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The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Eyewitness report from Zante describes daring Greek pirates sinking a Dutch ship and murdering its crew, including a boy stabbed before his father. Two days before the writer's arrival on May 17, five Russian privateers captured one pirate vessel after a day-long battle; the Russians then brutally executed 52 pirates by quartering and threw their bodies overboard, with 28 more massacred later.
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I arrived here on the 17th inst. after a passage of 14 days; and it was very lucky I did not arrive sooner, as there were cruising off here, four of the most daring Pirates that ever infested these Seas; they spare the lives of no Nation. About three weeks ago they took a Dutch ship; the Captain only begged the life of a little boy, his son, about 13 years of age; which the Pirate took and stabbed before his face, and then murdered the whole crew, took out what they pleased and sunk the ship. However two days before I arrived here, five Russian Privateers came off the island: and fell in with one of these pirates (these pirates are manned with Greeks, Scavlonians, and a set of daring fellows; mounting from 16 to 30 guns each): the Pirate engaged the whole five, a day and night, but being drove into a bay in this island, was obliged to let go his anchor, but still kept them off; nor did he strike but on condition that they should not be made slaves, and the Commodore gave his word they should not; they then took the prisoners on board, and came round into the road: but the Greek was not so good as his word, for the next morning he made the signals for all the Captains, and then ordered all his prisoners upon deck forward. He told the Captains to follow his example: he then went into the forecastle, drew his sabre, ordered the Pirate Captain before him, who was but just alive, and gave him two cuts across the face; the rest followed his example. After this a sailor who had his brother killed in the engagement went to the Captain, asked the favor that he might have the finishing of the Pirate Captain, which was granted; he then went to the Captain and stabbed him in the breast; then took a piece of bread, steeped it in the Pirate's blood as it ran down, and eat it: then cut off from his face the flesh, piece by piece: he was two hours expiring. They quartered and threw overboard 52, and 28 the Commodore made a present of to one of the Captains, to massacre in the same manner: most of the bodies have drove on shore here since I arrived; I must have passed the other three in the night, as they made for the foot of the gulph.
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Zante
Event Date
May 17 25
Outcome
dutch ship crew murdered including a 13-year-old boy; pirate ship captured after engaging five russian privateers; 52 pirates quartered and thrown overboard, 28 more massacred.
Event Details
Writer arrived in Zante on May 17 after avoiding four daring pirates who recently captured and sank a Dutch ship, murdering the entire crew. Two days prior, five Russian privateers engaged one pirate vessel (manned by Greeks and Slavonians, 16-30 guns) in a day-and-night battle; pirates anchored in a bay and surrendered on promise of no enslavement. Russian Commodore broke the promise, ordering brutal executions: sabre cuts to faces, stabbing, flesh-cutting from the pirate captain who took two hours to die; 52 bodies quartered and discarded, 28 given to another captain for similar massacre; bodies washed ashore.