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THE PIRATES OWN BOOK
THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN LEWIS
Captain Lewis was at an early age associated with pirates. We first find him a boy in company with the pirate Banister, who was hanged at the yard arm of a man-of-war, in sight of Port Royal, Jamaica. This Lewis and another boy were taken with him, and brought into the island hanging by the middle at the mizen peak. He had a great aptitude for languages, and spoke perfectly well that of the Mosquil Indians, French, Spanish, and English. I mention our own, because it is doubted whether he was French or English, for we cannot trace him back to his origin. He sailed out of Jamaica till he was a lusty lad, and was then taken by the Spaniards at the Havana, where he tarried some time; but at length he and six more ran away with a small canoe, and surprised a Spanish periagua, out of which two men joined them, so that they were now nine in company. With this periagua they surprised a turtling sloop, and forced some of the hands to take on with them; the others they sent away in the periagua. He played at this small game, surprising and taking coasters and
turtlers, till with forced men and volunteers he made up a company
of 40 men. With these he took a large pink built ship, bound from
Jamaica to the bay of Campeachy, and after her, several others
bound to the same place; and having intelligence that there lay in
the bay a fine Bermuda built brigantine of 10 guns, commanded by
Captain Tucker, he sent the captain of the pink to him with a
letter, the purport of which was, that he wanted such a brigantine,
and if he would part with her, he would pay him 10,000 pieces of
eight; if he refused this, he would take care to lie in his way,
for he was resolved, either by fair or foul means to have the
vessel. Captain Tucker, having read the letter, sent for the
masters of vessels then lying in the bay, and told them, after he
had shown the letter, that if they would make him up 54 men, (for
there were about ten Bermuda sloops,) he would go out and fight the
pirates. They said no, they would not hazard their men, they
depended on their sailing, and every one must take care of himself
as well as he could.  Alas you scurvy dogs. Click here if ye wish to continue. South Padre Island Pirates Pirate Days on South Padre Island South Padre Island's 35th birthdays celebration kicks into full swing at Louie's Backyard. Activities included a pirate skit, costume contest, fireworks display and live music performed by the BongoDogs. See the Pictures at spiPictures.com. Padre John Bonney Every pirate lives for something different. For some, it's the open sea. For others it's the taking of plunder. For me, it's definitely South Padre Island. It can be a little bit unpredictable, but a pirate's life is full of uncertainties. Arr |
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