One of the most atrocious cases of piracy and murder on record occurred
this autumn on the coast to the eastward of Halifax. The vessel was the
Three Sisters, of Halifax, owned by Jonathan and John Tremain, merchants
of the town, commanded by Captain John Stairs, brother of the late
Honorable William Stairs, formerly president of the Union Bank. She was
on her way from Gaspé Bay to Halifax with a cargo of fish. Edward
Jordan, who had been formerly owner of this vessel or in some way
concerned with her, took passage for himself and wife and four children
with Capt. Stairs for Halifax. The following account is taken from a
Halifax newspaper of 16th October, 1809:
"MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1809.--The following are the particulars
received from Capt. Stairs, of the piracy and murder that took
place on board the schooner Three Sisters, belonging to this
place, some account of which we gave in our last.
"This most atrocious act of piracy and murder, of which none
could be guilty but the most diabolical incendiaries in human
shape, took place, as has been stated, on the 13th ult. off
Cape Canso, on the coast of this province, on board the
schooner Three Sisters, bound and belonging to this place from
the Bay Cheleaur. Edward Jordan, who has been represented as a
passenger, and who had some interest in the vessel, appears to
have been the exciter of this act of barbarity. Jordan having
corrupted the mate, Kelly, who joined him in effecting his
wicked intention, they secured the arms, and availing
themselves of that moment most likely to assist their horrid
design, which was when Capt. Stairs was below with one of his
men,[65] shot the other man who was on deck, and taking aim at
Capt. Stairs through the sky-light with a pistol, wounded him
in the face and shot the man who was near him in the breast.
Capt. Stairs immediately ran on deck, where he met Jordan with
a pistol in one hand and an ax in the other. Capt. Stairs then
retreated into cabin and searched for his pistols but found
them taken from his chest with a sword; finding himself
destitute of arms he again ascended the deck and saw Jordan
giving the fatal blow to the man who was on the deck, when he
turned from him and presented another pistol at Capt. Stairs,
which flashed when they closed and the pistol in the struggle
was thrown overboard. The man who had received the wound below
having reached the deck, made an effort to assist his captain,
but in his attempt, from weakness, fell on his face, where he
was shortly after dispatched with an ax by Jordan. In the
scuffle Capt. Stairs called upon his mate (Kelly) for
assistance, whom he perceived was in the act of loading
another pistol, but who made him no answer. At which time
Jordan's wife, a fit companion for so base a monster, attacked
him with a boat hook which he parried with his arm, and after
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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