THE PIRATES IN CUBA.—BY A TRAVELLER, ON THE RAILS.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 28, 15 July 1867, Page 4

THE PIRATES IN CUBA.—BY A TRAVELLER, ON THE RAILS.

The individual upon whom thelothad fallen to furnish the last tale of the series was a portly old gentlemen, whose pleasing countenance and brusque, but yet agreeable tone of conversation, might have led very fairly to the conclusion that a considerable portion of his lifetime had been passed amidst the frank and hearty companionship of seamen, and such a conclusion would have been a correct one. He at once accepted the call for his contribution to the general stock of amusement that had been improvised for the occasion, and beean:—

I dare say, gentlemen, that by this time you have formed some notion of the school in which I have been trained, through a long series of years, namely, the sea; and although I have, for some time, retired from actual service on my favourite element, I always revert 'with pleasure to any incident connected with my early career; and I believe, there are many such that, if detailed, would excite a pleasing- interest in the minds of others as well as myself. The tale I shall relate to you is a simple narrative of circumstances that came under my personal notice during a short stay I made, some years ago, at Havana, to which port I had taken a cargo of English manufactures, and where I was unexpectedly detained longer than I should have been, in consequence of a difficulty about freight, and in obtaining a return cargo to suit the home market.

It is now about forty years since the occurences I am about to narrate took place, under the following-circumstances. In consequence of tbe delay I have mentioned, I had more time on my bands than could be pleasantly spent, either on board my own barque, or at tbe port of Havana, and I now and then with a pleasant companion or two, enjoyed a a trip about and across tbe island. Upon •one of these excursions we visited the port of Cisnfuego, and while one morningwe were enjoying tbe beautiful view from tbe harbour our attention was attracted by tbe approach of a rakish schoonerrigged barque, approaching- tbe harbour with .a signal of distress at her masthead. Later in the day, I learned that the stranger bad been reported as a merchantman from Bahia, commanded by Captain Diaz Pinto, which having- encountered a severe gale immediately after leaving- the gulf, had become water-logged, and made the port of Cienfuego for necessary repairs. There was a wild ferocity in the look •of this Captain Pinto that certainly did not prepossess any one in bis favour at first sight; nor was tbe prejudice against the master of tbe barque at all lessened by the appearence of bis crew, who, without an exception, were .a set of ill-favour-ed ruffians as ever floated on salt water.

Two days alter my return to Havana, to my very great surprise, I met this Captain Diaz Pinto in one of the streets ■of the port, and although j Lad no desire to make his acquaintance, he recognized me as having been at Cienfuego when he put in there, and, as I considered, was extraordinarily inquisitive as to the description of the vessel then riding at the port of Havana. I shook the man off as well and as quickly as possible, for I hail a strong suspicion that he wasreallv a pirate, on the look-out for a larger ship, and this idea was afterwards strengthened by the appearance of some of his men prowling about the port, as though in search of something they could cut out and sail away with. However, as my difficulty aboutfreight ■&c., hadby this timebeen surmounted, I took a large cargo on board, and cleared out for Bristol. It was about the latter end of the following year when I again entered the port of Havana, and during my stay learned the following incidents ; After remaining a few days at the port, during which the greater part of his time tv as spent with his men in the dissolute enjoy merits of the Ilewia, lie determined look into some of the manv harbours of the island, and see what prospect there might be of securing a ship adapted for bis purpose. 1 bat no possible suspicion might Be excited, he resolved, in the first instance, tojgo alone, and havingengaged a fishing-boat belonging to an old man named liodez, who with two lads, his sons, formed the crew, he went on board, and directed the boat to be put round a headland which formed one limit to the harbour, and the coast along the shore, under pretence of examiningthe creeks and inlets of the island. It was natural enough that he should ask many questions as to the island and the wealthy Cubans that now and then were visible from the sea.

As the boat approached the mouth of a small creek, the banks of which were covered with luxuriant foliage, the fisherman observed—

That creek runs right up to the estate of the Senora del Orchellana, one of the richest ladies in Cuba, and she is as good .as she is rich.”

“ Any&mily ?” “Two young Senoras, her grand daughters reside with her. and there is a ;grandson at the college in Havana.” “Put the boatnp the creek, I say!” “ Say what you like, senor Stranger, hut old Rode/. won’t put into that creek. Ho, it you don’t like your trip, we’ll put about and get home again.”

“ Port helm, you cub!” roared Diaz Pinto to the youngest boy, who had hold of the tiller. “ Port helm, I say!”

The boy looked at his father but made no reply. With abound, the infuriated ruffian sprang upon the lad, and the next moment the poor little fellow was struggling for life in the water. Shouts of horror and indignation burst from Rodez and his remaining son; but the murderer speedly silenced both. Seizing an axe that lay in the bottom of the boat, he, at one blow, cleft the head of the father, and the next instant cut down the lad, who paralyzed with surprise and horror, was incapable of making the least resistance.

Pinto had placed himself in the power of the fisherman and his eldest son by throwing the youngest overboard, and he knew if they lived to get back to Havana his career would be at an end. Their death, therefore, was a necessity. He gave himself no time for reflection. Pulling the boat past the creek, so as to escape any chance of observation, his next step was to throw the bodies overboard. That of the lad was soon disposed of. The father’s weight occasioned Pinto some dificulty but he got rid of it by resolving to scutle the boat and let the body go down in it. Having secured the coble and oars, he threw in some provisions the fisherman had put on board, and began cutting away at the side of the boat, until he had made a hole large enough for his purpose.

It began to fill. Then, jumping into tbe coble, be pulled along the shore. Tbe man was now alone upon tbe waters be had again and again crimsoned with tbe blood of bis fellow-crea-tures; but be blanched' not at tbe thought of tbe cruel act be bad just perpetrated—on the contrary, the sight of tbe blood seemed to nerve bis arm, and increase bis appetite for more. We pulled along tbe coast for some time, and at length brought bis coble to shore in a little bay, about seven miles from tbe town of Havana, by tbe direct road. There be was enabled to laud without observation and by sending tbe little boat adrift into tbe stream, which ran in a contrary direction to tbe town, all trace of a landing at . that place was destroyed.

Tbe first thought of Pinto was then to partake of some of tbe provisions he bad brought from tbe fishing-boat, and throw tbe remainder into tbe sea. He then tried to remove some stains of blood that appeared on his clothes, and examined his pistols to see that they were fit for use.

Then he rose from the piece of rock on which he had rested, and set out on his walk to the city: but as it was not his desire to enter tho latter before darkness had set in, he resolved, upon some pretense or other, to stay for an hour or two at the first convenient dwelling he might reach.

His solitary journey was an unenviable one. He could not help sometimes regretting that he had been so nasty with the youngest boy; but be consoled himself with the idea that, under all the circumstances, he could not have acted differently.

The excitement of the morning had fevered him. His throat had become parched and his whole frame thrilled with the fire that consumed him. A feeling of exhaustion was coming over him when, on reaching the brow of an eminence, he observed at a short distance a portion of the out-buildings of a large mansion.

The sight gave him courage; he was no longer alone with bis terrible thoughts, and be hastened towards the buildings. Some magnificent dogs belonging to the place had scented the stranger, and came bounding towards him. He instinctively drew bis knife, for he well knew the ferocious nature of the Cuban bloodhound, and expected an attack.

Fortunately one of the servants of the place came in sight before the dogs had reached the stranger, and called them back; but waited until Pinto came up. “ How far am I from town, my friend ? ” asked the latter. “ Four miles, senor.” “ Soli ! I have missed my path somehow, this morning, and tired myself into the bargain. Can I rest here a a while ? ”

“ I will ask, senor, if you please to wait a moment.”

The dogs, finding the stranger friendly with the servant who fed them, now came playfully round Pinto, and one of them licked his hand.

A pat,di of Wood, that had nearlycovered the palm and wrist, disappeared, and the animal eagerly sniffed about Pinto for more.

“This is fortunate,” thought the murderer, “ I had forgotten that stain, and it might have been awkward, if anv one had asked questions about it, Good dog! down, down.” The creature had raised itself on its hind legs, and was sniffing about 1 the clothes and the face of his new friend. “ If the senor will please to enter,” said the servant, bowing, “my lady, the Senora del Orchellana, will be happy to receive him.” “I follow you,” said Pinto. They proceeded towards the mansion,

at the door of which a venerable and dignified-looking lady stood to receive the stranger, whom the servant had described as a Senor Ingalese, and, of course a great man.

The senor was accompanied by her two grand-daughters. The eldest, a beautiful girl of seven teen 3 the youngest a year or two younger.

“ Senor your servant,” said Pinto, bowing respectfully. “ May I crave permission to rest beneath the shade of your verandah for a short time ? I have wandered so far this morning, and the sun is so oppressively warm, that I feel I cannot reach the town at present.” “ The senor is welcome. Enter, sir, and repose, but first take of some refreshment.”

Pinto, with thanks, declined food. He felt choking, as if his mouth was full of blood.

?? “If die senora would condescend to allow her servant to conduct me ■where there is water, I would refresh myself, and soon he able to proceed,” said Pinto. “Certainly, sir, Jacopo, conduct the senor to a chamber, and attend to his wishes. Afterwards, sir, I beg you will remain here until the heat has subsided. It is not safe to walk under our Cuban sun in the midday.”

Diaz Pinto bowed his thanks, and followed the servant closely attended by the dog that had licked his bloody hand

“ What a strange-looking person that senor is! ” said the youngest girl, shortly after Pinto had left the apartment. “ There is certainly a very stern expression in his countenance, my dear,” observed the senora; but the senor is a foreigner.”

“ I don’t admire his looks at all, grandmamma. He had just such a face as I imagine a captain oi' banditti, or of a pirate ship should have. I hope he will not stay here.” TO BE CONTINUED.