spain. Some were sent to
Mexico; one Of the latter, Miles Phil
ips, Has left an interesting account of
their prosecutions :.fter manifold
the unfortunate survivors of Hawkins
crew. in the City of Mexico, were sen
fenced as Lutheran Dogs to 200
lasbes and then to the galleys. Phil
ips was finally recaptured by an Eng
llsh cruiser from the galley, on board
of which he labored as a slave.
About this same date Francis Drake
avenged his countrynen by ravaging
the west coast of Mexico with fire
and sword.
In the year 1872 famous French
pirate. the Count de Santiesteban,
paid a visit 10 Vera Cruz, a most sat
isfactory one too, from the point of
view of the residents. He came as
prisoner having been captured at
Campeche and was Immediately
hing.
The most fatal day for Vera Cruz,
as far as piratioal visitors are con-
cerned, dawned on May II, 1858. At
sunset of that day two ships, under n
press of sail, were seen approaching
the port, pursued by others. Two
were expected, and as night fell the
good people OF Vera Cruz were pleas
ed to see that the merchantmen had
made the harbor, the enemy having
disappeared in the rising mist out
side. The townfolks retired to rest
and If some were disturbed by stray
shot or so during the night,
they put it down simply to some fes-
tivities In the negro quarters. There
was, however, to be an awful awaken
ing on the morrow
The vessels seen the night before
were a pirate fleet. the fleeing ships
merely ruse-de-guerre. The Castle
of San Juan had been assaulted in the
night and the garrison masacreed in
their shifts and 800 bloodthirsty buc-
cancers held Vera Cruz itself.
Principally composed of Englishmen
and Frenchmen, there were, however.
rufiians of every nation among the
band, whose leaders were
Van Horn, a Hollander, and Laurent
lLorencillo) claimed by some to have
been born in Vera Cruz itself. They |
we're all typical buccaneers, daunt- |
ess sailors and the fiercest fighters on |
earth, and whose mission under heav- |
IN, they believed, was to plunder the |
domains of the king of Spain.
1t was indeed a terrible morning for |
Vera Cruz. By . O'Clock the pirates |
lad smashed open and plundered ev-
Try house in the town. Six thousand |
irrespective of sex, age or
had been herded together |
md driven into the parish church.
For three days and three nights the
,irates pluRdered the city. 1t is esti-
mated that in plate, ingots. jewelry,
'nurch ornaments and valuable mer-
'handise they collected $500, 900
worth. They then turned their atten-
ion to the miserable prisoners. Men
# note were dragged from the church
md put to indescribable tortures, in
rider that they should betray wiere
hey had concealed their wealth. The
hronicles, both Spanish and Buccan-
err give the most detailed accounts of
ow brutal and awful these torments
1ere. The unlucky governor was dis
overed hidden under a pile of horse
orage. He was inhumanely treated
nd held for ransom at the sum of
10000.
The unfortunates confined within
he church were kept for three days
'itnout either meat or drink