The Pirate's Manuscript.
ISLAND IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN,
October, 1781.
In grief and sorrow, and great bodily pain, I write these lines,
fearing that I shall not recover from my wounds, and that death will
soon seize upon me. I ask Christian burial for my bones, and that God
will forgive me my many sins.
I was born an Englishman and passed an adventurous life till, in the
year 1778, I found myself, after a life of villainy and piracy, captain
of the armed brig "Rover," at the age of thirty-three, and cruising
in these seas. It would take too long and be of little interest to
relate how through years of bloodshed I had arrived at this eminence.
It is enough to say that for the last ten years of my life I have
spared neither man, woman, nor child, and that God in his power has
at last brought this retribution upon my head. I could relate scenes
of horror, and hairbreadth escapes, that would not be believed or
credited, therefore I skip them all and come to the causes of my being
imprisoned on this desolate island. The brig that I commanded had on
many occasions been successful in preying upon the Spanish galleons of
this coast, and many a South American city had even been put under
contribution; but to the immense wealth and plunder thus obtained
was to be added still another capture. On the morning of the 14th of
August, 1781, the brig "Rover" lay in near the coast of South America
waiting for the passage of two galleons, loaded with treasure from the
Northern mines of El Dorado, for Valparaiso. From spies in that city
I had found out that the treasure was estimated at twelve millions,
in gold and silver bars, and that these galleons were armed with six
eighteen-pounders each, and with a crew of Spaniards and natives,
numbering sixty men. Two long weeks had we been lying near the coast
standing out in the morning, and in towards the evening, waiting for
our prey; when, on this fatal morning, after heading seaward for
four hours, we discovered the enemy on the horizon to the northwest.
The "Rover" was a strong, well-built brig of three hundred tons,
and was manned by one hundred and twenty human devils, drawn from
all nations, but mostly Englishmen, with a few South Americans and
natives. We carried eight eighteen-pounders, and one long thirty-two
pivot gun amidships. Our vessel was fast and a splendid sea-boat. We
were favored with a wind from the southeast, which put the enemy to
leeward of us, and we boldly clapped on all sail to come up with him,
which perceiving, and also that we had the weather gauge, the cowardly
Spaniards put up their helm and kept off before the wind, hoping to
outsail us; but before they commenced this manoeuvre we had approached
near enough to be sure that they were what we had been waiting for, and
therefore, rigging out stu'nsails on both sides, we bowled along before
the wind to the northwest, after the retreating enemy.
It was soon apparent that the "Rover" was the faster sailer, and also
that one of the galleons was a much better sailer or better handled
than her consort; for we were coming up hand over hand to one of them,
whilst the other, some two miles ahead, held her own much better. As
we neared the sternmost and lagging galleon, we commenced firing from
our bow-chasers, but without apparent effect. I think to this day that
if the two had kept together they might possibly have beaten us off,
but, separated as they were by their own cowardice, they would, I felt
convinced, fall an easy prey to our designs. As we gradually neared
the galleon, the crew of the "Rover" became more and more excited; and
the cursed thirst for gold, and subsequent license and revel that was
sure to follow its acquisition, glowered in each countenance. The time
had come for our usual unholy rites, and, ordering up the steward, the
usual cask of brandy was hoisted to the deck, the contents poured into
two large tubs, and one of them transported to the quarter deck, whilst
the other was left at the main hatch, and, at a preconcerted signal,
the two bow-chasers were discharged at the enemy, the black flag run
up to the mizzen peak, and all hands called upon to splice the main
brace, or in other words, to craze their brains by partaking of the
fiery liquor poured out before them; the quantity on the quarter deck
having been mixed with gunpowder, to be distributed at the guns during
the coming conflict as I might deem best or proper. We were now rapidly
advancing upon our prey, but none of our shot seemed to have taken
effect and as yet she had made no reply.
Commanding silence fore and aft, I ordered more sail crowded upon the
"Rover," and stood on till we were nearly alongside, and not a gunshot
distant, and then, having brought all the eighteen-pounders to the
starboard side, had them loaded with grape and canister. I ordered
in sail, running in all the stu'nsails, and clearing the deck for
action; but at last the enemy seemed to have waked up, for, whilst
this was being done, she poured into us her broadside, killing and
wounding several of the crew, but doing no further damage, and then
immediately came to the wind, close hauled on the starboard tack. We
followed rapidly, but, as all the guns were on the starboard side, I
ran under her lee rather than try to keep the weather gauge, and at
short pistol distance sent the contents of eight eighteen-pounders
into her sides and rigging. The result was to have been anticipated:
down came her top hamper and light sails, and she lay a wreck upon the
water. Shooting ahead in the "Rover," I shortened sail, and, crossing
her fore foot, held my vessel with the main topsail to the mast and
poured in six broadsides of canister and grape, raking the enemy fore
and aft, to which she could not reply with a single gun, and at the
termination of which she lay a complete wreck upon the bosom of the
ocean. Without a moment's delay the main yard was squared away, and,
turning upon her heel, the "Rover" made all sail for the other galleon.
It was four hours before we came up to her so as to be within shot,
when a discharge from our pivot gun cut away some of her top-hamper,
so that we commenced overhauling her rapidly; but this one, although
she had run away in the commencement, now evidently meant fight, and
she replied to our broadsides with bravery and vigor, so much so that
I saw that there was nothing for it but to board her and carry her
by assault, as we were being cut up in a fearful manner, and my crew
dropping at each discharge. Seeing this, I sung out to the helmsman,
"Lay her alongside," and, with a crash, we in a few moments struck her
fore chains, having the weather gauge, and in a moment were securely
lashed together. Mounting the taffrail, I sung out "Boarders away," and
jumped upon the deck of the galleon, followed by my crew. It was with
the same results I have so often seen before: no mercy, no quarter, and
down under the blows of the cruel Rovers soon fell the Spaniards, and
the galleon was ours. It was time, as she was evidently commencing to
leak badly. Some of the crew were ordered to the pumps, and the main
hatch was burst open, and, under threat of instant death, the position
of the treasure was pointed out by the Spanish captain. The amount,
estimated at some seven millions, was passed by sixty hands as fast as
possible to the hold of the "Rover," down the companion way; and, when
all was over, freeing the brig from the galleon, I took position near
to her, crashing into her broadside after broadside, till she, with her
wounded, dying, and living, sank beneath the waves. We had scarcely
finished our awful work when night set down upon us, and, taking the
bearings of the other wreck, we moved slowly forward toward her under
shortened sail, so as not to pass her in the darkness. Upon mustering
the crew it was found that twenty-seven had paid the penalty of death,
whilst seventeen were seriously wounded, and twenty-one slightly.
When morning broke, there lay the other galleon, not one mile distant
broad on our weather bow. We soon came up to her and saw that she
showed no signs of life, and, hauling off, we commenced repairing
injuries that we had suffered in the conflict with her consort, and,
having everything in as good order as possible, ranged up alongside
preparatory to boarding, and in fact made fast with grappling-irons
to the wreck; but not a man opposed us. Pouring in upon her decks,
and questioning the wounded still on board, we ascertained that all
remaining alive--not over twenty in number, it seemed--who were not
wounded so as to be unable to do so, had escaped during the night in
the shallop and made for the coast, trusting to the mercy of the sea
rather than to ours. We soon had the bullion we were after exposed to
view and rapidly transferred to the "Rover," which amounted, by the
reckoning of the wounded Spaniards, to about five millions, so that the
"Rover" had actually under hatches the enormous weight of some eighty
tons in solid silver, and twenty-five tons in gold, all in bars, so as
to overflow the usual stronghold and necessitate stowage in the hold,
as one might stow cargo.
Having helped ourselves to all the casks of wine and brandy on board,
we cut adrift from the wreck, and in spite of the cries of the wounded
upon her decks, by numerous well-directed broadsides sent her to the
bottom of the ocean, where dead men tell no tales. After this horrid
crime was perpetrated, we set sail upon the "Rover" to the southward
to avoid any vessels that might be sent for our capture, as I made
up my mind that we should keep well to sea and out of the way of all
traffic till search for us had been given up. To this end I steered
in a direction out of the track of all known land, till on the 15th
September, in the morning, we discovered this unknown island dead
ahead, and, finding that it showed no signs of being inhabited, I
passed around to the southward and eastward to see if there was a good
bay for anchorage, determined to allow the crew to go on shore and have
their carouse, if such was the case. We soon opened this bay, where
this is written, and, having sent a boat on shore and ascertained that
there was good fresh water and evidently no inhabitants, I brought the
"Rover" well into the bay and anchored her in six fathoms.
This being done, a detail of the crew was made to build this hut for
my accommodation. The weather being cool, and thinking that we had
found a splendid stronghold for the future, I commanded several goats
to be landed, and as my men strolled hither and thither they were
instructed to plant a sweet potato once in a while, of which we had
plenty on board, and some seeds of the tobacco plant were also planted,
I believe, at nearly the other side of the island, near some river. I
made up my mind that this should be our rendezvous in the future, for
I could not find the island put down upon any chart, and I believed
it utterly unknown. I made known my resolves to my subordinates, and
they to the crew, which seemed to please them much; and now, having
gotten everything in readiness and a watch set aboard the vessel, casks
of brandy were hoisted from the hold and landed upon the island. To
these were added a large stock of provisions; and an enormous tent
was erected of spare sails. Details by lot were made of men to cook,
and a watch to keep guard in the vessel, and then for three days all
discipline was relaxed, and drunken orgies too fearful to be related
commenced, at the end of which a new detail of the most sober was made
for the watch on the ship and the cooking, when the same recommenced.
During these six days I withdrew with one servant from all this into
this hut that I had ordered built, and passed the time as pleasantly
as I could, with trips once in a while to the vessel and back. Each day
I received the usual report of so many men killed in drunken brawls or
so many wounded; but I never moved a finger to stop the affray, feeling
that this was the best way to allow them to work off their bad blood
and passions. It was, however, on the seventh day that I saw cause
for alarm, and, alas! too late. I had noticed that there seemed to
be some trouble brewing, and that my second in command, when he came
to make his daily report, had not the air of respect that he used to
have, and that the reports of serious fights were more frequent than
on former carousals of a similar nature. Why, here were some five men
killed and seven wounded since we had been on the island, and upon
inquiry I found that they were all men whom I knew were devoted to
me, if a pirate may use that term. All at once it flashed upon my
brain that my second in command was inciting the crew to my downfall
and his own elevation. In fact, the matter was made too apparent on
that very day; for, after hearing the report, I was sitting at the
door of this hut when an unearthly confusion and din commenced at the
large tent and the air was filled with the report of pistols (all guns
being positively forbidden on shore), and shouts and cries of men in
terrible earnest mixed with the screams of the wounded. I buckled on
my cutlass and picked up my two pistols, and, calling upon my servant
to follow me, made for the tent; but before I arrived there I was met
by a retreating body of my men who were making for my hut, crying out,
"Treason, treason, treason!" followed by another portion of the crew,
at the head of whom was my second in command, all disguise now thrown
off, cheering his part of the crew on to my destruction. I gathered
about me the retreating men loyal to me, and we faced the rest. The
first man who advanced I shot dead, the second also, and the day had
almost turned in my favor when, with a well-directed pistol-shot and
with a curse mingled with the report, my rival brought me to the
ground, the ball having passed through my chest and out at the back. I
fell to the ground, and in one instant my prestige of years was gone.
When I say gone I mean that it was so far gone that it barely saved my
life, for the men still stood quite firm upon my side, when, with the
wit and talent worthier of a better cause, my rival moved between the
conflicting lines and called for a truce, uttering at the same time the
following words: "Now look a-here, shipmates, what is the use of our
cutting each other's throats any more? There lies your late captain,
still alive to be sure, but good for nothing more. I am bound to be
captain of the 'Rover,' and you see I have more men to back me, and a
head to them also, than you have. What's the use of our cutting each
other's throats when we have some ten or fifteen millions to spend?
If you don't like to give in I only admire you the more for it; and
if you will join my side and lay down your arms, I promise before you
all not to injure one hair on the head of our late captain, but to
leave him here on this island without further molestation. Come, that
is a fair offer. You have done enough for honor. Do you accept? Why,
who have you on your side that can navigate a vessel? Who will give
you as much liberty and money as I will? We will live in common, and
have no more of this damned supposed superiority. But as for Captain
Sutland, dead or alive, he and I can't sail in the same vessel again.
I will do all I say, and swear it,"--and amidst the wildest cheers
of excitement and drunken enthusiasm, I found myself lying deserted
and, as I believed, bleeding to death. After some little hand-shaking
and congratulations, however, I was, by order of my rival, carried
carefully to this hut, where my wound was examined by the doctor and
proclaimed not necessarily mortal. Food and water in profusion, fuel
for my fire, and anything that I should naturally require during my
convalescence, should it ever take place, was, with the reckless
generosity of sailors, piled up near me; and with a few farewells
from some who really cared for me, I was left alone, my whole crew,
under the command of their new leader, working like beavers to take
down their tent, get on board and to sea, and thence to some haven of
rest, where they could as quickly as possible squander the wealth so
criminally acquired. They had placed me upon my wooden bed, so that I
could look out of the open window upon the bay and ship, and see their
departure. It was nearly sundown before they had everything ready, and
with a heavy heart I heard them at work weighing the anchor, leaving me
alone to solitude, my outraged God, and probably death.
[Illustration: SHOOTING THE PIRATE CAPTAIN.--PAGE 286.]
Lying on my bed of pain, I saw the topsails mastheaded and everything
made ready for a start, and as the sun sank to rest in the west,
shedding a glow upon the waters, the "Rover" got under way and stood
out to the southward and eastward, leaving me upon this desolate
island to live or die. I knew what would be the eventual end of their
reckless career, for I knew that the pirate who had superseded me,
although of great animal courage, had very little education, and that
he was wanting in the art of practical navigation. The sun had not been
down an hour before the whole heavens changed their appearance, and
dark clouds from the southward commenced to overcast the stars. The
wind began to moan amongst the trees, and the sea to give forth that
solemn sound or breathing that often forbodes a storm. In less than
three hours it was blowing heavily from the southeast, the direction
the vessel had taken to clear the island, and exactly opposite to the
light northwest wind that had in the first part of the evening wafted
her off the island's coast. At midnight it was blowing a hurricane, and
still I gazed from my bed through the open casement towards the sea.
There was not much rain, and what there was did not reach me, my bed
being some distance from the window of the hut. At this time, in spite
of my misery and the fever of my wound, I, after drinking a draught of
water placed beside me, fell asleep, or rather dozed, from which I was
awakened by the sound of guns,--yes, great guns. Wounded, feverish, as
I was, I moved in my bed to glance into the outer darkness. The tempest
was raging with increased fury, and as I looked into the inky blackness
seaward, not more than four miles distant as I should judge flashed the
discharge from a cannon, and in a moment after, the dull but deadened
report met my ear. I kept my eye fixed upon the spot, for I knew that,
if it came from anywhere near the same spot again, the "Rover" was on
a reef, and that there would be little hope for her. In a few minutes
another flash occurred, and I saw that it was in the same situation.
Good God, and had your retribution met them then so suddenly? I saw in
my mind at once the actual state of affairs as readily as if I had been
on board.
The "Rover" had stood to the southeast with a fair wind, and all the
crew under their new master, being without discipline, had allowed
themselves to be caught by the gale from the opposite direction with
all sail set, or too much at least; that she had either been taken
aback and lost her masts at once, weakened in previous conflicts, or
else, before she could be squared away before the blast, been cast
on her beam ends, and for safety had had them cut away. After which,
unmanageable with a drunken crew and an incompetent master, she had
drifted in the trough of the sea, back slowly but gradually towards the
anchorage she had just left, until, brought up upon some sunken ledge
outside the harbor, she was pounding out her life upon the jagged rocks
concealed beneath the water. This was, I felt, the case, and would any
be saved to be my companions on this desolate island? I knew that not a
living soul would be left to tell the tale. The mighty roar of the wind
and the noise of the surf on the beach, with the groaning of the trees,
extinguished all hope.
No more firing was heard, and nothing but the blackness of night
surrounded me, and the cry of the angry blast filled my ears. I became
insensible and fell back in my bed without life or motion. When I again
opened my eyes, the light of a bright spring morning flashed upon them,
and although the wind had gone down, the angry rush of the surf was
still to be heard thundering upon the shore; and there, yes there, not
far at sea, and plainly beneath my sight, and in full view, lay part of
the hull of the once famous "Rover," dismasted, dismantled, and beating
her ribs out upon an outer bar or reef. I saw that she could not last
long, and that no human being could have survived the preceding night.
I should have said that, before the pirates sailed, they had buried the
men who had been killed upon the island; but I saw plainly that many
bodies would now be swept on shore that would never see Christian or
any other burial but that of the white, glistening sands of the beach,
and the maws of insatiable sea monsters; whilst I thought even, the
vessel was fast breaking up under my eye, each mighty wave, hitting her
seaward bulwark, was thrust high into air, passing over and burying
her in an ocean of spray and water such as no handiwork of man could
long resist. At each succeeding appearance, masses of the hull had
disappeared, and it was only a question of time how soon some twelve
million of dollars in gold and silver, guarded by a crew of some eighty
resolute men when in their senses, who had gone before, would be buried
in the ocean forever. I could not take my eyes from the scene, but
mechanically felt for my jar of water with one hand, whilst I kept my
attention fixed upon the wreck.
After looking and dozing for hours, I again fell asleep, and when I
awoke it was nearly sundown, and yet the cruel sea was beating over the
remains of the hull, which were greatly diminished, and I bethought
myself--weak, sick, and feverish as I was--to line the position from
my hut before she had wholly disappeared. This I did by moving my head
and body slightly till I brought the frame of my southerly window on
its southeasterly side to range with a small fir-tree that stood some
thirty feet distant, which was in a line with the wreck. I scratched
with my thumb-nail a mark upon the window-frame where my eye glanced,
and upon the trunk of the tree I picked out a small peculiar branch
which aligned upon the wreck. I then, with my right hand, cast some
wood that was within my reach upon the fire not far distant, and,
over-exerted by all this, fell again into slumber and unconsciousness.
It was well into the next day before I regained my senses, and my first
glance was for the brig, but not a vestige of her was to be seen,
although the ocean was as calm and blue as an inland lake, and nothing
but my bearing told me the place where she had gone to pieces.
My wound was a very peculiar one. It will be remembered that the ball
had passed completely through my body, breaking no bone, and only
injuring my left lung above the heart and just under the shoulder
blade. I had not lost much blood, and the doctor, when he left me,
gave me strong hopes of recovery, if I could lie perfectly still for
at least a week. On this morning I found my fever much better and
my appetite returning, and my wound much less painful, but stiff. I
crawled from my cot with the greatest care, and renewed my fire from
the hidden hot ashes, and soon had a good blaze; for it was chilly
during the nights, although I had ample bed-clothing of all kinds
heaped about me. I remained in bed for three days more, when I mustered
courage to leave my cot and stagger to a chair, where I sat down near
the fire. I remained here during the day, and at night crept back again
to the bed and closed the shutter of my open window (the door and other
window had been closed during all my sickness) and dropped to sleep.
The next day I was able to move about quite well, and the orifice of
my wound in the back had healed, but the front still discharged and
was not closed. I was troubled with a hacking cough, but with the
exception of this, on the tenth day, could waddle around, and even
into the open air, and procure some of the pure spring water near the
hut. Thus I went on till the first of October, getting better and
better each day, and making rapid progress towards health. The first
excursion I made was towards the shores of the bay, but not a sign
of my late comrades in crime could I discover. I also carefully cut
upon the fir-tree, with my knife, a notch deep and enduring in the
trunk, that lined or ranged upon the place where the wreck had last
been seen by my eyes, and at the exact height to have the range pierce
the water at the very spot, not more than four or five miles distant.
After these two first cares, I began to look about me and see what I
had to live upon. My arms were left me, as also was a small bottle of
ink that I had brought on shore to keep the daily account of the crew,
tides, etc., and several sheets of parchment. These, with my pipe, a
little tobacco, quite a quantity of ammunition, my cutlass, a tomahawk,
and knife, formed my little store. To be sure I had my wooden cot-bed
and plenty of bedding, but this was all. I knew that sweet potatoes
had been planted upon the island in several places, and that at least
three female and one male goat had also been landed; and as I was fast
getting tired of my dry bread and salt provisions, I commenced taking
small trips upon the seashore, bringing home eggs, fish, oysters,
mussels, etc., and thought at one time that my troubles were all over,
and that my wound was healed, but as the orifice closed, I commenced
to cough more violently than before, and in the morning my throat was
filled with phlegm. And as the middle of the month advanced, I became
weaker and weaker, and felt that my end was near, or, if not, it was
important that I should guard against all accidents, and for that
reason I have written this short memoir of my life and placed it here,
to stand as a witness for me, in case of accident or death, that my
solitude and wound have brought me to a proper state of mind to view my
life with utter abhorrence, and to pray to God in my poor miserable way
to forgive me, if it be possible to forgive so great a sinner as I. On
this, the 20th of October, 1781, I place this jar in its resting-place,
having had the hole to receive it long excavated. I am too weak to even
get in and out of my bed, and have spread my clothing upon the floor of
my hut, where I can move about easier in the night and get at anything
I may want. I close this history here, and I ask all good Christians
to pray for my soul should God take me away. It will take me days now
in my weak state to cover this up so that the weather and water cannot
reach it. I feel that my days are numbered. May the finder of my riches
make good use of them, and give largely to the poor, and have masses
said for the repose of the blood-stained soul of
THOMAS SUTLAND.