The Pirates Own Book (46 page)

The unfortunate men had been in continual prayer from the time they were
awakened out of a deep sleep till they arrived at that place, where they
were to close their existence.

They all expressed their gratitude for the attention they had met with
from the sheriff and the inferior officers. Many pressed the hands of
the turnkey to their lips, others to their hearts and on their knees,
prayed that God, Jesus Christ, and the Virgin Mary would bless him and
the other jailors for their goodness. They all then fervently joined
in prayer. To the astonishment of all, no clerical character, of any
persuasion, was present. They repeatedly called out "Adonde esta el
padre," (Where is the holy father).

Juan Hernandez called on all persons present to hear him—he was
innocent; what they had said about his confessing himself guilty was
untrue. He had admitted himself guilty, because he hoped for pardon; but
that now he was to die, he called God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, the
Virgin Mary, and the Saints, to witness that he spoke the truth—that he
was no pirate, no murderer—he had been forced. The Lieutenant of the
pirates was a wretch, who did not fear God, and had compelled him to
act.

Juan Gutterez and Francisco de Sayas were loud in their protestations of
innocence.

Manuel Lima said, for himself, he did not care; he felt for the old man
(Miguel Jose). How could he be a pirate who could not help himself? If
it were a Christian country, they would have pardoned him for his gray
hairs. He was innocent—they had both been forced. Let none of his
friends or relations ever venture to sea—he hoped his death would be a
warning to them, that the innocent might suffer for the guilty. The
language of this young man marked him a superior to the generality of
his companions in misfortune. The seamen of the Whim stated that he was
very kind to them when prisoners on board the piratical vessel. Just
before he was turned off, he addressed the old man—"Adios viejo, para
siempre adios."—(Farewell, old man, forever farewell.)

Several of the prisoners cried out for mercy, pardon, pardon.

Domingo Eucalla, the black man, then addressed them. "Do not look for
mercy here, but pray to God; we are all brought here to die. This is not
built for nothing; here we must end our lives. You know I am innocent,
but I must die the same as you all. There is not any body here who can
do us any good, so let us think only of God Almighty. We are not
children but men, you know that all must die; and in a few years those
who kill us must die too. When I was born, God set the way of my death;
I do not blame any body. I was taken by the pirates and they made me
help them; they would not let me be idle. I could not show that this was
the truth, and therefore they have judged me by the people they have
found me with. I am put to death unjustly, but I blame nobody. It was my
misfortune. Come, let us pray. If we are innocent, so much the less we
have to repent. I do not come here to accuse any one. Death must come
one day or other; better to the innocent than guilty." He then joined in
prayer with the others. He seemed to be much reverenced by his fellow
prisoners. He chose those prayers he thought most adapted to the
occasion. Hundreds were witnesses to the manly firmness of this negro.
Observing a bystander listening attentively to the complaints of one of
his fellow wretches, he translated what had been said into English. With
a steady pace, and a resolute and resigned countenance, he ascended the
fatal scaffold. Observing the executioner unable to untie a knot on the
collar of one of the prisoners, he with his teeth untied it. He then
prayed most fervently till the drop fell.

Miguel Jose protested his innocence.—"No he robado, no he matado
ningune, muero innocente."—(I have robbed no one, I have killed no one,
I die innocent. I am an old man, but my family will feel my disgraceful
death.)

Francisco Migul prayed devoutly, but inaudibly.—His soul seemed to have
quitted the body before he was executed.

Breti Gullimillit called on all to witness his innocence; it was of no
use for him to say an untruth, for he was going before the face of God.

Augustus Hernandez repeatedly declared his innocence, requested that no
one would say he had made a confession; he had none to make.

Juan Hernandez was rather obstinate when the execution pulled the cap
over his eyes. He said, rather passionately—"Quita is de mis
ojos."—(Remove it from my eyes.) He then rubbed it up against one of
the posts of the gallows.

Miguel Jose made the same complaint, and drew the covering from his eyes
by rubbing his head against a fellow sufferer.

Pedro Nondre was loud in his ejaculations for mercy. He wept bitterly.
He was covered with marks of deep wounds.

The whole of the ten included in the death warrant, having been placed
on the scaffold, and the ropes suspended, the drop was let down. Nondre
being an immense heavy man, broke the rope, and fell to the ground
alive. Juan Hernandez struggled long. Lima was much convulsed. The old
man Gullimillit, and Migul, were apparently dead before the drop fell.
Eucalla (the black man) gave one convulsion, and all was over.

When Nondre recovered from the fall and saw his nine lifeless companions
stretched in death, he gave an agonizing shriek; he wrung his hands,
screamed "Favor, favor, me matan sin causa. O! buenos Christianos, me
amparen, ampara me, ampara me, no hay Christiano en asta, tiara?"

(Mercy, mercy, they kill me without cause.—Oh, good Christians, protect
me. Oh, protect me. Is there no Christian in this land?)

He then lifted his eyes to Heaven, and prayed long and loud. Upon being
again suspended, he was for a long period convulsed. He was an immense
powerful man, and died hard.

A piratical station was taken in the Island of Cuba by the U.S.
schooners of war, Greyhound and Beagle. They left Thompson's Island
June 7, 1823, under the command of Lieuts. Kearney and Newton, and
cruised within the Key's on the south side of Cuba, as far as Cape Cruz,
touching at all the intermediate ports on the island, to intercept
pirates. On the 21st of July, they came to anchor off Cape Cruz, and
Lieut. Kearney went in his boat to reconnoitre the shore, when he was
fired on by a party of pirates who were concealed among the bushes. A
fire was also opened from several pieces of cannon erected on a hill a
short distance off. The boat returned, and five or six others were
manned from the vessels, and pushed off for the shore, but a very heavy
cannonade being kept up by the pirates on the heights, as well as from
the boats, were compelled to retreat. The two schooners were then warped
in, when they discharged several broadsides, and covered the landing of
the boats. After a short time the pirates retreated to a hill that was
well fortified. A small hamlet, in which the pirates resided, was set
fire to and destroyed. Three guns, one a four pounder, and two large
swivels, with several pistols, cutlasses, and eight large boats, were
captured. A cave, about 150 feet deep, was discovered, near where the
houses were, and after considerable difficulty, a party of seamen got to
the bottom, where was found an immense quantity of plunder, consisting
of broadcloths, dry goods, female dresses, saddlery, &c. Many human
bones were also in the cave, supposed to have been unfortunate persons
who were taken and put to death. A great many of the articles were
brought away, and the rest destroyed. About forty pirates escaped to the
heights, but many were supposed to have been killed from the fire of the
schooners, as well as from the men who landed. The bushes were so thick
that it was impossible to go after them. Several other caves are in the
neighborhood, in which it was conjectured they occasionally take
shelter.

In 1823, Commodore Porter commanded the United States squadron in these
seas; much good was done in preventing new acts of piracy; but these
wretches kept aloof and did not venture to sea as formerly, but some
were taken.

Almost every day furnished accounts evincing the activity of Commodore
Porter, and the officers and men under his command; but for a long time
their industry and zeal was rather shown in the
suppression
of piracy
than the
punishment
of it. At length, however, an opportunity offered
for inflicting the latter, as detailed in the following letter, dated
Matanzas, July 10, 1823.

"I have the pleasure of informing you of a brilliant achievement
obtained against the pirates on the 5th inst. by two barges attached to
Commodore Porter's squadron, the Gallinipper, Lieut. Watson, 18 men, and
the Moscheto, Lieut. Inman, 10 men. The barges were returning from a
cruise to windward; when they were near Jiguapa Bay, 13 leagues to
windward of Matanzas, they entered it—it being a rendezvous for
pirates. They immediately discovered a large schooner under way, which
they supposed to be a Patriot privateer; and as their stores were nearly
exhausted, they hoped to obtain some supplies from her. They therefore
made sail in pursuit. When they were within cannon shot distance, she
rounded to and fired her long gun, at the same time run up the bloody
flag, directing her course towards the shore, and continuing to fire
without effect. When she had got within a short distance of the shore,
she came to, with springs on her cable, continuing to fire; and when the
barges were within 30 yards, they fired their muskets without touching
boat or man; our men gave three cheers, and prepared to board; the
pirates, discovering their intention, jumped into the water, when the
bargemen, calling on the name of 'Allen,' commenced a destructive
slaughter, killing them in the water and as they landed. So exasperated
were our men, that it was impossible for their officers to restrain
them, and many were killed after orders were given to grant quarter.
Twenty-seven dead were counted, some sunk, five taken prisoners by the
bargemen, and eight taken by a party of Spaniards on shore. The officers
calculated that from 30 to 35 were killed. The schooner mounted a long
nine pounder on a pivot, and 4 four pounders, with every other necessary
armament, and a crew of 50 to 60 men, and ought to have blown the barges
to atoms. She was commanded by the notorious Diableto or Little Devil.
This statement I have from Lieut. Watson himself, and it is certainly
the most decisive operation that has been effected against those
murderers, either by the English or American force."

"This affair occurred on the same spot where the brave Allen fell about
one year since. The prize was sent to Thompson's Island."

A British sloop of war, about the same time, captured a pirate schooner
off St. Domingo, with a crew of 60 men. She had 200,000 dollars in
specie, and other valuable articles on board. The brig Vestal sent
another pirate schooner to New-Providence.

This John Rackam, as has been reported in the foregoing pages, was
quarter-master to Vane's company, till the crew were divided, and Vane
turned out of it for refusing to board a French man-of-war, Rackam being
voted captain of the division that remained in the brigantine. The 24th
of November 1718, was the first day of his command; his first cruise was
among the Carribbee Islands, where he took and plundered several
vessels.

We have already taken notice, that when Captain Woods Rogers went to the
island of Providence with the king's pardon to such of the pirates as
should surrender, this brigantine, which Rackam commanded, made its
escape through another passage, bidding defiance to the mercy that was
offered.

To the windward of Jamaica, a Madeira-man fell into the pirate's way,
which they detained two or three days, till they had their market out of
her, and then they gave her back to the master, and permitted one Hosea
Tidsel, a tavern keeper at Jamaica, who had been picked up in one of
their prizes, to depart in her, she being bound for that island.

After this cruise they went into a small island, and cleaned, and spent
their Christmas ashore, drinking and carousing as long as they had any
liquor left, and then went to sea again for more. They succeeded but too
well, though they took no extraordinary prize for above two months,
except a ship laden with convicts from Newgate, bound for the
plantations, which in a few days was retaken, with all her cargo, by an
English man-of-war that was stationed in those seas.

Rackam stood towards the island of Bermuda, and took a ship bound to
England from Carolina, and a small pink from New England, both of which
he brought to the Bahama Islands, where, with the pitch, tar and stores
they cleaned again, and refitted their own vessel; but staying too long
in that neighborhood, Captain Rogers, who was Governor of Providence,
hearing of these ships being taken, sent out a sloop well manned and
armed, which retook both the prizes, though in the mean while the pirate
had the good fortune to escape.

From hence they sailed to the back of Cuba, where Rackam kept a little
kind of a family, at which place they stayed a considerable time, living
ashore with their Delilahs, till their money and provisions were
expended, and they concluded it time to look out for more. They repaired
their vessel, and were making ready to put to sea, when a guarda de
costa came in with a small English sloop, which she had taken as an
interloper on the coast. The Spanish guard-ship attacked the pirate, but
Rackam being close in behind a little island, she could do but little
execution where she lay; the Dons therefore warped into the channel that
evening, in order to make sure of her the next morning. Rackam finding
his case desperate, and that there was hardly any possibility of
escaping, resolved to attempt the following enterprise. The Spanish
prize lying for better security close into the land, between the little
island and the Main, our desperado took his crew into the boat with
their cutlasses, rounded the little island, and fell aboard their prize
silently in the dead of the night without being discovered, telling the
Spaniards that were aboard her, that if they spoke a word, or made the
least noise, they were all dead men; and so they became masters of her.
When this was done he slipped her cable, and drove out to sea. The
Spanish man-of-war was so intent upon their expected prize, that they
minded nothing else, and as soon as day broke, they made a furious fire
upon the empty sloop; but it was not long before they were rightly
apprised of the matter, when they cursed themselves sufficiently for a
company of fools, to be bit out of a good rich prize, as she proved to
be, and to have nothing but an old crazy hull in the room of her.