The History of the Lives and Bloody Exploits of the Most Noted Pirates; Their Trials and Executions: Including a Correct Account of the Late Piracies Committed in the West-Indies, and the Expedition of Commodore Porter; also, Those Committed on the Brig Mexican, Who Were Tried and Executed at Boston, in 1835Strong, Ezra Baldwin
History
The History of the Lives and Bloody Exploits of the Most Noted Pirates; Their Trials and Executions: Including a Correct Account of the Late Piracies Committed in the West-Indies, and the Expedition of Commodore Porter; also, Those Committed on the Brig Mexican, Who Were Tried and Executed at Boston, in 1835
bravery with their cutlasses: but Misson striking him on the neck, he
fell down the main hatch, which put an end to the fight, for the
Portuguese seeing their captain fall, threw down their arms, and called
for quarters, which was granted; and all the prisoners without
distinction being ordered between decks, and the powder rooms secured,
he put 35 men on board the prize, and made the best of his way to
Libertatia. This was the dearest prize he ever made, for he lost 56 men.
She was vastly rich in gold, having near £200,000 sterling on board,
being her own and the cargo of her companion, which was lost upon the
coast, of whose crew she had saved one hundred men out of 120, the rest
being lost by endeavouring to swim ashore. This was the reason that the
prize was so well manned, and proved so considerable.
Being within sight of Madagascar, they spied a sloop which stood for
them, and when in gun shot, threw out black colours, and fired a gun to
windward. Misson brought too, fired another to leeward, and hoisted out
his boat, which the sloop perceiving, lay by for. Misson’s lieutenant
went on board, and was received very civilly by Capt. Tew, who was the
commander, to whom the lieutenant gave a short account of their
adventures and new settlement, inviting him very kindly on board Capt.
Misson. Tew told him, he could not consent to go with him till he had
the opinion of his men. In the mean while, Misson coming along side,
hailed the sloop, and invited the captain on board, desiring his
lieutenant would stay as a hostage, if they were in the least jealous of
him, which they had no reason to be, since he was of force so much
superior, that he need not employ stratagem. This determined the company
on board the sloop, who advised their captain to go with the lieutenant,
whom they would not suffer to stay behind, to show the greater
confidence in their new friends.
My reader may be surprised that a single sloop should venture to give
chase to two ships of such countenance as were the Victoire and her
prize; but this wonder will cease, when he is acquainted with the
sequel.
Capt. Tew, after being handsomely regaled on board the Victoire, and
thoroughly satisfied, returned on board his sloop, gave an account of
what he had learned, and his men consenting, he gave orders to steer the
same course with Misson, whose settlement it was agreed to visit. I
shall here leave them to give an account of Capt. Tew.
Mr. Richier, governor of Bermuda, fitted out two sloops on the privateer
account, commanded by Capt. George Drew, and Capt. Thomas Tew, with
instructions to make the best of their way to the river Gambia, in
Africa, and there, with the advice and assistance of the agent for the
royal African company, to attempt the taking the French factory of Goree
on that coast.
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