The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-02-20
DEATH ON GALLONS
Modern German Pirates Deserve
Fate of Buccaneers of Old.
Sailors Serving on United States
Merchant Marine Today Knew
Man Who Remembered Fate
Of Spanish Freebooters.

Stories of piratical methods en-
,ployed by German submarine COM
manders in burning undefended mer-
chant vessels and mistreating defense
! less crews are no novelty to thousands
| of mariners on the Atlantic coast, such
| as are now enrolling for service in the
new merchant marine.
. Some Of these sailors, who are to
man the emergency feet of merchant
ships being constructed for the United
! States shipping board to take supplies
| to our armies in France, actually knew
men who suffered at the hands of the
| last pirates of the Spanish main,
whose methods were similar to those
of the Germans.
Among the men who reported for
duty as mates recently at the recruit
ing headquarters of the shipping board
I were some from the Massachusetts
| coast who had known a survivor of the
last ship taken by Spanish pirates of
| the Caribbean. This was Capt.
Thomas Fuller of Salem, who died in
1905 at the age of ninety-four.
Captain Fuller was able seaman in
| the crew of the brig Mexican of Salem
| in 1882 when, laden with saltpeter and
tea, with $4,000 in silver slowed I'M
der the cabin floor, she sailed from
her home port for Rio.
On August %, near the coast of
Cuba, the schooner was held up by
vessel described as "a long, low,
straight topsail schooner Of about $50
tons, painted black" which hailed and
requested the captain of the Mexican
to send a boat alongside with his pa
pers.
I he boat was sent, and csifffe back
In charge Of an Unlocking armed crew
of pirates from the Spanish main, who
drove the crew Of the Mexican below
decks, fastened down the matches, and
began looting the vessel. Finding the
silver, they sent it aboard their own
ship.
The pirates next cut the sails and
rigging Of the brig to pieces and start
ed a FIRE in the galley on deck, which
they expected would soon destroy the
brig. They then departed for their
own vessel and sailed away in search
of other victims.
But they had neglected to fasten
down the cabin skylight. Through this
the briggs captain crawled, and, getting
to the hrs splashed water on 1t until
he had it in control. He then caused 1t
to smoke heavily until the enemy was
out Of sight.
The crew rerigged their vessel, and
favored by a gale made their escape
from such a dangerous neighbOrhood.
Salem sailors today recall with sat
isfaction that the long arm Of justice
meted out retribution to the pirates.
A few months later a Salem vessel
was in the harbor Of st. Thomas,
when a low, black schooner anchored
near her. The Salem captain was
suspicious, and inventing an excuse
went aboard the schooner for q call.
On her deck he saw two spars painted
black which he recognized as belong
Ing to the Mexican.
That night the stranger left the har-
Dor, but the Salem captain notified
British man-of-war captain of her
character.
A few months later the British brig
of-war Curlew caught the black stran-
ger in the Nazareth river, Shaving
locality on the west coast Of Africa.
The pirate crew fed TO the shore and
found shelter with a native. They
were hunted hard, and four were taken.
Later IL others were taken at Fernan-
do Pc and st. Thomas.
The pirates were conveyed to Boston
for trial, and found guilty of the at
tack on the Mexican. Their captain.
Pedro Gilbert, assumed innocence and
the air Of an injured gentleman. He
was found guilty. with four others. In
sentencing the five to death, Judge
Joseph Story used language that re-
duced the court to tears, closing with
these words to the condemned men:
"And in bidding you, as far as I can
presume to know, an eternal farewell,
I offer up my earnest prayer that AL
mighty God may in his infinite mercy
and goodness have mercy on your
souls"
The five men were hanged in Boston,
and with their exit piracy ended in
the western world.