Part 29

After this Cruize, they went into one of the Islands and clean'd, and then steered for the Bay of _Honduras_, where they arrived about the Middle of _March_ 1722-3, and met a Sloop turning out of the said Bay. The Pyrates had hoisted up _Spanish_ Colours, and continued them till they drew near the Sloop, then they hall'd them down, hoisted their black Flag, fired a Broadside, and boarded her. This Sloop was a _Spaniard_ of six Guns, and 70 Men, that came into the Bay that Morning, and meeting there with five _English_ Sloops, and a Pink, made Prizes of them all, plundered them, and brought the Masters of the Vessels away Prisoners, for the ransom of the Logwood; their Names were _Tuthill, Norton, Newbury, Sprafort, Clark_ and _Parrot._ The _Spaniards_ made no Resistance, so that the _English_ Pyrates soon became their Masters and fell to rifling; but finding the above-mentioned People in the Hold, and several _English_ Goods, they consulted _Low_ the Captain thereupon, and without examining any further, the Resolution pass'd to kill all the Company; and the Pyrates, without any Ceremony, fell Pell-Mell to Execution with their Swords, Cutlashes, Poll-Axes and Pistols, cutting, slashing and shooting the poor _Spaniards_ at a sad Rate. Some of the miserable Creatures jump'd down into the Hold, but could not avoid the Massacre; they met Death every where, for if they escaped it from one Hand, they were sure to perish by another; the only Prospect they had of Life, was to fly from the Rage of those merciless Men, and to trust to the more merciful Sea; and accordingly a great many leap'd over-board, and swam for the Shore; but _Low_ perceiving it, ordered the Canoa to be mann'd, and sent in pursuit of them, by which Means several of the poor unhappy Men were knock'd in the Head in the Water, as they were endeavouring to get to Land; however, about 12 of them did reach the Shore, but in a miserable Condition, being very much wounded, and what became of them afterwards was not known, except one, who while the Pyrates were at their Sports and Pastimes ashore, finding himself very weak and fainting with his Wounds, and not knowing where to go for Help and Relief, in this Extremity, he came back to them, and begg'd for God sake, in the most earnest Manner possible, that they would give him Quarters; upon which, one of the Villains took hold of him, and said, _G-- d--n him, he would give him good Quarters presently_, and made the poor _Spaniard_ kneel down on his Knees, then taking his Fusil, put the Muzzle of it into his Mouth, and fired down his Throat. 'Twas thought the rest did not long survive their miserable Condition, and could only prolong their Lives, to add to the Misery of them.

When the murdering Work was over, they rumaged the _Spanish_ Pyrate, and brought all the Booty aboard their own Vessels: The six Masters aforementioned, found in the Hold, they restored to their respective Vessels: They forced away the Carpenter from the Pink, and then set Fire to the _Spanish_ Sloop, and burnt her; which last Scene concluded the Destruction of their Enemy, Ship and Crew.

_Low_ set the Masters of the Vessels free, but would not suffer them to steer for _Jamaica_, where they were then bound, for fear the Men of War should get Intelligence of them, but forced them all to go to _New-York_, threat'ning them with Death, when they met them again, if they refused to comply with their Demands.

In the next Cruize, which was between the Leeward Islands and the Main, they took two Snows, bound from _Jamaica_ to _Liverpool_, and a Snow from _Jamaica_ to _London, Bridds_ Master; as also a Ship from _Biddford_ to _Jamaica, John Pinkham_ Commander; and two Sloops from _Jamaica_ to _Virginia._

On the 27th of _May, Low_ and his Consort _Harris_, came off _South-Carolina_, and met with three good Ships, _viz._ the _Crown_, Captain _Lovereigne_, the _King William_, the _Carteret_, and a Brigantine, who all came out of _Carolina_ together two Days before. The Pyrates were at the Trouble of chacing them, and Captain _Lovereigne_ being the sternmost, she fell first a Prey into their Hands; and they spent all the Day in coming up with the rest.

Within a few Days they took a Ship called the _Amsterdam Merchant_, Captain _Willard_, from _Jamaica_, but belonging to _New-England_; as _Low_ let none of that Country depart without some Marks of his Rage, he cut off this Gentleman's Ears, slit up his Nose, and cut him in several Places of his Body, and, after plundering his Ship, let him pursue his Voyage.

After this he took a Sloop bound to _Amboy, William Frazier_, Master, with whom Mr. _Low_ happening to be displeased, he ordered lighted Matches to be ty'd between the Mens Fingers, which burnt all the Flesh off the Bones; then cut them in several Parts of their Bodies with Knives and Cutlashes; afterwards took all their Provisions away, and set some of them ashore in an uninhabited Part of the Country.

The _Kingston_, Captain _Estwick_, another Ship, one _Burrington_ Master, two Brigantines from _Carolina_ to _London_; a Sloop from _Virginia_ to _Bermudas_; a Ship from _Glasgow_ to _Virginia_; a Scooner from _New-York_ to _South-Carolina_; a Pink from _Virginia_ to _Dartmouth_, and a Sloop from _Philadelphia_ to _Surinam_, fell a Prey to these Villains, upon this Cruize, besides those above-mentioned.

It happened that at this Time one of his Majesty's Ships was upon a Cruize, on this Station, and got Intelligence of some of the mischievous Actions of this Miscreant, by one of the Vessels that had been plundered by him, who steering as directed, came in Sight of the Pyrates by break of Day, on the 10th of _June_, of all Days in the Year. The Rovers looking out for Prey, soon saw, and gave Chace to the Man of War, which was called the _Greyhound_, a Ship of 20 Guns, and 120 Men, rather inferiour in Force to the two Pyrate Vessels: The _Greyhound_ finding them so eager, was in no doubt what they should be, and therefore tack'd and stood from them, giving the Pyrates an Opportunity to chace her for two Hours, till all Things were in Readiness for an Engagement, and the Pyrates about Gun-shot off; then the _Greyhound_ tack'd again, and stood towards the two Sloops, one of them called the _Fancy_, commanded by _Low_ himself, and the other the _Ranger_, commanded by _Harris_, both which hoisted their pyratical Colours, and fired each a Gun. When the _Greyhound_ came within Musquet-shot, she halled up her Main-sail, and clapp'd close upon a Wind, to keep the Pyrates from running to Leeward, and then engaged: But when the Rogues found who they had to deal with, they edg'd away under the Man of War's Stern, and the _Greyhound_ standing after them, they made a running Fight for about two Hours; but little Wind happening, the Sloops gained from her, by the help of their Oars; upon which the _Greyhound_ left off firing, and turned all Hands to her own Oars, and at three in the Afternoon came up with them. The Pyrates haul'd upon a Wind to receive the Man of War, and the Fight was immediately renewed, with a brisk Fire on both Sides, till the _Ranger_'s Main-Yard was shot down, and the _Greyhound_ pressing close upon the disabled Sloop, _Low_, in the other, thought fit to bear away and leave his Consort a Sacrifice to his Enemy, who (seing the Cowardice and Treachery of his Commadore and Leader, having ten or twelve Men killed and wounded, and that there was no possibility of escaping,) called out for Quarters, and surrendered themselves to Justice, which proved severe enough to them a-while afterwards.

The Conduct of _Low_ was surprizing in this Adventure, because his reputed Courage and Boldness, had, hitherto, so possess'd the Minds of all People, that he became a Terror, even to his own Men; but his Behaviour throughout this whole Action, shewed him to be a base cowardly Villain, for had _Low_'s Sloop fought half so briskly as _Harris_'s had done, (as they were under a solemn Oath to do,) the Man of War, in my Opinion, could never have hurted them.

The _Greyhound_ carried in their Prize to _Rhode Island_, to the great Joy of the whole Province, tho' it had been more compleat, if the great _LOW_ himself had grac'd the Triumph. The Prisoners were strongly secured in a Goal, till a Court of Vice-Admiralty could be held for their Tryals, which begun on the 10th of _July_, at _Newport_, and continued three Days. The Court was made up of the following Gentlemen.

_William Dummer_, Esq; Lieutenant Governor of the _Massachusets_, President. _Nathaniel Paine_, Esq; _Addington Davonport_, Esq; _Thomas Fitch_, Esq; _Spencer Phipps_, Esq; _John Lechmere_, Esq; Surveyor-General. _John Valentine_, Esq; Advocate-General. _Samuel Cranston_, Governor of _Rhode-Island._ _John Menzies_, Esq; Judge of the Admiralty, _Richard Ward_, Esq; Register. Mr. _Jahleel Brinton_, Provost-Marshal.

_Robert Auchmuta_, Esq; was assigned, by the Court, Council for the Prisoners here under mention'd.

Prisoners Names. Ages. Places of Birth. Charles Harris, Captain 25 London. William Blads 28 Rhode-Island. Daniel Hide 23 Virginia. Thomas Powel, jun. 21 Connecticut N. E. Stephen Mundon 20 London. Thomas Huggit 30 London. William Read 35 Londonderry, Ireland. Peter Kneeves 32 Exeter in Devon. James Brinkly 28 Suffolk in England. Joseph Sound 28 City of Westminster. William Shutfield 40 Lancafter in England. Edward Eaton 38 Wrexham in Wales. John Brown 29 County of Durham. Edward Lawson 20 Isle of Man. Owen Rice 27 South-Wales. John Tomkins 23 Gloucestershire. John Fitzgerrald 21 Limerick in Ireland. Abraham Lacy 21 Devonshire. Thomas Linister 21 Lancashire. Francis Leyton 39 New-York. John Waters, Quart.-Mr. 35 County of Devon. William Jones 28 London. Charles Church 21 St. Margaret's, Westm. Thomas Hazel 50 -- -- -- John Bright 25 -- -- -- --

These 25 were found guilty, and executed the 19th of _July_, 1723, near _Newport_ in _Rhode-Island._

John Brown 17 Liverpoole. Patrick Cunningham 25 -- -- --

These two were found guilty, but respited for one Year, and recommended to the King's Favour.

John Wilson 23 New-London County Henry Barnes 22 Barbadoes. Thomas Jones 17 Flur in Wales. Joseph Switzer 24 Boston in New-England. Thomas Mumper Indian. Mather's Vineyard N. E. John Hincher, Doctor 22 Near Edinburgh, Scot. John Fletcher 17 -- -- -- Thomas Child 15 -- -- --

These eight were found Not Guilty.

The destroying this Pyrate was look'd upon by the Province, to be of such a signal Service to the Publick, and particular Advantage to the Colony of _New-York_, that it was thought necessary to make some handsome Acknowledgement to Captain _Peter Solgard_ for it; and therefore it was resolved, in an Assembly of the Common-Council, to compliment him with the Freedom of their Corporation. The Resolution, together with the Preamble of the Captain's Freedom, being curious in their Kind, I subjoin them for the Satisfaction of the Reader.

Resolution of the Mayor and Common-Council of the City of _New-York_, at a Common-Council held at the City Hall of the said City, on _Thursday_ the 25th of _July, Anno. Dom._ 1723.

Present _Robert Walter_, Esq; Mayor.

_City of_ New-York, _ss._

T_HIS Court having taken into their Consideration the great Service lately done to this Province in particular, as well as to all other his Majesty's good Subjects in general, by Captain_ Peter Solgard, _Commander of his Majesty's Ship the_ Greyhound, _the Station Ship of the Province, who lately in a Cruize upon this Coast, in due Execution and Discharge of his Duty, upon Intelligence given him, sought for, pursued and engaged two Pyrate Sloops, commanded by one_ Low, _(a notorious and inhumane Pyrate,) one of which Sloops he took, after a resolute Resistance, and very much shattered the other, who by the Favour of the Night escaped. Twenty six of which Pyrates so taken, being lately executed at_ Rhode Island, _not only eased this City and Province of a very great Trouble, but of a very considerable Expence_, &c. _It is therefore resolved (_Nemine Contradicente_) that this Corporation do present the said Captain_ Solgard _with the Freedom of this Corporation, as a Mark of the great Esteem they have for his Person, as well as for the aforesaid great and good Services; and that the Seal of the said Freedom be enclosed in a Gold Box; that Mr._ Recorder _and Mr._ Bickley _do draw the Draught of the said Freedom, signifying therein, the grateful Sense of this Corporation, for so signal a Service to the Publick, and Benefit and Advantage of Mankind. That Alderman_ Kip, _and Alderman_ Cruger, _do prepare the said Box; that the Arms of the Corporation be engraved on one Side thereof, and a Representation of the Engagement on the other, with this Motto_, (viz.) [Quesitos Humani Generos Hostes Debellare superbum, 10 Junii, 1723.] _That the Town-Clerk cause the same Freedom to be handsomly engrossed on Parchment, and that the whole Corporation do wait upon him, to present the same._

_By Order of the Common-Council._ William Sharpas, _Clerk._

The Preamble of Captain _Peter Solgard_'s Copy of his Freedom.

_Robert Walter_, Esq; Mayor, and the Aldermen of the City of _New-York._

City of _New-York, ss._

T_O all whom these Persents shall come, send Greeting. WHEREAS, Captain_ Peter Solgard, _Commander of his Majesty's Ship the_ Greyhound, (_the present Station Ship of this Province_,) _in his Cruize, having Intelligence of two Pyrate Sloops of considerable Force in Consortship, under the Command of one_ Low, _a notorious Pyrate, that had for upward of two Years, committed many Depredations, Murders and Barbarities, upon many of his Majesty's Subjects and Allies, lately come upon this Coast, hath, with great Diligence, and utmost Application, pursued, overtaken, and after a stubborn Resistance, vanquished and overcome both of them, taking one, and driving the other from our Coast; which Action, as it is glorious in it self, so it is glorious in the publick Benefits and Advantages that flow from it_, (_to wit_) _The Safety and Freedom of our own Trade and Commerce, and of all the neighbouring Provinces on this Continent, such signal Service done against the Enemies of Mankind, merits the Applause of all good Men, but more immediately from those of this Province, who are appointed his particular Care and Charge. WE therefore, the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of_ New-York, _assembled in Common Council, to express our grateful Sense and Acknowledgment, to the said Captain_ Peter Solgard, _for so noble and faithful a Discharge of his Duty, and as a particular Mark of the great Esteem and just Regard we bear to his kind Acceptance of the Freedom of the Corporation of this City of_ New-York, _and that he will please to become a Fellow Citizen with us._ These are therefore _to certify and declare, that the said Captain_ Peter Solgard _is hereby admitted, received and allowed a Freeman and Citizen of the said City of_ New-York, _to have, hold, enjoy and partake of all and singular Advantages, Benefits, Liberties, Privileges, Franchises, Freedoms and Immunities whatsoever, granted or belonging to the same City_: In Testimony _thereof, the said Mayor hath hereunto subscribed his Name, and caused the Seal of the said City to be affix'd the_ 25_th Day of_ July, _in the ninth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord_ George, _by the Grace of God, King of_ Great Britain, France _and_ Ireland, _Defender of the Faith_, &c. Anno. Dom. 1723.

William Sharpas, _Clerk._

R. Walter _Mayor._

This narrow Escape of _Low_ and his Companions, one would have thought might have brought them to a little Consideration of their black and horrid Crimes, and to look upon this Interval as an Opportunity put into their Hands by Providence, to reconcile themselves to God, by a hearty and sincere Repentance. But alass they were dead to all Goodness, and had not so much as one Spark of Virtue to stir them up to be thankful for such an eminent Deliverance: But instead thereof, vented a Million of Oaths and Curses upon the Captain of the _Greyhound_, vowing to execute Vengeance upon all they should meet with afterwards, for the Indignity he put upon them.

The first Prey that they met with, after their Flight, was a small Sloop belonging to _Nantucket_, a Whale-Fishing, about 80 Miles from Land; the Master of which, one _Nathan Skiff_, a brisk young Fellow, the Pyrates cruelly whipp'd naked about the Deck, making his Torture their Sport; after which they cut of his Ears, and last of all shot him through the Head, and then sunk his Vessel; putting the rest of the Hands into their Whale-Boat, with a Compass, a little Water, and a few Biskets; and it being good Weather, they providentially got safe to _Nantucket_, beyond all Expectation.

There was another Whale-Boat belonging to this Sloop last mentioned, which happened to be at some Distance from her, and perceiving what was doing, rowed with all speed to another Sloop not far off, to acquaint her with the Misfortune, that the Men might take Care of themselves; and she happily got away in Time. Some Days after, _Low_ took a Fishing-Boat off of _Block Island_, but did not perpetrate so much Cruelty to her, contenting himself with only cutting off the Master's Head: But after taking two Whale-Boats near _Rhode Island_, he caused one of the Master's Bodies to be ripp'd up, and his Intrails to be taken out; and cut off the Ears of the other, and made him eat them himself with Pepper and Salt; which hard Injunction he comply'd with, without making a Word. Several other Persons he would have murthered, but Humanity prevailing in the tender Hearts of his Companions, they refused to put his savage Orders in Execution. From the Coast of _New-England, Low_ sailed directly for _Newfoundland_, and, near Cape _Briton_, took two or three and twenty _French_ Vessels; and one of them of 22 Guns he mann'd with Pyrates, making a sort of a Man of War of her; with which he scower'd the Harbours and Banks of _Newfoundland_, and took sixteen or eighteen other Ships and Vessels, all which they plundered, and some destroyed.

Thus these inhumane Wretches went on, who could not be contented to satisfy their Avarice only, and travel in the common Road of Wickedness; but, like their Patron, the Devil, must make Mischief their Sport, Cruelty their Delight, and damning of Souls their constant Employment. Of all the pyratical Crews that were ever heard of, none of the _English_ Name came up to this, in Barbarity; their Mirth and their Anger had much the same Effect, for both were usually gratified with the Cries and Groans of their Prisoners; so that they almost as often murthered a Man from the Excess of good Humour, as out of Passion and Resentment; and the Unfortunate could never be assured of Safety from them, for Danger lurked in their very Smiles. An Instance of this had liked to have happened to one Captain _Graves_, Master of a _Virginia_ Ship last taken; for as soon as he came aboard of the Pyrate, _Low_ takes a Bowl of Punch in his Hand, and drinks to him, saying, _Captain_ Graves, _here's half this to you._ But the poor Gentleman being too sensibly touched at the Misfortune of falling into his Hands, modestly desired to be excused, for that he could not drink; whereupon _Low_ draws out a Pistol, cocks it, and with the Bowl in 'tother Hand, told him, he should either take one or the other: So _Graves_, without Hesitation, made Choice of the Vehicle that contained the Punch, and guttled down about a Quart, when he had the least Inclination that ever he had in his Life to be merry.

The latter End of _July_, (1723,) _Low_ took a large Ship, called the _Merry Christmas_, and fitted her for a Pyrate, cut several Ports in her, and mounted her with 34 Guns. _Low_ goes aboard of this Ship, assumes the Title of Admiral, and hoists a black Flag, with the Figure of Death in red, at the Main-topmast Head, and takes another Voyage to the _Western Islands_, where he arrived the Beginning of _September._ The first Vessel he met with there, was a Brigantine, formerly an _English_ Sloop, commanded by _Elias Wild_, but lately bought by a _Portuguese_ Nobleman, and altered: She was manned partly with _English_, and partly _Portuguese_; the latter _Low_ caused to be hang'd, by Way of Reprisal, for some of his own Men sent thither in a Sloop from the _Cape de Verd_ Islands, as has been mentioned: The _English_ Men he thrust into their own Boat, to shift for themselves, and set Fire to the Vessel.

At St. _Michaels_, they sent in their Boats and cut out of the Road, a new _London_ built Ship of 14 Guns, commanded by Captain _Thompson_, who was taken there the Year before, by _Low_, in the _Rose_ Pink. The Boats had fewer Men than the Ship, and Captain _Thompson_ would have defended himself, but his Men through Cowardize, or too great an Inclination of becoming Pyrates themselves, refused to stand by him, and he was obliged to surrender; and when he came aboard the Pyrate, had his Ears cut off close to his Head, for only proposing to resist Admiral _Low_'s black Flag; they gave him one of his own Boats, and burnt his Ship.

The next was a _Portuguese_ Bark that fell into their Hands, whose Men came off somewhat better than usual, for they only cut them with their Cutlashes, out of Wantonness, turned them all into their Boat, and set their Vessel on Fire. When the Boat was going from the Side of the Ship, one of _Low_'s Men, who, we may suppose, was forced into his Gang, was drinking with a Silver Tankard at one of the Ports, and took his Opportunity to drop into the Boat among the _Portuguese_, and lye down in the Bottom, in order to escape along with them: After he had stowed himself in the Boat, so as not to be seen, it came into his Head, that the Tankard might prove of some Use to him, where he was going; so he got up again, laid hold of the Utensil, and went off, without being discover'd: In which Attempt had he failed, no doubt his Life, if not the Lives of all the People in the Boat, would have paid for it: The Name of this Man is _Richard Hains._

_Low_ took his old Tour to the _Canaries, Cape de Verd_ Islands, and so to the Coast of _Guiney_; but nothing extraordinary happened till they arrived near _Sierraleon_ in _Africa_, where they met with a Ship call'd the _Delight_, Captain _Hunt_ Commander; this Ship they thought fit for their own Purpose, for she had been a small Man of War, and carried 12 Guns; however, they mounted 16 on Board her, mann'd her with 60 Men, and appointed one _Spriggs_, who was then their Quarter-Master, to be Captain of her, who, two Days after, separated from the Admiral, and went to the _West-Indies_ a-pyrating, upon his own, and particular Company's, Account, where for the present we shall leave him.

In _January_ last, _Low_ took a Ship, called the _Squirrel_, Captain _Stephenson_; but what became of him afterwards, I can't tell; we have had no News concerning him come to _England_, since this I have now mentioned; but I have heard that he talk'd of going to _Brazil_; and if so, it is likely we may too soon hear of some Exploit or other; tho' the best Information we could receive, would be, that he and all his Crew were at the Bottom of the Sea.

CHAP. XIV. OF Capt. _JOHN EVANS_, And his CREW.