The brig Cobbessecontee, Capt. Jackson, arrived yesterday from the
Havana, sailed thence on the morning of the 8th ult. and on the evening
of the same day, about four miles from the Moro, was brought to by a
piratical sloop, containing about 30 men. A boat from her, with ten men,
came along side, and soon after they got on board commenced plundering.
They took nearly all the clothing from the Captain and mate—all the
cooking utensils and spare rigging—unrove part of the running
rigging—cut the small cable—broke the compasses—cut the mast’s coats to
pieces—took from the Captain his watch and four boxes cigars—and from
the cargo three bales cochineal and six boxes cigars. They beat the mate
unmercifully, and hung him up by the neck under the main-top. They also
beat the Captain severely—broke a large broad sword across his back, and
ran a long knife through his thigh, so that he almost bled to death.
Capt. Jackson saw the sloop at Regla the day before.
Capt. Jackson informs us, and we have also been informed by other
persons from the Havana, that this system of Piracy is openly
countenanced by some of the inhabitants of that place—who say that it is
a retaliation on the Americans for interfering against the Slave Trade,
and for allowing Patriot privateers to refit in their ports. The
pirates, therefore, receiving such countenance, grow more daring—and
increase in number from the success which has attended this new mode of
filling their pockets.
Capt. Bugnon, who arrived yesterday from Charleston, spoke on the 2d
inst. off the S. Shoal of Nantucket, the brig Three Partners, from
Jamaica for St. John—had been robbed, off Cape Antonio, by a piratical
vessel, of about 35 tons, and 17 men, of clothing, watches, &c. and the
captain was hung up by the neck to the fore-yard arm, till he was almost
dead.
Capt. Bourn, who arrived yesterday, from Cape Haytien, spoke on the 26th
ult. lat. 33, lon. 78, brig Sea Lion, 36 days from Cape Haytien for
Belfast, Ireland, which had been plundered by a pirate in the Gulf.
The brig Harriet, Capt. Dimond, from St. Jago de Cuba for Baltimore,
arrived at Havana on the 16th ult. having been robbed of all her cargo
of sugar, and $4000 in specie, off Cape Antonio, by a boat with 15 men,
having two schooners in co. Capt. D. was hung up by the neck, and
remained senseless for some time after he was taken down.
The Dutch brig Mercury, 77 days from Marseilles, arrived at Havana on
the 16th ult. after having been robbed of $10,000 worth of her cargo, by
a piratical schooner and boat, off Cape Antonio.
Fortunately a U. S. vessel has arrived at the scene of these daring
robberies, and has already protected two fleets. It is to be hoped some
of the villains who have so long preyed with impunity on mercantile
property, and been guilty of the most savage acts, will speedily be
caught and brought to justice.