[Maritime - Pirates - Cuba] The Atrocities of the Pirates, 1st Am. Edition 1824 - Cuba & West Indies

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An Eclectic Collection: the Library of the La...

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Jun 5, 2017 - Jun 26, 2017

Set Reminder 2017-06-05 12:00:00 2017-06-26 16:10:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : An Eclectic Collection: the Library of the Late Dr. Ivan Gilbert of Columbus https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/an-eclectic-collection-the-library-of-the-late-dr-ivan-gilbert-of-columbus-2429
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• Lot Description

  Smith, Aaron. THE ATROCITIES OF THE PIRATES, OR, A faithful narrative of the unparalleled sufferings endured by the author, during his captivity among the pirates of the island of Cuba, with an account of the excesses and barbarities of those inhuman freebooters. New York: Published by Robert Lowry, 135 Cherry-Street., 1824. First American Edition, from the London Edition. 6 1/2 by 4 inches in original printed board covers, rebacked in beige cloth, retaining the original endpages. From volume 53, Dictionary of Biography: "The story which he related in court was that, having been for about two years in the West Indies, he shipped as first mate on board the Zephyr brig; which sailed from Kingston for England in the end of June 1822. The master, an ignorant and obstinate man, had been warned against the leeward passage, which, however, he preferred as the shortest. The warning was justified, and the brig was taken possession of by a schooner manned by Spaniards and half-breeds, who plundered her of whatever seemed valuable, forced the master by threats of torture to deliver up what money he had on board, and then let them go, detaining Smith to act as navigator and interpreter, in which capacity he was compelled, by threats and actual torture, to act at the plundering of the Victoria, the Industry, and other vessels. After several months' detention he succeeded in escaping, but at Havana was recognised as one of the pirates, arrested, and thrown into prison; and as he refused or was unable to bribe the Spanish magistrates, who offered to release him on payment of one hundred doubloons, he was handed over to Sir Charles Rowley [q. v.], the English commander-in-chief at Jamaica, and was brought to England in irons on board the Sybille. His tale, in part substantiated by witnesses, carried conviction to the judge, who summed up strongly in his favour; and the jury, without hesitation, returned a verdict of ‘Not guilty.’ He was described as ‘a very genteel-looking young man, apparently about thirty years old.’ ‘The Atrocities of the Pirates: a Faithful Narrative of [Smith's] Unparalleled Sufferings during his Captivity in Cuba’ (1824), was apparently a much embellished record by a sympathising friend."

  Condition

  Boards worn and a bit spotted; some light staining/toning to contents; solid and sound. 
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