The poor Islanders were got to their Retreat, the Tops of the Trees, and saw the Pyrates go off; upon which they ventured down, and going to the Water-side, were agreeably surprized to find a small Cask of Flower, of betwixt twenty and thirty Pounds, about a Bushel of Salt, two Bottles of Gunpowder, several Bullets, besides a Quantity of small Shot, with a Couple of Musquets, a very good Axe, and also a Pot and a Pan, and three Dogs, which they took in the Turtle Sloop; which Dogs are bred to Hunting, and generally the Sloops which go Turtling, carry some of them, as they are very useful in tracing out the wild Hogs; besides all these, there were a dozen Horn-handled Knives, of that Sort which are usually carried to Guiney.
They carried all these Things into the Wood, to that Part where they had their fresh Water, and where they usually kept, and immediately went to work with their Axe; some cutting down Bows, and making Poles, so that four of them were employ’d in building a Hut, while Richard Turnley taking the Dogs and a Gun, went a hunting, he understanding that Sport very well. He had not been gone long before he kill’d a large Boar, which he brought home to his Companions, who fell to cutting it up, and some they dress’d for their Dinner, and the rest they salted, for another Time.
Thus they lived, as they thought, very happy, in respect to their former Condition; but after four Days, the Pyrates made them another Visit, for they wanted to fill some Casks with Water: It happen’d when they came in, that Turnley was gone a Hunting, and the rest all busy at some Work, so that they did not see them, till they just came into the Wood upon them; seeing the Hut, one of them in Wantonness set it on Fire, and it was burnt to the Ground; and they appear’d inclined to do Mischief, when Richard Turnley knowing nothing of the Matter, happened to return from Hunting, with a fine Hog upon his Back, as much as he could carry; he was immediately surrounded by the Pyrates, who seized upon the fresh Meat, and which seemed to put them into better Humour, they made Richard Cox carry it down to their Boat, and when he had done, they gave him a Bottle of Rum to carry back to his Companions to drink their Healths, telling him, that they might get home if they could, or if they staid there, they never would trouble them any more.
They were, indeed, as good as their Words, for sailing away immediately, they made for Long Island, and coming up toward the Salt Ponds there, they saw at a Distance in the Harbour, three Vessels at an Anchor, and supposing them to be either Bermudas or New-York Sloops lying there to take in Salt, they bore down upon them with all the Sail they could make, expecting a good Booty. The Turtle Sloop taken from Benjamin Hutchins, was by much the best Sailor; however, it was almost dark before she came up with them, and then coming close alongside of one of them, she gave a Broadside, with a Design to board the next Minute, but received such a Volley of small Shot in return, as killed and wounded a great many of the Pyrates, and the rest, in great Surprize and Fright, jumped overboard, to save themselves by swimming ashore.
The Truth on’t is, these Sloops proved to be Spanish Privateers, who observing the Pyrates to bear down upon them, prepared themselves for Action: The Commander in Chief of these three Privateers was one who was called by the Name of Turn Joe, because he had once privateer’d on the English Side; he had also been a Pyrate, and now acted by Vertue of a Commission from a Spanish Governor. He was by Birth an Irishman, a bold enterprising Fellow, and was afterwards killed in an Engagement with one John Bonnavee, Captain of Privateer belonging to Jamaica.
But to return to our Story: The Sloop was taken, and on board her was found, desperately wounded Phineas Bunch, who was the Captain.—By and by a second of the Pyrate Sloops came up; she heard the Volley, and supposed it to be fired by Bunch, when he boarded one of the Sloops; she came also alongside of one of the Spaniards, and received the Welcome that was given to Bunch, and submitted as soon. A little after, came up the third, which was taken with the same Ease, and in the same Manner, as many of the Pyrates as could swim, jumping over board to save themselves on Shore, there not being a Man lost on the Side of the Spaniards.
The next Day Turn Joe asked them many Questions, and finding out that several amongst them had been forc’d Men, he, with the Consent of the other Spanish Officers, ordered all the Goods to be taken out of a Spanish Launce, and putting some of the wounded Pyrates into the said Launce, with some Provision, Water, and other Liquors, gave it to the forced Men, to carry them to Providence.
Accordingly George Redding, Thomas Betty, Matthew Betty, Benjamin Hutchins, with some others, set Sail, and in eight and forty Hours arrived in the Harbour of Providence.
They went on Shore immediately, and acquainted the Governor with every Thing that had pass’d, from the Time of their setting out, acquainting him, that Phineas Bunch, who was one of the chief Authors of all the Mischief, was on board the Launce; the Governor, with some others, went and examined him, and he confessed all, wherefore there was no Occasion for a Trial; and as he had been pardoned before, and it was necessary to make some speedy Example, it was resolved that he should be executed the next Day, but it was prevented by his dying that Night of his Wounds.
They also informed the Governor of the Condition of Turnley, Car, and the rest, who were marooned by the Pyrates upon Green Key Island; upon which the Governor sent for one John Sims, a Molotto Man, who had a two Mast Boat in the Harbour of Providence, very fit for sailing; and laying some Provisions into the said Boat, ordered him to get five or six Hands, and to sail for Green Key, in order to bring off the five Men there marooned.