The pirates own book : $b authentic narratives of the most celebrated sea robbersEllms, Charles
History
The pirates own book : $b authentic narratives of the most celebrated sea robbers
Ellms, Charles
Pirates
Dawes does not know; the mate when cast overboard was not dead, but
called after them twice while in the water! Dawes says he was so
frightened that he hardly knew what to do. They then requested him to
call Talbot, who was in the forecastle, saying his prayers; he came up
and said it would be his turn next! but they gave him some grog, and
told him not to be afraid, as they would not hurt him; if he was true to
them, he should fare as well as they did. One of those who had been
engaged in the bloody deed got drunk, and another became crazy!
[Illustration: _Gibbs shooting a comrade._]
After killing the captain and mate, they set about overhauling the
vessel, and got up one keg of Mexican dollars. They then divided the
captain's clothes, and money--about 40 dollars, and a gold watch. Dawes,
Talbot and Brownrigg, (who were all innocent of the murder,) were
obliged to do as they were commanded--the former, who was placed at the
helm, was ordered to steer for Long Island. On the day following, they
divided several kegs of the specie, amounting to five thousand dollars
each--they made bags and sewed the money up. After this division, they
divided the remainder of the money without counting it. On Sunday, when
about 15 miles S.S.E. of Southampton Light, they got the boats out and
put half the money in each--they then scuttled the vessel and set fire
to it in the cabin, and took to the boats. Gibbs, after the murder, took
charge of the vessel as captain. From the papers they learnt that the
money belonged to Stephen Girard. With the boats they made the land
about daylight. Dawes and his three companions were in the long boat;
the others, with Atwell, were in the jolly boat--on coming to the bar
the boats struck--in the long boat, they threw overboard a trunk of
clothes and a great deal of money, in all about 5000 dollars--the jolly
boat foundered; they saw the boat fill, and heard them cry out, and saw
them clinging to the masts--they went ashore on Barron Island, and
buried the money in the sand, but very lightly. Soon after they met with
a gunner, whom they requested to conduct them where they could get some
refreshments. They were by him conducted to Johnson's (the only man
living on the island,) where they staid all night--Dawes went to bed at
about 10 o'clock--Jack Brownrigg set up with Johnson, and in the morning
told Dawes that he had told Johnson all about the murder. Johnson went
in the morning with the steward for the clothes, which were left on the
top of the place where they buried the money, but does not believe they
took away the money.
[Illustration: _Captain Thornby murdered and thrown overboard by Gibbs
and the steward._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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