The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-01-13
The Pirate Ship
Sea Horse
BY ALBERT KENYON

not all government institution, al
now. The greater part consisted o.
merchant vessels, armed and licensed
to prey on Spanish vessels. At thai
time the Spanlards were bringing I'm
mense measures from Mexico ant
Peru.
Consequently some very rich prizes
fell into the hands of the English pri
vateersmen. To capture n ship con
tanning million dollars In gold and
appropriate the plumber. though legiti
matized, was akin to piracy.
When the war ended the business of
these masters Of priyateers was ended
also-that is. its legitimacy ended.
Really 1t was continued as piracy.
Among the British sea captains who
passed through such transition was
Edward Gregory, In command of the
Sea Horse. She sported wooden
horses head at her Prov, and a dozen
guns bristled on either side. But this
was only when she had thrown of the
mask Of merchantmen. When sup
innocent looking vessel afloat Not a
gun was to be seen, and she presented
none Of the rakish appearance of
corsair.
Captain Gregory for time after the
war between Spain and England had
ended confined his attention to his old
enemies, but since he had turned pi-
rate. considering that he might as well
hang for a sheep as lamb. he preyed
upon the ships of all nations, including
his own. Those Of his crew whose
consciences were too tender for this
kind OF warfare he had got rid of, ex-
cept one young man. his second Off
Ger. whom he had brutally punished.
This person, Jack Causland, resolved
to remain with the captain with
view to bringing him to the gallows.
One day Off the banks of Newfound-
Penguin, a vessel bound for the new
colony of Virginia. as the coast from
North Carolina to Canada was then
called. 1t contained persons going to
settle on Chesapeake bay. Suddenly
the Sea Horses sides We're opened and
the guns We're run out, The captain
of the Penguin hoisted the British flag,
taking the Sea Horse for an English
ship. but 1t did not protect him. He
was captured and he and all his crew
and passengers except gentleman and I
bis family were made to walk the |
plank. The reason for his sparing t
these was that jack Causland told him
that he had known the family. that
they were very rich and could be made
to pay large ransom.
Captain Gregory interviewed Ernest
Wharton. the man reserved for ran
som. aud demanded hundred thou
sand pounds ransom. Wharton replied
that he was a poor country squire GO
Ing to settle in the wiids Of America.
He was, however, a younger son of an
aarl who would doubtless pay largely
'or his ransom, but he did not believe
ais father could raise nearly half the
sum. Causland told Gregory that he
Knew all about the earfs affairs, and
ne was one of the richest men In Eng
and. He advised the captain to dou-
Die his demand.
The great obstacle in the way of ne
for ransom was messen- !
,er CORTLAND agreed for half the /
,lunder to take the risk OF going to /
he earl and presenting the situation.
I the latter caused his arrest his son {
x,.a 10 IL 4
he would not likely be In
ormed upon. The captain had only :
ne cause for objection to the plan
hat was. Could he trust his emissary?
husband had been permitted to leave
be Sea Horse with others of the crew
vhen she went into piracy regularly.
ut he had chosen to remain and was,
therefore,, as much subject to the glib L
ct as any of them After much DELHI
ration Gregory resolved to trust him.
The PROV Of the Sea Horse was turned
)ward England. and after two
reeks' sail came in sight Of land. Be q
lg peaceful looking craft she excited v
o suspicion, and. speaking a vessel h
ound in, Jack Causland was put Il
board of her. He had with him in. m
,rmation as to the Sea Horses exact L
psition each day and night for ~
onth. !.
Captain Gregory did not like such -
EAR proximity to the admiralty courts
his native land, but he had no suspi tv
on whatever of treachery on the part 10
Jack Causand. But so long as he he
as unrecognized he feared nothing, ri
I'd those who might have recognized ae
M had all walked the plank. 80
But one dark night he was awakened y
sounds on deck and. springing from
; berth. ran up the companionway W,
find his ship In possession of British at
iors. led by naval officers. and,
range to say. there among them WAS
ok Causand He saw Mt once that
had been betrayed. fired shot at
) emissary, missing him. and sur
ndered. n
rhis ended the career OF Captain
egory and his ship the Sea Horse- Y
usland had kept his resolution to
ng his captain and was present when AT
was swung Off. Causland had no ~
hculty in establishing his own inno- M
ace. Indeed. his giving up his share
a large ransom to bring the pirate to iO
'tice was sufficient TO establish the r,
L Whek the whartons sailed again
Virginia he sailed with them and III