Chapter XI (3)

On the 10th, we formed a junction with the black squadron, and proceeded many miles up a wide and beautiful river, passing several ruins of villages that had been destroyed by the black squadron. On the 17th, the fleet anchored abreast four mud batteries, which defended a town, so entirely surrounded with wood that it was impossible to form any idea of its size. The weather was very hazy, with hard squalls of rain. The Ladrones remained perfectly quiet for two days. On the third day the forts commenced a brisk fire for several hours: the Ladrones did not return a single shot, but weighed in the night and dropped down the river.

The reasons they gave for not attacking the town, or returning the fire, were that Joss had not promised them success. They are very superstitious, and consult their idol on all occasions. If his omens are good, they will undertake the most daring enterprizes.

The fleet now anchored opposite the ruins of the town where the women had been made prisoners. Here we remained five or six days, during which time about a hundred of the women were ransomed; the remainder were offered for sale amongst the Ladrones, for forty dollars each. The woman is considered the lawful wife of the purchaser, who would be put to death if he discarded her. Several of them leaped overboard and drowned themselves, rather than submit to such infamous degradation.

The fleet then weighed and made sail down the river, to receive the ransom from the town before mentioned. As we passed the hill, they fired several shots at us, but without effect. The Ladrones were much exasperated, and determined to revenge themselves; they dropped out of reach of their shot, and anchored. Every junk sent about a hundred men each on shore, to cut paddy, and destroy their orange-groves, which was most effectually performed for several miles down the river. During our stay here, they received information of nine boats lying up a creek, laden with paddy; boats were immediately dispatched after them.

Next morning these boats were brought to the fleet; ten or twelve men were taken in them. As these had made no resistance, the chief said he would allow them to become Ladrones, if they agreed to take the usual oaths before Joss. Three or four of them refused to comply, for which they were punished in the following cruel manner: their hands were tied behind their back, a rope from the mast-head rove through their arms, and hoisted three or four feet from the deck, and five or six men flogged them with three rattans twisted together 'till they were apparently dead; then hoisted them up to the mast-head, and left them hanging nearly an hour, then lowered them down, and repeated the punishment, 'till they died or complied with the oath.

October the 20th, in the night, an express-boat came with the information that a large mandarine fleet was proceeding up the river to attack us. The chief immediately weighed, with fifty of the largest vessels, and sailed down the river to meet them. About one in the morning they commenced a heavy fire till daylight, when an express was sent for the remainder of the fleet to join them: about an hour after a counter-order to anchor came, the mandarine fleet having run. Two or three hours afterwards the chief returned with three captured vessels in tow, having sunk two, and eighty-three sail made their escape. The admiral of the mandarines blew his vessel up, by throwing a lighted match into the magazine as the Ladrones were boarding her; she ran on shore, and they succeeded in getting twenty of her guns.

In this action very few prisoners were taken: the men belonging to the captured vessels drowned themselves, as they were sure of suffering a lingering and cruel death if taken after making resistance. The admiral left the fleet in charge of his brother, the second in command, and proceeded with his own vessel towards Lantow. The fleet remained in this river, cutting paddy, and getting the necessary supplies.

On the 28th of October, I received a letter from Captain Kay, brought by a fisherman, who had told him he would get us all back for three thousand dollars. He advised me to offer three thousand, and if not accepted, extend it to four; but not farther, as it was bad policy to offer much at first: at the same time assuring me we should be liberated, let the ransom be what it would. I offered the chief the three thousand, which he disdainfully refused, saying he was not to be played with; and unless they sent ten thousand dollars, and two large guns, with several casks of gunpowder, he would soon put us all to death. I wrote to Captain Kay, and informed him of the chief's determination, requesting if an opportunity offered, to send us a shift of clothes, for which it may be easily imagined we were much distressed, having been seven weeks without a shift; although constantly exposed to the weather, and of course frequently wet.

On the first of November, the fleet sailed up a narrow river, and anchored at night within two miles of a town called Little Whampoa. In front of it was a small fort, and several mandarine vessels lying in the harbor. The chief sent the interpreter to me, saying I must order my men to make cartridges and clean their muskets, ready to go on shore in the morning. I assured the interpreter I should give the men no such orders, that they must please themselves. Soon after the chief came on board, threatening to put us all to a cruel death if we refused to obey his orders. For my own part I remained determined, and advised the men not to comply, as I thought by making ourselves useful we should be accounted too valuable.

A few hours afterwards he sent to me again, saying, that if myself and the quartermaster would assist them at the great guns, that if also the rest of the men went on shore and succeeded in taking the place, he would then take the money offered for our ransom, and give them twenty dollars for every Chinaman's head they cut off. To these proposals we cheerfully acceded, in hopes of facilitating our deliverance.

Early in the morning the forces intended for landing were assembled in rowboats, amounting in the whole to three or four thousand men. The largest vessels weighed, and hauled in shore, to cover the landing of the forces, and attack the fort and mandarine vessels. About nine o'clock the action commenced, and continued with great spirit for nearly an hour, when the walls of the fort gave way, and the men retreated in the greatest confusion.

The mandarine vessels still continued firing, having blocked up the entrance of the harbor to prevent the Ladrone boats entering. At this the Ladrones were much exasperated, and about three hundred of them swam on shore, with a short sword lashed close under each arm; they then ran along the banks of the river 'till they came abreast of the vessels, and then swam off again and boarded them. The Chinese thus attacked, leaped overboard, and endeavored to reach the opposite shore; the Ladrones followed, and cut the greater number of them to pieces in the water. They next towed the vessels out of the harbor, and attacked the town with increased fury. The inhabitants fought about a quarter of an hour, and then retreated to an adjacent hill, from which they were soon driven with great slaughter.

After this the Ladrones returned, and plundered the town, every boat leaving it when laden. The Chinese on the hills perceiving most of the boats were off, rallied, and retook the town, after killing near two hundred Ladrones. One of my men was unfortunately lost in this dreadful massacre! The Ladrones landed a second time, drove the Chinese out of the town, then reduced it to ashes, and put all their prisoners to death, without regarding either age or sex!

I must not omit to mention a most horrid (though ludicrous) circumstance which happened at this place. The Ladrones were paid by their chief ten dollars for every Chinaman's head they produced. One of my men turning the corner of a street was met by a Ladrone running furiously after a Chinese; he had a drawn sword in his hand, and two Chinaman's heads which he had cut off, tied by their tails, and slung round his neck. I was witness myself to some of them producing five or six to obtain payment!

On the 4th of November an order arrived from the admiral for the fleet to proceed immediately to Lantow, where he was lying with only two vessels, and three Portuguese ships and a brig constantly annoying him; several sail of mandarine vessels were daily expected. The fleet weighed and proceeded towards Lantow. On passing the island of Lintin, three ships and a brig gave chase to us. The Ladrones prepared to board; but night closing we lost sight of them: I am convinced they altered their course and stood from us. These vessels were in the pay of the Chinese government, and style themselves the Invincible Squadron, cruising in the river Tigris to annihilate the Ladrones!

On the fifth, in the morning, the red squadron anchored in a bay under Lantow; the black squadron stood to the eastward. In this bay they hauled several of their vessels on shore to bream their bottoms and repair them.

In the afternoon of the 8th of November, four ships, a brig and a schooner came off the mouth of the bay. At first the pirates were much alarmed, supposing them to be English vessels come to rescue us. Some of them threatened to hang us to the mast-head for them to fire at; and with much difficulty we persuaded them that they were Portuguese. The Ladrones had only seven junks in a fit state for action; these they hauled outside, and moored them head and stern across the bay; and manned all the boats belonging to the repairing vessels ready for boarding.

The Portuguese observing these maneuvers hove to, and communicated by boats. Soon afterwards they made sail, each ship firing her broadside as she passed, but without effect, the shot falling far short. The Ladrones did not return a single shot, but waved their colors, and threw up rockets, to induce them to come further in, which they might easily have done, the outside junks lying in four fathoms water which I sounded myself: though the Portuguese in their letters to Macao lamented there was not sufficient water for them to engage closer, but that they would certainly prevent their escaping before the mandarine fleet arrived!

On the 20th of November, early in the morning, I perceived an immense fleet of mandarine vessels standing for the bay. On nearing us, they formed a line, and stood close in; each vessel as she discharged her guns tacked to join the rear and reload. They kept up a constant fire for about two hours, when one of their largest vessels was blown up by a firebrand thrown from a Ladrone junk; after which they kept at a more respectful distance, but continued firing without intermission 'till the 21st at night, when it fell calm.

The Ladrones towed out seven large vessels, with about two hundred rowboats to board them; but a breeze springing up, they made sail and escaped. The Ladrones returned into the bay, and anchored. The Portuguese and mandarines followed, and continued a heavy cannonading during that night and the next day. The vessel I was in had her foremast shot away, which they supplied very expeditiously by taking a mainmast from a smaller vessel.

On the 23d, in the evening, it again fell calm; the Ladrones towed out fifteen junks in two divisions, with the intention of surrounding them, which was nearly effected, having come up with and boarded one, when a breeze suddenly sprung up. The captured vessel mounted twenty-two guns. Most of her crew leaped overboard; sixty or seventy were taken immediately, cut to pieces and thrown into the river. Early in the morning the Ladrones returned into the bay, and anchored in the same situation as before. The Portuguese and mandarines followed, keeping up a constant fire. The Ladrones never returned a single shot, but always kept in readiness to board, and the Portuguese were careful never to allow them an opportunity.

On the 28th, at night, they sent in eight fire-vessels, which if properly constructed must have done great execution, having every advantage they could wish for to effect their purpose; a strong breeze and tide directly into the bay, and the vessels lying so close together that it was impossible to miss them. On their first appearance the Ladrones gave a general shout, supposing them to be mandarine vessels on fire, but were very soon convinced of their mistake. They came very regularly into the center of the fleet, two and two, burning furiously; one of them came alongside of the vessel I was in, but they succeeded in booming her off. She appeared to be a vessel of about thirty tons; her hold was filled with straw and wood, and there were a few small boxes of combustibles on her deck, which exploded alongside of us without doing any damage. The Ladrones, however, towed them all on shore, extinguished the fire, and broke them up for fire-wood. The Portuguese claim the credit of constructing these destructive machines, and actually sent a dispatch to the Governor of Macao, saying they had destroyed at least one-third of the Ladrones' fleet, and hoped soon to effect their purpose by totally annihilating them!

On the 29th of November, the Ladrones being all ready for sea, they weighed and stood boldly out, bidding defiance to the invincible squadron and imperial fleet, consisting of ninety-three war-junks, six Portuguese ships, a brig, and a schooner. Immediately the Ladrones weighed, they made all sail. The Ladrones chased them two or three hours, keeping up a constant fire; finding they did not come up with them, they hauled their wind and stood to the eastward.

Thus terminated the boasted blockade, which lasted nine days, during which time the Ladrones completed all their repairs. In this action not a single Ladrone vessel was destroyed, and their loss about thirty or forty men. An American was also killed, one of three that remained out of eight taken in a schooner. I had two very narrow escapes: the first, a twelve-pounder shot fell within three or four feet of me; another took a piece out of a small brass-swivel on which I was standing. The chief's wife frequently sprinkled me with garlic-water, which they consider an effectual charm against shot. The fleet continued under sail all night, steering towards the eastward. In the morning they anchored in a large bay surrounded by lofty and barren mountains.

On the 2nd of December I received a letter from Lieutenant Maughn, commander of the Honorable Company's cruiser _Antelope_, saying that he had the ransom on board, and had been three days cruising after us, and wished me to settle with the chief on the securest method of delivering it. The chief agreed to send us in a small gunboat, 'till we came within sight of the _Antelope_; then the Compradore's boat was to bring the ransom and receive us.

I was so agitated at receiving this joyful news, that it was with considerable difficulty I could scrawl about two or three lines to inform Lieutenant Maughn of the arrangements I had made. We were all so deeply affected by the gratifying tidings, that we seldom closed our eyes, but continued watching day and night for the boat. On the 6th she returned with Lieutenant Maughn's answer, saying he would respect any single boat; but would not allow the fleet to approach him. The chief then, according to his first proposal, ordered a gunboat to take us, and with no small degree of pleasure we left the Ladrone fleet about four o'clock in the morning.

At one P.M. saw the _Antelope_ under all sail, standing toward us. The Ladrone boat immediately anchored, and dispatched the Compradore's boat for the ransom, saying, that if she approached nearer, they would return to the fleet; and they were just weighing when she shortened sail, and anchored about two miles from us. The boat did not reach her 'till late in the afternoon, owing to the tide's being strong against her. She received the ransom and left the _Antelope_ just before dark. A mandarine boat that had been lying concealed under the land, and watching their maneuvers, gave chase to her, and was within a few fathoms of taking her, when she saw a light, which the Ladrones answered, and the Mandarine hauled off.

Our situation was now a most critical one; the ransom was in the hands of the Ladrones, and the Compradore dare not return with us for fear of a second attack from the mandarine boat. The Ladrones would not remain 'till morning, so we were obliged to return with them to the fleet.

In the morning the chief inspected the ransom, which consisted of the following articles: two bales of superfine scarlet cloth; two chests of opium; two casks of gunpowder; and a telescope; the rest in dollars. He objected to the telescope not being new; and said he should detain one of us 'till another was sent, or a hundred dollars in lieu of it. The Compradore however agreed with him for the hundred dollars.

Every thing being at length settled, the chief ordered two gunboats to convey us near the _Antelope_; we saw her just before dusk, when the Ladrone boats left us. We had the inexpressible pleasure of arriving on board the _Antelope_ at 7 P.M., where we were most cordially received, and heartily congratulated on our safe and happy deliverance from a miserable captivity, which we had endured for eleven weeks and three days.

_A few Remarks on the Origin, Progress, Manners, and Customs of the Ladrones_

The Ladrones are a disaffected race of Chinese, that revolted against the oppressions of the mandarins. They first commenced their depredations on the Western coast (Cochin-China), by attacking small trading vessels in rowboats, carrying from thirty to forty men each. They continued this system of piracy several years; at length their successes, and the oppressive state of the Chinese, had the effect of rapidly increasing their numbers. Hundreds of fishermen and others flocked to their standard; and as their number increased they consequently became more desperate. They blockaded all the principal rivers, and captured several large junks, mounting from ten to fifteen guns each.

With these junks they formed a very formidable fleet, and no small vessels could trade on the coast with safety. They plundered several small villages, and exercised such wanton barbarity as struck horror into the breasts of the Chinese. To check these enormities the government equipped a fleet of forty imperial war-junks, mounting from eighteen to twenty guns each. On the very first rencontre, twenty-eight of the imperial junks struck to the pirates; the rest saved themselves by a precipitate retreat.

These junks, fully equipped for war, were a great acquisition to them. Their numbers augmented so rapidly, that at the period of my captivity they were supposed to amount to near seventy thousand men, eight hundred large vessels, and nearly a thousand small ones, including rowboats. They were divided into five squadrons, distinguished by different colored flags: each squadron commanded by an admiral, or chief; but all under the orders of A-juo-Chay (Ching y[)i]h saou), their premier chief, a most daring and enterprising man, who went so far as to declare his intention of displacing the present Tartar family from the throne of China, and to restore the ancient Chinese dynasty.

This extraordinary character would have certainly shaken the foundation of the government, had he not been thwarted by the jealousy of the second in command, who declared his independence, and soon after surrendered to the mandarines with five hundred vessels, on promise of a pardon. Most of the inferior chiefs followed his example. A-juo-Chay (Ching y[)i]h saou) held out a few months longer, and at length surrendered with sixteen thousand men, on condition of a general pardon, and himself to be made a mandarine of distinction.

The Ladrones have no settled residence on shore, but live constantly in their vessels. The after-part is appropriated to the captain and his wives; he generally has five or six. With respect to conjugal rights they are religiously strict; no person is allowed to have a woman on board, unless married to her according to their laws. Every man is allowed a small berth, about four feet square, where he stows with his wife and family.

From the number of souls crowded in so small a space, it must naturally be supposed they are horridly dirty, which is evidently the case, and their vessels swarm with all kinds of vermin. Rats in particular, which they encourage to breed, and eat them as great delicacies; in fact, there are very few creatures they will not eat. During our captivity we lived three weeks on caterpillars boiled with rice. They are much addicted to gambling, and spend all their leisure hours at cards and smoking opium.

FOOTNOTES:

[17] From _The Ladrone Pirates_.

[18] _Junk_ is the Canton pronunciation of _chuen_, ship.

[19] The pirates had many other intimate acquaintances on shore, like Doctor _Chow_ of Macao.

[20] The pirates were always afraid of this. We find the following statement concerning the Chinese pirates, taken from the records in the East-India House, and printed in Appendix C. to the _Report relative to the trade with the East-Indies and China_, in the sessions 1820 and 1821 (reprinted 1829), p. 387.

"In the year 1808, 1809, and 1810, the Canton river was so infested with pirates, who were also in such force, that the Chinese government made an attempt to subdue them, but failed. The pirates totally destroyed the Chinese force; ravaged the river in every direction; threatened to attack the city of Canton, and destroyed many towns and villages on the banks of the river; and killed or carried off, to serve as Ladrones, several thousands of inhabitants.

"These events created an alarm extremely prejudicial to the commerce of Canton, and compelled the Company's supercargoes to fit out a small country ship to cruize for a short time against the pirates."

[21] That the whole family must suffer for the crime of one individual, seems to be the most cruel and foolish law of the whole Chinese criminal code.

[22] We know by the "History of the Chinese Pirates," that these "wasps of the ocean," to speak with _Yuen tsze yung lun_, were originally divided into six squadrons.

[23] In the barbarous Chinese-English spoken at Canton, all things are indiscriminately called _chop_. You hear of a chop-house, chop-boat, tea-chop, Chaou-chaou-chop, etc. To give a bill or agreement on making a bargain is in Chinese called _ch[)a] tan_; ch[)a] in the pronunciation of Canton is _chop_, which is then applied to any writing whatever.

[24] The following is the _Character of the Chinese of Canton, as given in ancient Chinese books_: "People of Canton are silly, light, weak in body, and weak in mind, without any ability to fight on land."

[25] _Joss_ is a Chinese corruption of the Portuguese _Dios_, _God_. The Joss, or idol, of which Mr. Glasspoole speaks is the _San po shin_, which is spoken of in the work of Yuen tsze.

THE FEMALE CAPTIVE[26]

LUCRETIA PARKER

The event which is here related is the capture by the Pirates of the English sloop _Eliza Ann_, bound from St. Johns to Antigua, and the massacre of the whole crew (ten in number) with the exception of one female passenger, whose life, by the interposition of Divine Providence, was miraculously preserved. The particulars are copied from a letter written by the unfortunate Miss Parker (the female passenger above alluded to) to her brother in New York.

St. Johns, April 3, 1825.

Dear Brother,

You have undoubtedly heard of my adverse fortune, and the shocking
incident that has attended me since I had the pleasure of seeing you
in November last. Anticipating your impatience to be made acquainted
with a more circumstantial detail of my extraordinary adventures, I
shall not on account of the interest which I know you must feel in
my welfare, hesitate to oblige you; yet, I must declare to you that
it is that consideration alone that prompts me to do it, as even
the recollection of the scenes which I have witnessed you must be
sensible must ever be attended with pain: and that I cannot reflect
on what I have endured, and the scenes of horror that I have been
witness to, without the severest shock. I shall now, brother,
proceed to furnish you with a detail of my misfortunes as they
occurred, without exaggeration, and if it should be your wish to
communicate them to the public, through the medium of a public
print, or in any other way, you are at liberty to do it, and I shall
consider myself amply rewarded if in a single instance it proves
beneficial in removing a doubt in the minds of such, who, although
they dare not deny the existence of a Supreme Being, yet disbelieve
that he ever in any way revealed Himself to his creatures. Let
Philosophy (as it is termed) smile with pity or contempt on my
weakness or credulity, yet the superintendence of a particular
PROVIDENCE, interfering by second causes, is so apparent to me, and
was so conspicuously displayed in the course of my afflictions, that
I shall not banish it from my mind from the beginning to the end of
my narration.

On the 28th February I took passage on board the sloop _Eliza Ann_,
captain Charles Smith, for Antigua, in compliance with the earnest
request of brother Thomas and family, who had advised me that they
had concluded to make that island the place of their permanent
residence, having a few months previous purchased there a valuable
Plantation. We set sail with a favorable wind, and with every
appearance of a short and pleasant voyage, and met with no incident
to destroy or diminish those flattering prospects, until about noon
of the 14th day from that of our departure, when a small schooner
was discovered standing toward us, with her deck full of men, and as
she approached us from her suspicious appearance there was not a
doubt in the minds of any on board, but that she was a Pirate. When
within a few yards of us, they gave a shout and our decks were
instantly crowded with the motley crew of desperadoes, armed with
weapons of almost every description that can be mentioned, and with
which they commenced their barbarous work by unmercifully beating
and maiming all on board except myself. As a retreat was impossible,
and finding myself surrounded by wretches, whose yells, oaths, and
imprecations, made them more resemble demons than human-beings, I
fell on my knees, and from one who appeared to have the command, I
begged for mercy, and for permission to retire to the cabin, that I
might not be either the subject or a witness of the murderous scene
that I had but little doubt was about to ensue. The privilege was
not refused me. The monster in human shape (for such was then his
appearance) conducted me by the hand himself to the companionway,
and pointing to the cabin said to me, "Descend and remain there and
you will be perfectly safe, for although Pirates, we are not
barbarians to destroy the lives of innocent females!" Saying this he
closed the companion doors and left me alone, to reflect on my
helpless and deplorable situation. It is indeed impossible for me,
brother, to paint to your imagination what were my feelings at this
moment; being the only female on board, my terror it cannot be
expected was much less than that of the poor devoted mariners! I
resigned my life to the Being who had lent it, and did not fail to
improve the opportunity (which I thought it not improbable might be
my last), to call on Him for that protection, which my situation so
much at this moment required--and never shall I be persuaded but
that my prayers were heard.

While I remained in this situation, by the sound of the clashing of
swords, attended by shrieks and dismal groans, I could easily
imagine what was going on on deck, and anticipated nothing better
than the total destruction by the Pirates of the lives of all on
board. After I had remained about one hour and a half alone in the
cabin, and all had become silent on deck, the cabin doors were
suddenly thrown open, and eight or ten of the Piratical crew
entered, preceded by him whom I had suspected to be their leader,
and from whom I had received assurances that I should not be
injured. By him I was again addressed and requested to banish all
fears of personal injury--that they sought only for the money which
they suspected to be secreted somewhere on board the vessel, and
which they were determined to have, although unable to extort a
disclosure of the place of its concealment by threats and violence
from the crew. The Pirates now commenced a thorough search
throughout the cabin, the trunks and chests belonging to the captain
and mate were broken open, and rifled of their most valuable
contents--nor did my baggage and stores meet with any better fate,
indeed this was a loss which at this moment caused me but little
uneasiness. I felt that my life was in too much jeopardy to lament
in any degree the loss of my worldly goods, surrounded as I was by a
gang of the most ferocious looking villains that my eyes ever before
beheld, of different complexions, and each with a drawn weapon in
his hand, some of them fresh crimsoned with the blood (as I then
supposed) of my murdered countrymen and whose horrid imprecations
and oaths were enough to appal the bravest heart!

Their search for money proving unsuccessful (with the exception of a
few dollars which they found in the captain's chest) they returned
to the deck, and setting sail on the sloop, steered her for the
place of their rendezvous, a small island or key not far distant I
imagine from the island of Cuba, where we arrived the day after our
capture. The island was nearly barren, producing nothing but a few
scattered mangroves and shrubs, interspersed with the miserable huts
of these outlaws of civilization, among whom power formed the only
law, and every species of iniquity was here carried to an extent of
which no person who had not witnessed a similar degree of pollution,
could form the most distant idea.

As soon as the sloop was brought to an anchor, the hatches were
thrown off and the unfortunate crew ordered on deck--a command which
to my surprise was instantly obeyed, as I had harboured strong
suspicions that they had been all murdered by the Pirates the day
previous. The poor devoted victims, although alive, exhibited
shocking proofs of the barbarity with which they had been treated by
the unmerciful Pirates; their bodies exhibiting deep wounds and
bruises too horrible for me to attempt to describe! Yet, however
great had been their sufferings, their lives had been spared only to
endure still greater torments. Being strongly pinioned they were
forced into a small leaky boat and rowed on shore, which we having
reached and a division of the plunder having been made by the
Pirates, a scene of the most bloody and wanton barbarity ensued, the
bare recollection of which still chills my blood. Having first
divested them of every article of clothing but their shirts and
trousers, with swords, knives, axes, etc., they fell on the
unfortunate crew of the _Eliza Ann_ with the ferocity of cannibals.
In vain did they beg for mercy and intreat of their murderers to
spare their lives. In vain did poor Capt. S. attempt to touch their
feelings and to move them to pity by representing to them the
situation of his innocent family; that he had a wife and three small
children at home wholly dependent on him for support. But, alas, the
poor man intreated in vain. His appeal was to monsters possessing
hearts callous to the feelings of humanity. Having received a heavy
blow from one with an ax, he snapped the cords with which he was
bound, and attempted an escape by flight, but was met by another of
the ruffians, who plunged a knife or dirk to his heart. I stood near
him at this moment and was covered with his blood. On receiving the
fatal wound he gave a single groan and fell lifeless at my feet. Nor
were the remainder of the crew more fortunate. The mate while on his
knees imploring mercy, and promising to accede to anything that the
vile assassins should require of him, on condition of his life being
spared, received a blow from a club, which instantaneously put a
period to his existence! Dear brother, need I attempt to paint to
your imagination my feelings at this awful moment? Will it not
suffice for me to say that I have described to you a scene of horror
which I was compelled to witness! and with the expectation too of
being the next victim selected by these ferocious monsters, whose
thirst for blood appeared to be insatiable. There appeared now but
one alternative left me, which was to offer up a prayer to Heaven
for the protection of that Being who has power to stay the
assassin's hand, and "who is able to do exceeding abundantly above
what we can ask or think,"--sincerely in the language of scripture I
can say, "I found trouble and sorrow, then called I upon the name of
the Lord."

I remained on my knees until the inhuman wretches had completed
their murderous work, and left none but myself to lament the fate of
those who but twenty-four hours before, were animated with the
pleasing prospects of a quick passage, and a speedy return to the
bosoms of their families! The wretch by whom I had been thrice
promised protection, and who seemed to reign chief among them, again
approached me with hands crimsoned with the blood of my murdered
countrymen, and, with a savage smile, once more repeated his
assurances that if I would but become reconciled to my situation, I
had nothing to fear. There was indeed something truly terrific in
the appearance of this man, or rather monster as he ought to be
termed. He was of a swarthy complexion, near six feet in height, his
eyes were large, black and penetrating; his expression was
remarkable, and when silent, his looks were sufficient to declare
his meaning. He wore around his waist a leathern belt, to which was
suspended a sword, a brace of pistols and a dirk. He was as I was
afterward informed the acknowledged chief among the Pirates, all
appeared to stand in awe of him, and no one dared to disobey his
commands. Such, dear brother, was the character who had promised me
protection if I would become reconciled to my situation, in other
words, subservient to his will. But, whatever might have been his
intentions, although now in his power, without a visible friend to
protect me, yet such full reliance did I place in the Supreme Being,
who sees and knows all things, and who has promised his protection
to the faithful in the hour of tribulation, that I felt myself in a
less degree of danger than you or any one would probably imagine.

As the day drew near to a close, I was conducted to a small
temporary hut or cabin, where I was informed I might repose
peaceably for the night, which I did without being disturbed by any
one. This was another opportunity that I did not suffer to pass
unimproved to pour out my soul to that Being, who had already given
me reasons to believe that he did not say to the house of Jacob,
seek you me in vain. Oh! that all sincere Christians would in every
difficulty make Him their refuge; He is a hopeful stay.

Early in the morning ensuing I was visited by the wretch alone whom
I had viewed as chief of the murderous band. As he entered and cast
his eyes upon me, his countenance relaxed from its usual ferocity to
a feigned smile. Without speaking a word, he seated himself on a
bench that the cabin contained, and drawing a table toward him,
leaned upon it resting his cheek upon his hand. His eyes for some
moments were fixed in stedfast gaze upon the ground, while his
whole soul appeared to be devoured by the most diabolical thoughts.
In a few moments he arose from his seat and hastily traversed the
hut, apparently in extreme agitation, and not unfrequently fixing
his eyes stedfastly upon me. But, that Providence, which while it
protects the innocent, never suffers the wicked to go unpunished,
interposed to save me and to deliver me from the hands of this
remorseless villain, at the very instant when in all probability he
intended to have destroyed my happiness forever.

On a sudden the Pirate's bugle was sounded, which (as I was
afterward informed) was the usual signal of a sail in sight. The
ruffian monster thereupon without uttering a word left my apartment,
and hastened with all speed to the place of their general rendezvous
on such occasions. Flattered by the pleasing hope that Providence
might be about to complete her work of mercy, and was conducting to
the dreary island some friendly aid, to rescue me from my perilous
situation, I mustered courage to ascend to the roof of my hovel, to
discover if possible the cause of the alarm, and what might be the
issue.

A short distance from the island I espied a sail which appeared to
be lying to, and a few miles therefrom to the windward, another,
which appeared to be bearing down under a press of sail for the
former--in a moment the whole gang of Pirates, with the exception of
four, were in their boats, and with their oars, etc., were making
every possible exertion to reach the vessel nearest to their island;
but by the time they had effected their object the more distant
vessel (which proved to be a British sloop of war disguised) had
approached them within fair gunshot, and probably knowing or
suspecting their characters, opened their ports and commenced a
destructive fire upon them. The Pirates were now, as nearly as I
could judge with the naked eye, thrown into great confusion. Every
possible exertion appeared to have been made by them to reach the
island, and escape from their pursuers. Some jumped from their boats
and attempted to gain the shore by swimming, but these were shot in
the water, and the remainder who remained in their boats were very
soon after overtaken and captured by two well manned boats
dispatched from the sloop of war for that purpose; and, soon had I
the satisfaction to see them all on board of the sloop, and in the
power of those from whom I was fully satisfied that they would meet
with the punishment due to their crimes.

In describing the characters of this Piratical band of robbers, I
have, dear brother, represented them as wretches of the most
frightful and ferocious appearance--blood-thirsty monsters, who, in
acts of barbarity ought only to be ranked with cannibals, who
delight to feast on human flesh. Rendered desperate by their crimes
and aware that they should find no mercy if so unfortunate as to
fall into the hands of those to whom they show no mercy, to prevent
a possibility of detection, and the just execution of the laws
wantonly destroy the lives of every one, however innocent, who may
be so unfortunate as to fall into their power--such, indeed,
brother, is the true character of the band of Pirates (to the number
of 30 or 40) by whom it was my misfortune to be captured, with the
exception of a single one, who possessed a countenance less savage,
and had the appearance of possessing a heart less callous to the
feelings of humanity. Fortunately for me, as Divine Providence
ordered, this person was one of the four who remained on the island,
and on whom the command involved after the unexpected disaster which
had deprived them forever of so great a portion of their comrades.
From this man (after the capture of the murderous tyrant to whose
commands he had been compelled to yield) I received the kindest
treatment, and assurances that I should be restored to liberty and
to my friends when an opportunity should present, or when it could
be consistently done with the safety of their lives and liberty.

This unhappy man (for such he declared himself to be) took an
opportunity to indulge me with a partial relation of a few of the
most extraordinary incidents of his life. He declared himself an
Englishman by birth, but his real name and place of nativity was he
said a secret he would never disclose! "although I must (said he)
acknowledge myself by profession a Pirate, yet I can boast of
respectable parentage, and the time once was when I myself sustained
an unimpeachable character. Loss of property, through the treachery
of those whom I considered friends, and in whom I had placed
implicit confidence, was what first led me to and induced me to
prefer this mode of life, to any of a less criminal nature--but,
although I voluntarily became the associate of a band of wretches
the most wicked and unprincipled perhaps on earth, yet I solemnly
declare that I have not in any one instance personally deprived an
innocent fellow creature of life. It was an act of barbarity at
which my heart ever recoiled, and against which I always protested.
With the property I always insisted we ought to be satisfied,
without the destruction of the lives of such who were probably the
fathers of families, and who had never offended us. But our gang was
as you may suppose chiefly composed of and governed by men without
principle, who appeared to delight in the shedding of blood, and
whose only excuse has been that by acting with too much humanity in
sparing life, they might thereby be exposed and themselves arraigned
to answer for their crimes at an earthly tribunal. You can have no
conception, madam (continued he), of the immense property that has
been piratically captured, and of the number of lives that have been
destroyed by this gang alone, and all without the loss of a single
one on our part until yesterday, when by an unexpected circumstance
our number has been reduced as you see from thirty-five to four!
This island has not been our constant abiding place, but the bodies
of such as have suffered here have always been conveyed a
considerable distance from the shore, and thrown into the sea, where
they were probably devoured by the sharks, as not a single one has
ever been known afterward to drift on our shores. The property
captured has not been long retained on this island, but shipped to a
neighboring port, where we have an agent to dispose of it.

"Of the great number of vessels captured by us (continued he) you
are the first and only female that has been so unfortunate as to
fall into our hands--and from the moment that I first saw you in our
power (well knowing the brutal disposition of him whom we
acknowledged our chief) I trembled for your safety, and viewed you
as one deprived perhaps of the protection of a husband or brother,
to become the victim of an unpitying wretch, whose pretended regard
for your sex, and his repeated promises of protection, were
hypocritical--a mere mask to lull your fears until he could effect
your ruin. His hellish designs, agreeable to his own declarations,
would have been carried into effect the very morning that he last
visited you, had not an all-wise Providence interfered to save
you--and so sensible am I that the unexpected circumstance of his
capture, as well as that of the most of our gang, as desperate and
unprincipled as himself, must have been by order of Him, from whose
all-seeing eye no evil transaction can be hidden, that were I so
disposed I should be deterred from doing you any injury through fear
of meeting with a similar fate. Nor do my three remaining companions
differ with me in opinion, and we all now most solemnly pledge
ourselves, that so long as you remain in our power, you shall have
nothing to complain of but the deprivation of the society of those
whose company no doubt would be more agreeable to you; and as soon
as it can be done consistently with our own safety, you shall be
conveyed to a place from which you may obtain a passage to your
friends. We have now become too few in number to hazard a repetition
of our Piratical robberies, and not only this, but some of our
captured companions to save their own lives, may prove treacherous
enough to betray us; we are therefore making preparation to leave
this island for a place of more safety, when you, madam, shall be
conveyed and set at liberty as I have promised you."

Dear brother, if you before doubted, is not the declaration of this
man (which I have recorded as correctly as my recollection will
admit of) sufficient to satisfy you that I owe my life and safety to
the interposition of a Divine Providence! Oh, yes! surely it is--and
I feel my insufficiency to thank and praise my Heavenly Protector as
I ought, for his loving kindness in preserving me from the evil
designs of wicked men, and for finally restoring me to liberty and
to my friends!

I cannot praise Him as I would,
But He is merciful and good.

From this moment every preparation was made by the Pirates to remove
from the island. The small quantity of stores and goods which
remained on hand (principally of the _Ann Eliza's_ cargo) was either
buried on the island, or conveyed away in their boats in the night
to some place unknown to me. The last thing done was to demolish
their temporary dwellings, which was done so effectually as not to
suffer a vestige of any thing to remain that could have led to a
discovery that the island had ever been inhabited by such a set of
beings. Eleven days from that of the capture of the _Ann Eliza_ (the
Pirates having previously put on board several bags of dollars,
which from the appearance of the former, I judged had been concealed
in the earth) I was ordered to embark with them, but for what place
I then knew not.

About midnight I was landed on the rocky shores of an island which
they informed me was Cuba, they furnished me with a few hard biscuit
and a bottle of water, and directed me to proceed early in the
morning in a northeast direction, to a house about a mile distant,
where I was told I would be well treated and be furnished with a
guide that would conduct me to Mantansies. With these directions
they left me, and I never saw them more.

At daybreak I set out in search of the house to which I had been
directed by the Pirates, and which I had the good fortune to reach
in safety in about an hour and a half. It was a humble tenement
thatched with canes, without any flooring but the ground, and was
tenanted by a man and his wife only, from whom I met with a welcome
reception, and by whom I was treated with much hospitality. Although
Spaniards, the man could speak and understand enough English to
converse with me, and to learn by what means I had been brought so
unexpectedly alone and unprotected to his house. Though it was the
same to which I had been directed by the Pirates, yet he declared
that so far from being in any way connected with them in their
Piratical robberies, or enjoying any portion of their ill-gotten
gain, no one could hold them in greater abhorrence. Whether he was
sincere in these declarations or not, is well known to Him whom the
lying tongue cannot deceive--it is but justice to them to say that
by both the man and his wife I was treated with kindness, and it was
with apparent emotions of pity that they listened to the tale of my
sufferings. By their earnest request I remained with them until the
morning ensuing, when I set out on foot for Mantansies, accompanied
by the Spaniard who had kindly offered to conduct me to that place,
which we reached about seven in the evening of the same day.

At Mantansies I found many Americans and Europeans, by whom I was
kindly treated, and who proffered their services to restore me to my
friends, but as there were no vessels bound direct from thence to
Antigua or St. Johns, I was persuaded to take passage for Jamaica,
where it was the opinion of my friends I might obtain a passage more
speedily for one or the other place, and where I safely arrived
after a pleasant passage of four days.

The most remarkable and unexpected circumstance of my extraordinary
adventures, I have yet, dear brother, to relate. Soon after my
arrival at Jamaica, the Authority having been made acquainted with
the circumstance of my recent capture by the Pirates, and the
extraordinary circumstance which produced my liberation, requested
that I might be conducted to the Prison, to see if I could among a
number of Pirates recently committed, recognize any of those by whom
I had been captured. I was accordingly attended by two or three
gentlemen, and two young ladies (who had politely offered to
accompany me) to the prison apartment, on entering which, I not only
instantly recognized among a number therein confined, the identical
savage monster of whom I have had so much occasion to speak (the
Pirates' Chief) but the most of those who had composed his gang, and
who were captured with him!

The sudden and unexpected introduction into their apartment of one,
whom they had probably in their minds numbered with the victims of
their wanton barbarity, produced unquestionably on their minds not
an inconsiderable degree of horror as well as surprise! and,
considering their condemnation now certain, they no doubt heaped
curses upon their more fortunate companions, for sparing the life
and setting at liberty one whom an all-wise Providence had conducted
to and placed in a situation to bear witness to their unprecedented
barbarity.

Government having through me obtained the necessary proof of the
guilt of these merciless wretches, after a fair and impartial trial
they were all condemned to suffer the punishment due to their
crimes, and seven ordered for immediate execution, one of whom was
the barbarian their chief. After the conviction and condemnation of
this wretch, in hopes of eluding the course of justice, he made (as
I was informed) an attempt upon his own life, by inflicting upon
himself deep wounds with a knife which he had concealed for that
purpose; but in this he was disappointed, the wounds not proving so
fatal as he probably anticipated.

I never saw this hardened villain or any of his equally criminal
companions after their condemnation, although strongly urged to
witness their execution, and am therefore indebted to one who daily
visited them, for the information of their behavior from that period
until that of their execution; which, as regarded the former, I was
informed was extremely impenitent--that while proceeding to the
place of ignominy and death, he talked with shocking unconcern,
hinting that by being instrumental in the destruction of so many
lives, he had become too hardened and familiar with death to feel
much intimidated at its approach! He was attended to the place of
execution by a Roman Catholic Priest, who it was said labored to
convince him of the atrociousness of his crimes, but he seemed deaf
to all admonition or exhortation, and appeared insensible to the
hope of happiness or fear of torment in a future state--and so far
from exhibiting a single symptom of penitence, declared that he knew
of but one thing for which he had cause to reproach himself, which
was in sparing my life and not ordering me to be butchered as the
others had been! How awful was the end of the life of this miserable
criminal! He looked not with harmony, regard, or a single penitent
feeling toward one human being in the last agonies of an ignominious
death.