other carried two gold watches set with diamonds, besides other trinkets
of great value. These I made them take off, and give to me; after which,
I intended to have ravished and then killed them; I hallooed to Tom to
get rid of the man, and come and toss for the choice of the women—but
the younger one of the two, though I spoke in English, seemed to be
aware, as if by instinct, of our designs; she started suddenly up, and
with a bound sprang to the side of her husband, and clung to him in such
a way that Tom could not kill him without killing her also. I seized the
other woman, and was about to execute my hellish purpose upon her, when,
with tears and prayers she besought my pity, and begged for mercy, but I
was deaf to all her prayers, and was again about to seize her, when she
sprang from me, and like her companion, clung to the man. I followed
her, and both the women, as if by one impulse, again fell on their
knees, and besought us to spare them.
I do not know how it was, but my heart softened for once, and I stopped
Tom’s hand just as he was going to pull the trigger on the man, who now
stood alone, with his arms folded, awaiting his fate. Tom looked
astonished, but put up his pistol with an oath, and after some demurrer,
agreed with me to let them all depart without further harm. I even
assisted them to catch their horses, which they mounted, and rode back
with all the speed they could toward Montevideo. Ten minutes after they
had gone I felt sorry, and thought I had acted like a fool.
After this adventure, I felt in continual fear of detection, and as we
had accumulated by our robberies a sum not less than a hundred and fifty
thousand dollars in money, jewels and trinkets, we transported our
plunder by degrees to Rio, where we remained a few weeks enjoying
ourselves, and then took passage for Buenos Ayres, where we remained a
year, gambling and robbing as usual.
We had not spent all our money, but still had a large sum left, which we
concealed in our trunks and canvas bags, and shipped on board the bark
Anada, of Boston, bound for New Orleans. We did not go as passengers, as
we wished to conceal the fact of having so much money in our possession.
During the passage, and in sight of the West India Islands, a mutiny
occurred.
One of the ship’s boys having committed some offence, the captain
ordered him to be whipped, and he was tied up aft. His yells and
screams, as the cat descended on his back, made me mad, and going aft, I
cut him down.
The captain interfered, when I knocked him down with a handspike, and my
partner Tom backing me, we went into a general fight, which resulted in
leaving Tom and I in possession of the ship. We tied all hand and foot,
except the boy I had protected and one man, and then taking the boat, we
lowered our chests into it, following them ourselves, and made for the
shore.
We landed upon the Island of Barbadoes, and in the course of a few days
went on board of an English brig, the Conova, bound for New Orleans.
Everything went on well until we arrived within fifteen miles of the
bar, when the officers, discovering that Tom Stone and I were armed,
found fault with us, which led to a disturbance, whereupon we left the
ship in a boat, fearing that we should be arrested on our arrival if we
remained on the ship. We landed at the Belize, and in a few days arrived
at New Orleans, where we remained for a few months, gambling and
carousing.
From here we shipped for Liverpool on the ship Columbus, Capt. McSerin.
We lost a man overboard during the passage, and the ship went ashore off
Waterford in a gale of wind.
The Columbus went to pieces shortly after she struck, and I believe that
nearly all hands were lost; but I made my way to shore on a fragment of
the wreck, and was delighted to find, on reaching a place of safety,
that my partner, who had braved so many dangers, and escaped so many
other perils with me, had also escaped a watery grave.
We went into Waterford penniless, but we committed a robbery, the
proceeds of which enabled us to reach Liverpool, from whence we shipped
in the ship Charles Mallary, of Mystick, for Rio Janeiro.
On the passage, believing that there was a considerable amount of money
on board, I used all my endeavors to stir the crew up to mutiny,
intending, if possible, to kill the officers and make myself master of
the lion’s share of the plunder, but I could not succeed in bringing
matters to a crisis, although the whole voyage was a series of rows and
fights, in which I was generally the principal.
When we arrived at Rio all hands left the ship but myself and Tom Stone,
who were forced to remain, as we were both sick, and as soon as we began
to recover they put us both in irons.
But one day, the mate going on shore, we broke our irons and left.
Reaching the city, we remained quiet until the vessel sailed, and then
shipped on board of the ship Admiral Granford, of Liverpool, for New
Orleans.
All went on smoothly enough to all appearances, but during the whole
voyage I was working quietly among the men, sowing the seeds of
discontent and mutiny, which came to a head when we were within about
twenty-five miles of the Belize.
Here a regularly organized revolt took place, headed by me and Stone, in
which about one half of the crew were actually engaged. We succeeded in
overpowering the officers and such of the crew as sided with them, and
after binding them we robbed the ship of all the money and portable
valuables we could lay our hands on, and after scuttling the ship and
setting fire to her we took to the boats and made for land.
On reaching the shore we divided the spoils of the robbery, and
separated, myself and partner going to New Orleans together, where at
the end of a few weeks we again shipped on board of the ship Mobile, of
Bath, for Liverpool.
While we were taking in cargo at New Orleans, we robbed the ship of a
quantity of Irish linen; but on trying to smuggle it ashore we were
arrested, but escaped punishment by means of perjured witnesses. After
our discharge we rejoined the ship and went to sea.
But off Blackwater Banks a terrible storm struck us. We had over eight
hundred souls on board, and the scene was enough to appall the stoutest
heart and make the bravest man shudder. The waves ran mountains high,
and the wind blew great guns; sail after sail was carried away, and as
we were fast driving in to the Banks, all hope of saving the ship was
given up. The poor wretches gave themselves up for lost; some
prayed—some cursed—some shrieked in an agony of fear, and some madly
cast themselves into the water and died before their time.
But during this dreadful panic I felt no fear, for on this occasion, as
all through my life, I felt as if I was protected by a superior power,
and only thought how I could turn the loss of the ship to account.
When the ship struck, I watched my opportunity and lashed myself to a
large spar, on which I floated for two days, when I was picked up by a
pilot boat and taken into port, as the American Consul at that time will
certify. Of the eight hundred passengers on board of that ship not one
save me escaped that I ever heard of. The only one whose loss I
regretted was my partner, Tom Stone, with whom I had been associated for
so many years. He was a brave fellow, with a ready wit and strong arm,
ever on hand for any enterprise, no matter how desperate; and wicked as
he was, I believe he loved and would have died for me.
Well, he has gone to his account, whither I must shortly follow him, and
tread the same dark path he trod before me.
On finding myself safe on shore once more, I shipped on the bark
Jeanette, of London, for New York, from whence I went in the schooner
Eliza, for Boston.
On board of this schooner I met a man by the name of Lockwood, whom I
found to be in every respect worthy of filling the place made vacant by
the death of Tom Stone. He was a strong, wiry man, full of
determination, cruel and desperate in his disposition, and totally
without fear. I found he had led a life nearly similar to mine, and he
thought no more of stealing a purse, or cutting a throat, than I; and,
in addition to his other qualifications, was an expert navigator. So the
second day out, we laid our plans to rob the schooner and scuttle her,
which we did that night when off Block Island, making our escape in a
boat, and leaving all hands to perish.
We landed on Block Island, and went on board of a sloop bound to
Newport, where we shipped on board a schooner, Mescedions,[1] of
Providence, for the West Indies. Nothing particular occurred on the
passage, and when we arrived at St. Domingo, we left the schooner and
went in a brig to New Orleans, whence we shipped on the schooner
Camphene, for the Straits of Magellan.
Footnote 1:
The name is spelled as Hicks pronounced it, but it is evidently not
the correct name.
When we were at anchor in the Straits one night, Lockwood and myself
having previously arranged all our plans, robbed the schooner of all the
money and valuables on board, and after scuttling her by boring holes in
her bottom, we set fire to her, while all hands were asleep aft, and got
away in a boat, leaving all on board to perish. We landed safely, and
travelled across the coast to the nearest town, living on four days’
provisions, which we took with us from the schooner. We reached the
place in about ten days, very much exhausted by lack of food and water.
As we had plenty of money, we made up for our late deprivations by
plunging into all sorts of dissipation and pleasures; never, however,
losing a chance to rob anybody whose appearance promised to pay us for
the trouble. In this way we spent some months, and then went to Joaquin
on horseback, armed for the road, where we stopped for a few weeks,
leading our old life, and then went to Santiago, robbing and murdering
as before. We did not confine our operations to highway robberies alone,
but committed every variety of depredations, breaking into houses, and
murdering and robbing the inmates while they slept.
We remained in the neighborhood of Santiago about one year, and, should
I undertake to relate circumstantially all the murders we committed
during this time on the road between there and Valparaiso, it would
occupy nearly all the time I have to live. It would take some time to
give even a list of those I can remember, and they were of so frequent
occurrence, I have no doubt many of them have escaped my memory
altogether. I do not think I could name them all in one day.[2]
Footnote 2:
This was in answer to a direct question.—ED.
After this, our longer stay in this neighborhood would be running too
great a risk, as our numerous outrages had attracted the attention of
the government, and the whole country was aroused against us; so we
shipped on board the brig Anne Mills, bound to the coast of Africa.
This brig was lying at Valparaiso, and was chartered by a man under the
pretence of making a trading voyage, but his real object was piracy, and
we shipped with a crew of men desperate as ourselves, who, if they did
not know the object of the voyage, the captain rightly thought, would
have no scrupulous objections to it.
As soon as we were upon blue water, the captain opened our plan of
operations to the crew, and although one or two murmured at first, all
at length came into our scheme. In fact, they were obliged to do so, for
had any of them held out, we should have disposed of them in a very
summary way.
I was now in my proper element, where I could gratify the highest object
of my wicked ambition. I was a free rover, with no one to fear, and no
one to obey, with the whole world for my prey.
During the year that I sailed in this vessel, we overhauled, plundered,
and burned several Portuguese and Spanish ships, in most cases murdering
their crews. After cruising about the West India Islands, we made our
course for the Gulf of Gibraltar, went to Marseilles, boarded a Greek
vessel, and obtained provisions and stores. Finding that she had no
money on board, we let her go, and the next morning sailed for the
Dardanelles, where we cast anchor and went ashore at a small town, and
although none of us could speak the language, we remained there about
six weeks, and then went to Constantinople, and on the voyage lay one
night alongside of an English brig.
We boarded her about 12 o’clock, and after searching her and finding
nothing, we went on our voyage.
After remaining a short time at Constantinople, we headed for the Gut of
Gibraltar, and one night were hailed by a British man-of-war, whose name
we did not learn. We answered in Portuguese, when she ordered us to lay
to.
Instead of doing this we crowded all sail, and during the conversation
we had got our guns ready; we gave her a raking fire from our stern,
which carried away the foremast. As we saw it falling over the side, we
bade them “good bye” in English, and gave them three cheers, for which
they returned a broadside, and we received two shots in our stern.
I dare say the British Admiralty never knew to this day to what vessel
their man-of-war was indebted for the loss of her foremast, but if they
ever read this the mystery will be cleared up. It is more than likely
they have suspected their old enemy, the French, of playing this trick,
but they have been wrong; the shot came from the brig Anne Mills.
We never shortened sail until we reached a Spanish port, about 150 miles
from the Gut, where we laid for a short time to repair damages, and made
sail for the coast of Mexico, and stopped at a port near Vera Cruz,
where we laid in wood and water, and sailed for Vera Cruz. From here we
went to the coast of Florida, and anchored in the mouth of the river
opposite Jacksonville. Here we lay two or three weeks recruiting; at the
end of this time, having completed the necessary preparations, we sailed
direct for the coast of Africa, where we took on board a load of negroes
and steered our course for Rio.
A few miles to windward of Cape Frio an English cruiser hove in sight.
We made off for the land at once, but finding the cruiser was gaining
upon us, the captain made the negroes fast to the chain cable and let
the anchor go, with the cable over the rail, dragging the negroes
overboard.
We were pursued to the shore, and most of those on board were captured.
Lockwood and myself, with our usual good luck, managing to escape.
We walked to Rio destitute of everything but arms, rifles and pistols,
and on reaching that place shipped on board the bark Josephine of
Boston, bound to Liverpool. We had a quick passage, not marked by
anything of peculiar interest, and on our arrival there we shipped on
the bark Alga for New Orleans.
During the voyage a disturbance broke out, and some one, who I do not
know, set fire to the vessel. We took to the boats, and in the course of
a few days we were picked up by the brig Exact, of Liverpool, and taken
to St. Domingo, where we shipped on board brig Fanny Fosdick, for St.
Mark’s, Florida.
We ran on the Florida reefs in a fog, and all hands were lost, except
myself, Lockwood, the captain and mate. We were taken off by a small
schooner and carried into St. Marks, where Lockwood and myself remained
for four months, committing all sorts of depredations, among which
robberies and murders were of frequent occurrence.
Wishing for a new field of action, however, we engaged as hands on board
the pilot boat Lucina, not with a view of working long, but for the
purpose of getting possession of her the first opportunity which should
occur.
She was a beautiful little craft, sat on the water like a sea bird, and,
for speed, was unsurpassed. In fact, she was just the thing we wanted.
We had fixed our eyes on her long before, but had to wait for
circumstances favorable to our plan to turn up before we dared to apply
for situations on board of her.
We had not sailed in her long, however, before the long-wished-for
opportunity arrived; and one day, when the pilots were all ashore, we
got her under weigh for the Double H. Shot Keys, where we boarded a
brig, and procured some provisions and stores. We were not heavily
enough armed, nor in the proper shape to rob her, or we would have done
so.
After this, we started on a cruise, seeking victims in all the small
craft which came in our way, but not meeting with any great success, we
made our course for New Orleans, for the purpose of procuring arms and
provisions, and if we could meet any men of the right stamp for an
enterprise like ours, to press them into our service.
Arriving at the Balize, we lay to till midnight, and then taking the
yawl went on board a bark and robbed her of a considerable sum of money,
two chronometers, and other valuables.
After this, we put back to sea again, and committed many depredations
upon fishing smacks and other small craft. We continued this life for
some time, but beginning to long for the pleasures of shore, we ran our
little craft into Matagorda Bay, where we placed all our money and
valuables in a yawl and went on shore below Matagorda. We burned the
yawl upon the beach, and secreting a portion of our effects in the sand,
went inland, where we lived on in our usual abandoned and reckless life.
After some time we again made our way to the coast, and digging up and
carrying away our treasure, we went to Matagorda, where we stayed a few
weeks, committing several robberies; and then, after purchasing an
outfit, shipped on board of a schooner, whose name I cannot call to
mind, bound for Boston. On our arrival we left her, and going ashore we
remained there a short time, watching an opportunity of shipping on
board of some small craft not heavily manned, which we could rob and
take possession of when out at sea.
Nothing presented itself, however, which we considered worth our while,
but we were not by any means idle, for we committed several robberies on
shore, one of which, a burglary in Washington street, we came very near
being detected in, and the circumstances connected with which caused
considerable stir. In fact, we found it necessary to leave, which we
did.
The Boston officers started in pursuit of us, but we managed to throw
them off the scent, and as soon as we were convinced that they were on
the wrong track, we made for New York, which we reached in safety. Those
circumstances took place about four years ago.
I remained in New York a short time, enjoying myself, and then shipped
on board of a schooner, whose name I have forgotten. She was bound to
the West Indies for fruit, and I supposed that she had considerable
money on board. My only object in going on her was to rob her if I
could. My old partner was with me, and we tried by every means to find
out how much money was on board, where it was kept, etc., but did not
succeed, and no opportunity occurred for us to carry out our plans
during the voyage. So we came back on her to New York, and both shipped
on board the schooner Sea Witch, a Norfolk oyster boat. As before, our
object was murder and robbery. I suspected that she carried out a large
sum of money each trip, but did not know how much, until I kept count of
the number of oysters bought, and the price paid for them, which made me
determine to kill all hands on the next trip, and secure the money as
soon as we got out to sea.
But from some cause or other we were mistrusted, and we were discharged
on our arrival at Nova Scotia.
I waited some time for a similar chance, but failing in getting shipped
on board of anything which promised to pay me, I joined the bark Sea
Horse, bound for the coast of Africa, for a cargo of slaves.
During the passage I succeeded in stirring the crew up to mutiny, and
after a severe fight we succeeded in overcoming and killing the
officers, and took possession of the ship.
We ran the vessel ashore at Congo River, took the money, and joined an
English vessel, after dividing our spoils to suit myself and partner, we
keeping, of course, the largest share of it.
I almost forget the name of the English ship in which we sailed for
London, but think it was the Zacharias. However, we played the same game
on board her, that is, we excited a mutiny. The captain, mate, and
steward being in the cabin asleep, we entered quietly, and took
everything valuable we could lay our hands on, and then, going on deck,
fastened down the hatches in such a way that the officers could not make
their escape, after which we tied the other two of the crew, and landed
in the boat at Havre during the night, from where we took the packet to
London.
Here my partner and I separated, and I have not heard what became of
him. I hope, if he sees this confession and learns my fate, it will
serve as a warning to him, and that he will give up shedding blood and
robbery, and lead an honest life.
About this time—that is, some three years ago—I married, and shortly
after, came with my wife to New York, on board the ship Isaac Wright,
Captain Marshall, who knows me well. On reaching New York, I took some
rooms, and lived with my wife in Batavia street. I do not remember the
number, but it was a corner house, and stood opposite to No. 17.
During this time I worked along shore, all the while looking out for
chances, and trying to get a berth on some vessel which I might rob with
profit; but not meeting with the opportunity I wanted, I left the city
with my wife, and going into the country, in the neighborhood of
Norwich, Conn., went to work for a Doctor Baldwin. I remained with him
some time, and then went to Norwich, where I worked for a Daniel Mapler,
till a longing for my old life of excitement and adventure came over me,
and I returned to New York and took lodgings at 129 Cedar street.
In a short time I shipped on board of the steamer Alabama, for Savannah,
returned and shipped on board schooner Kate Field, for Indianola and
Galveston. I committed a robbery on board of this vessel, and though I
was detected by the captain, nothing was said about it.
The goods I appropriated were part of the cargo, but they were not
missed by the owners, and so I escaped. From Galveston we sailed to
Matagorda Bay, took in a cargo of sugar, and returned to New York, and
for some time after this I remained on shore, working occasionally, and
all the while watching my opportunity to get a berth on board of a
vessel for the old purpose.
With the object of committing a robbery if a favorable opportunity
presented itself, I went a voyage in a schooner to Georgetown, S. C.,
but returned without finding it worth while to carry out my intentions.
For a time I worked along shore again, and then went to Boston on a
coaster, intending to rob her if I found she had money on board, but as
she had not, I came back in her to New York, and shipped on schooner
John, for Wilmington, N. C.
As we came out of Wilmington harbor, on our return, we found the yacht
Kate, which had been run into.
I saw the wreck first, and as soon as we got alongside, I jumped into
her, in water up to my armpits, and making her fast to the schooner,
commenced bailing her out.
We finally got her afloat, and took her into Wilmington, from whence she
was returned to her owners. We claimed salvage on her, which was
allowed, but there is something due me now on my share, which I hope
will be paid to my wife after I am gone.
Returning to New York, I lived by working along shore, but never missed
a chance of robbery when it promised to pay me for my trouble, and the
risk was not too great; but I was careful of doing much in New York
city, and was all the while on the lookout for some enterprise in my
favorite field of action—the sea.
I kept a sharp lookout for all small craft outward bound for cargoes of
fruit, oysters, etc., and in a quiet way gathered all the information I
could in regard to the number of hands they shipped, and the amount of
money they generally carried.
During my searches I came across the sloop E. A. Johnson, Captain Burr,
and in making application was engaged on board of her.
I come now to the closing acts of my life, to the last scenes in my
wicked and bloody career.