Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-17
DEATH ON GALLOWS
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 fleet Of merchant
ships being constructed for the United
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
were some from the Massachusetts
coast who had known 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 un-
der the cabin floor, she sailed from
her home port for Rio.
On August 20. near the coast Of
Cuba, the schooner was held up by a
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 boat alongside with his pa
pers.
The boat was sent, and came back
In charge Of an ill-looking armed crew
Of pirates from the Spanish main. who
drove tine crew Of the Mexican below
decks. fastened down the matches, and
began looting the vessel. Finding the
silver, they sent 1t aboard their own
ship.
The pirates next cut the sails and
rigging Of the brig to pieces and start
ed 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 fire, splashed water on it until
he had 1t In control. He then caused 1t
to smoke heavily until the enemy was
out of sight.
The crew rerigged their vessel, and
favored by gale made their escape
from such a dangerous neighborhood.
Salem sailors today recall with sat
sfaction that the long arm of justice
ncted out retribution to the pirates.
few months later a Salem vessel
was in the harbor Of st. Thomas,
when q low, black schooner anchored
near her. The Salem captain was
suspicious, and inventing an excuse
vent aboard the schooner for a call.
On her deck he saw two spars painted
black which he recognized as belong
ng to the Mexican.
That night the stranger left the har-
,or, but the Salem captain notified a
British man-of-war captain of her
character.
A few months later the British brig
,f-war Curlew caught the black stran-
,er in the Nazareth river, Shaving
ocality on the west coast OF Africa.
The pirate crew fed to the shore and I
ound shelter with native. They
we're hunted hard, and four were taken.
later II others were taken at Fernan-
10 Po and st. Thomas.
The pirates were conveyed to Boston
or trial, and found guilty Of the at
on the Mexican. Their captain,
'edro Gilbert, assumed innocence and ,
he air of an injured gentleman. He
vas found guilty, with four others. In -!
enten,ing the Ave to death, Judge
oseph Story used language that re-
uced the court to tears, closing with
hese words to the condemned men:
And in bidding you, as far as can
resume to know, an eternal farewell,
offer up my earnest prayer that Al 8
,ighty God may In his infinite mercy 9
nd goodness have mercy on your .
ouls." q
Tho hvs men were hanged in Bostoa. :,
"A Nth fhsir Axit uirAcY ended In