Buccaneers and Pirates of Our Coasts | Page 3

trading vessels frequently anchored in some quiet
cove, and the crews went on shore and devoted themselves to securing
a cargo of beef,--not only enough for their own use, but for trading

purposes; thus they became known as "beef-driers," or buccaneers.
When the Spaniards heard of this new industry which had arisen within
the limits of their possessions, they pursued the vessels of the
buccaneers wherever they were seen, and relentlessly destroyed them
and their crews. But there were not enough Spanish vessels to put down
the trade in dried beef; more European vessels--generally English and
French--stopped at San Domingo; more bands of hunting sailors made
their way into the interior. When these daring fellows knew that the
Spaniards were determined to break up their trade, they became more
determined that it should not be broken up, and they armed themselves
and their vessels so that they might be able to make a defence against
the Spanish men-of-war.
Thus gradually and almost imperceptibly a state of maritime warfare
grew up in the waters of the West Indies between Spain and the
beef-traders of other nations; and from being obliged to fight, the
buccaneers became glad to fight, provided that it was Spain they fought.
True to her policy of despotism and cruelty when dealing with her
American possessions, Spain waged a bitter and bloody war against the
buccaneers who dared to interfere with the commercial relations
between herself and her West India colonies, and in return, the
buccaneers were just as bitter and savage in their warfare against Spain.
From defending themselves against Spanish attacks, they began to
attack Spaniards whenever there was any chance of success, at first
only upon the sea, but afterwards on land. The cruelty and ferocity of
Spanish rule had brought them into existence, and it was against Spain
and her possessions that the cruelty and ferocity which she had taught
them were now directed.
When the buccaneers had begun to understand each other and to effect
organizations among themselves, they adopted a general name,--"The
Brethren of the Coast." The outside world, especially the Spanish world,
called them pirates, sea-robbers, buccaneers,--any title which would
express their lawless character, but in their own denomination of
themselves they expressed only their fraternal relations; and for the
greater part of their career, they truly stood by each other like brothers.

Chapter II
Some Masters in Piracy
From the very earliest days of history there have been pirates, and it is,
therefore, not at all remarkable that, in the early days of the history of
this continent, sea-robbers should have made themselves prominent;
but the buccaneers of America differed in many ways from those
pirates with whom the history of the old world has made us acquainted.
It was very seldom that an armed vessel set out from an European port
for the express purpose of sea-robbery in American waters. At first
nearly all the noted buccaneers were traders. But the circumstances
which surrounded them in the new world made of them pirates whose
evil deeds have never been surpassed in any part of the globe.
These unusual circumstances and amazing temptations do not furnish
an excuse for the exceptionally wicked careers of the early American
pirates; but we are bound to remember these causes or we could not
understand the records of the settlement of the West Indies. The
buccaneers were fierce and reckless fellows who pursued their daring
occupation because it was profitable, because they had learned to like it,
and because it enabled them to wreak a certain amount of vengeance
upon the common enemy. But we must not assume that they
inaugurated the piratical conquests and warfare which existed so long
upon our eastern seacoasts.
Before the buccaneers began their careers, there had been great masters
of piracy who had opened their schools in the Caribbean Sea; and in
order that the condition of affairs in this country during parts of the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries may be clearly understood, we will
consider some of the very earliest noted pirates of the West Indies.
When we begin a judicial inquiry into the condition of our
fellow-beings, we should try to be as courteous as we can, but we must
be just; consequently a man's fame and position must not turn us aside,
when we are acting as historical investigators.

Therefore, we shall be bold and speak the truth, and although we shall
take off our hats and bow very respectfully, we must still assert that
Christopher Columbus was the first who practised piracy in American
waters.
When he sailed with his three little ships to discover unknown lands, he
was an accredited explorer for the court of Spain, and was bravely
sailing forth with an honest purpose, and with the same regard for law
and justice as is