The Massachusetts Spy, Or, Thomas's Boston Journal

THURSDAY, November 19.
BOSTON.

The following is an account of the horrid murder, committed by the crew of a PIRATE schooner, in our bay, last Sunday morning, as near as can be collected from the various reports. Last Saturday evening, sailed from this port for Chatham, Cape-Cod, a schooner, -- Nickerson, master; (who having been on a fishing voyage, came here and discharged his cargo, and was returning home) about 2 o'clock next morning, by the light of the moon, they discovered, a top-sail schooner bearing down hard upon them, which at length fired and brought them too, a number of men, from the top-sail schooner then came on board Capt. Nickerson, in one boat, and examined him, whither he was bound, what he had on board, &c. They then returned to their schooner, but soon after came on board again with more assistance, in three or four boats, armed with guns and cutlasses. One Nickerson, a passenger on board (and a relation of the captain's) when he perceived their coming, slung himself by a rope over the stern, (thinking their intention was to press some of them) and there continued during the bloody scene ; as soon as they came on board, after lashing the helm, and setting the sails, they killed captain Nickerson, and two other men, one of whom was the captain's brother, and the other his brother in law named Newcomb, and threw them overboard, they being all the hands belonging on board, except Nickerson, who had slung himself over the stern, as before mentioned, and a boy named Kent; it is said, Nickerson heard one of the pirates say, Let us kill the boy, and another make answer, No, he will do to make punch for us ; whether they killed him, or not, is not known, however, the boy is missing. After perpetrating this inhuman deed, they plundered the vessel, knocked out the head of a barrel of rum and drank and wasted the greatest part of it, and taking a considerable sum of money, went off with their booty. When they dropped astern of the schooner, they came so near Nickerson, (the only one supposed to be saved) that he could have set his feet on their heads, but it providentially happened they never perceived him. Some time after they were gone, Nickerson, who could not have survived much longer in the condition he was in, came on board, and made sail for Cape-Cod, and about ten o'clock the same morning, saw a sail, which proved to be Capt. Doane, from Cape-Cod, bound for Boston, and hanging out a signal of distress, Capt. Doane with some of his people came on board, and assisted him in getting into port.
The persons who were murdered, were all married men, and have left three disconsolate widows.

Yesterday the Lively sloop of war sailed in quest of the pirates.