Some Picturesque Pirates

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17758, 30 January 1926, Page 17

Some Picturesque Pirates

Romance of the Spanish Main.

(Written for the "Star” b\)

A. H. Bremner)

It’s the old, old road, and the old, old quest Of the cut-throat sons of Cain, South by west and a quarter west, And hey for the Spanish main. So sings Masefield in “ Lyrics from the Buccaneer.” Again in “ Cargoes ” : Stately Spanish galleon coming from the Isthmus, Dipping through the Tropics by the palm-green shores, "With a cargo of diamonds, Emeralds, amethysts, Topazes, and cinnamon, and gold moldords. IS it to be wondered at that the temptation of the one should bring about the lawlessness of the other. Even in these comparatively law-abiding days, it is certain that, were ships to carry such cargoes, and to sail with so little protection as these old Spanish galleons, plenty bold spirits would be found quite willing to make an endeavour to relieve them of their riches. About those old-time pirates and buccaneers is a picturesqueness which makes them characters of more than passing interest. This picturesqueness is doubtless greatly increased by the haze of two hundred 3 r ears, while time has increased, also, the halo of romance which, even in those days, surrounded the Spanish Main, that happy hunting ground of the adventurous. The search for romance, however, was responsible for only a small proportion of those who went “a-py rating.” Til many recorded instances force of circumstances compelled previously honest seamen to join the ranks of the freebooters. As it was frequently a matter of choice between death or throwing in their lot with that of their captors, they can hardly be blamed for choosing the latter course. After a naval war the crews of privateers found it difficult to settle again to the hum-drumness of .everyday life, and easily drifted into piracy. Lack of employment, too, caused not a small number of seafaring men to yield to the temptation of joining some vessel bound to some unknown destination in the South Seas where no questions were asked, but where everyone had a share in the profits.

vacancy of that position by the simple method of throwing the offending one overboard. It is hard to imagine the successor looking with any degree of certainty on the command thus obtained, for it must have been an everpresent thought that should he incur the displeasure of his captious subordinates, a similar fate awaited him.

For the greater part the pirates were 3 r oung men, who with the impetuous irresponsibility of youth, were attracted by the excitement offered by the life. As mentioned before, their career was usually, in fact, was almost invariably, a short one. It is truly surprising the number who were hanged tiefore reaching the age of thirty. Quite a few, indeed, met their deaths in the 3-ear of their majorit\ r . The book deals not only with pirates, but with buccaneers and privateers, though the actual distinction is rather a fine point. Some interesting references are made to Alexander Selkirk, the original of Robinson Crusoe. At the age of nineteen, being required to appear before the " Session for “ indecent conduct in church,’” he ran away to sea, and in 1703 joined Dampier’s expedition to the South Seas. The following year, having quarrelled with the commander of the ship on which he was sailing-master, and being close to the uninhabited island of Juan Fernandez, he insisted on being put ashore there with all his belongings. Here he lived for almost four years, taming 3-oung goats and cats to while away the tedium of his isolation. By that time, in all probability, he was heartily tired of his own company, and on the night of January 31, 1709, by means of a fire, he attracted the attention of two passing ships, the Duke and Duchess, of Bristol, which sent a boat ashore and took hip off the island.

Nowhere has buccaneering and piracy flourished to such an extent as it did in the West Indies. Here, on various . flourished whole colonies of these lawless gentry, who, for the most part, lived fairly amiably together. Around some of the more famous pirates, romantic writers have woven a thousand tales absolutely without foundation. But that truth is stranger than fiction is amply exemplified when we read the true histories of some of these desperadoes. In “ The Pirates’ Who’s Who,” by Philip Goose, published last year, a short and unvarnished account is given of practically every pirate known to have actually existed.

Among the best known of the pirates was Captain Bartholomew Roberts. His total captures are said to have numbered over four hundred vessels, which is probably a record. Among other remarkable traits of his character is the fact that he was a total abstainer, drinking nothing stronger than tea, and doing his best to encourage abstemiousness among the members of his crew. Unfortunately, his endeavours were attended with little success. He allowed no games of cards nor throwing of dice, and strongly disapproved of gambling in any form. He was also a strict Sabbatarian, on one occasion doing his best to persuade a clergyman whom he had taken prisoner to join his ship as chaplain, whose only duties would be to say prayers and make punch. On February 10, 1722, Roberts was surprised by a King’s ship at Parrot

The first thing that strikes the reader is the fact that in the majority of cases, the career of these adventurers was a short but lively one. The greater percentage ended their days on the gallows, and many of those who escaped their merited punishment at the hands of law and order, met with untimely ends by the intrigue and treachery of their shipmates. With them there seemed to be little observance of the proverb regarding honour among thieves. Several instances are recorded where crews, desiring a change of captain, brought about a

Island, and his crew being drunk, was unable to put up any great resistance. Early in the fight he was struck in the throat by a grape-shot and killed. A pirate of many parts was Dr Thomas Dover, who will be remembered for several things. He took the boat ashore that rescued Alexander Selkirk from the island of Juan Fernandez. He captured the Acapulco, with a booty worth more than a million pounds sterling. On giving up piracy, he settled in practice in London, where he wrote a remarkable book entitled “ The Ancient Physician’s Legacy to His Country.” In this book, he recommends large doses of quicksilver for almost every imaginable disease that the flesh is heir to, and as a result was given the nickname of the “ Quicksilver Doctor.” One of the most remarkable pirates ever known was Captain Misson, a Frenchman. He went to sea as a volunteer on the French man-of-war Victoire, cruising in the Mediterranean, where Misson picked up all he could about navigation. So keen was he to learn that with his pbeket money he paid for special instruction from the boatswain and the carpenter. While his ship was lying at Naples, Misson obtained leave from the captain to visit Rome. Here he met a priest of most unorthodox views. Signor Caraccioli. So strong an attachment sprang up between these two that the priest threw off his habit and joined the crew of the Victoire. In an engagement with a British man-of-war, the Winchester, off the island of Martinique, the captain and three officers of the French ship were killed. Misson was chosen captain, and urged on by Caraccioli, decided to turn pirate. • They - refused, however, to be called pirates, but preferred to look upon themselves as soldiers in the cause of liberty. Instead of the customary black flag, they hoisted a white ensign, with the motto, “ For God and Liberty,” embroidered upon it. A policy of wholesale piracy was now pursued by this remarkable pair, but in an unprecedented manner. Only very* rarely and with the greatest reluctance were any of their enemies killed. On the contrary, they were usually treated with the utmost exaggerated chivalry and respect. On one occasion, the captain of an English vessel from which they plundered £60,000, was killed during the engagement. Misson was broken-hearted over the mishap, and had the body buried on shore with military honours. Over the grave he raised a monument on which he had carved the words:—

“ Here lies a gallant English man.” Landing at the island of Johanna, in the Indian Ocean, Misson married the sister of the local queen, and several of his crew’ were also married to natives. Later on, he removed to Madagascar, where lie founded a settlement called Libcrtitia, which was run on strictly Socialistic lines. For many years the colony flourished happily, but eventually misfortunes came upon them, and an attack by the natives forced Misson and the few survivors to put to sea, where they perished in a hurricane.

“ The Pirates’ Who’s Who ” contains references to hundreds of pirates, many of whom, had they turned their attention and ability in some other direction, would doubtless have made names for themselves in honourable professions. But the wanderlust was in their blood, and force of circumstances, in some cases, the call of the Spanish Main in others, proved insurmountable, and for them was the short life and a merry one of the pirate. To most of them, death came in some violent manner, for ’twas a hard life, this “ going a-pyrating.”