The Greyhound Battles Pirate George Lowther
The following is taken from "Pirates of the New England Coast" by
George Dow and John Edmonds, 1923.
On the 10th of January 1722, the good ship "Greyhound" of Boston in the
Massachussetts Bay, Benjamin Edwards, commander, was homeward bound. She
was loaded with logwood (for the dye) and only one day out from the
coast of Honduras where the crew had been worked hard for several weeks
loading the many boatloads of heavy, thorny-growthed, blood-red wood.
Early in the morning the lookout had sighted a ship headed toward them
and while not plantation built she attracted no particular attention
until it was seen that her course was slightly changed to conform to
that of the "Greyhound," or rather, it would seem, to intersect the
course on which the "Greyhound" was sailing. As the ship drew nearer, a
long look through the perspective revealed a heavily-manned vessel of
English build and Captain Edwards thought it best to order all hands on
deck. Soon the stranger ran up a black flag having a skeleton on it and
fired a gun for the "Greyhound" to bring to.
West India waters had been plagued for many years by piratical gentry
and the Boston captain had heard many terrifying tales of their
barbarous cruelties to masters and seamen but he was a dogged type of
man and so at once prepared to defend his ship. The pirate edged down a
bit and shortly gave the "Greyhound" a broadside of eight guns which
Captain Edwards bravely returned and for nearly an hour the give and
take continued at long gunshot without much damage to either vessel.
Finding that the pirate was more heavily armed than the "Greyhound," and
her decks showing many men, Captain Edwards began to reckon the
consequences of a too stubborn resistance, for it seemed likely that
eventually he must surrender, barring, of course, lucky chance shot from
his guns that might cut down a mast on the pirate ship. At last he
ordered his ensign to be struck and hove to. Two boatloads of armed men
soon came aboard and searched the ship for anything of value. The loot
was not great for the New England logwood ships had little opportunity
for trade or barter and the disappointment of the pirate crews was soon
spit out on the men. Whenever one came within reach of the cutlass of a
pirate he would receive a swinging slash across shoulders or arms, or
perhaps, a blow on the head with the flat of the blade that would fell
him half-senseless to the deck. By way of diversion two of the
unoffending sailors were triced up at the foot of the mainmast and
lashed until the blood ran from their backs. Captain Edwards and his men
were then ordered into the boats and sent on board the pirate ship and
the "Greyhound" was set on fire.
The rogue proved to be the "Happy Delivery," commanded by Capt. George
Lowther and manned by a strange assortment of English sailors and
soldiers with a sprinkling of New England men. As soon as the men from
the "Greyhound" reached her deck they were given a mug of rum and
invited to join the pirate crew. This was habitually done at that time
by these outlaws and frequently made a nimble sailor would be forced and
compelled to serve with the pirates against his will. The first mate of
the "Greyhound" was Charles Harris, born in London, England, then about
twenty-four years old, and a man who understood navigation (which was a
major ability for any seaman and was in fact not common among sailors as
a rule) He, with four others, Christopher Atwell, Henry Smith, Joseph
Willis and David Lindsay, was forced (ie kidnapped) and Captain Edwards
and the rest of his crew, with other captured men, were put on board
another logwood vessel and permitted to make the best of their way home.
The following is taken from "A General History of Pyrates" by Captain
Charles Johnson, 1724.
The 10th of January, the pyrates came into the Bay (Bay of Honduras) and
fell upon a ship of 200 Tuns, called the Greyhound, Benjamin
Edwards Commander, belonging to Boston. Lowther hoisted his pyratical
Colours and fired a Gun for the Greyhound to bring to, which she
refusing, the Happy Delivery (the name of the Pyrate, Lowther's
ship) edg’d down, and gave her a Broadside (the firing of all guns on
one side of a ship at the same time), which was returned by Captain
Edwards very bravely, and the Engagement held for an hour; but Captain
Edwards, finding the Pyrate too strong for him, and fearing the
Consequence of too obstinate a Resistance against those lawless Fellows,
order'd his Ensign to be struck. The Pyrates' Boat came aboard, and not
only rifled the Ship, but whipp'd, beat, and cut
the Men in a cruel Manner, turned them aboard their own Ship, and then
set Fire to theirs. (ie the crew were brought aboard the Delivery
and the Greyhound burnt)
The following is taken from the April 30, 1722 issue of the Boston
News-Letter.
On the 10th of January last in the Bay of Honduras, Capt. Benjamin Eewas
of this Port, was attacked by Captain Lowder the Pirate, who after a
stout resistence was taken and barbarously handled by them, they burnt
his ship and forced away the following men, Christopher Atwell, Charles
Harris, Henry Smith, Joseph Willis and David Lindsay of which (Life
Permitted) we design a fuller Account in our next.
The following is taken from the May 7, 1722 issue of the Boston
News Letter.
Boston, on the 10th of January last the ship Gray.Hound of this Port
Capt. Benjamin Edwards Commander, in the Bay of Honduras, was Attacked
by the Bumper Gally, then called the Happy delivery a ship of 250 Tuns,
having on Board 80 or 90 Pirates, commanded by George Lowder. The said
Pirate forced away from Capt. Edwards the following Mariners, viz.
Christopher Atwell Chief Mate aged about 26, much Pock Broken, born in
the West of England. Charles Harris Second Mate, aged about 25, small
stature, born in London. Henry Smith Carpenter, aged about 25 years,
born in Boston. Joseph Willis aged 18 years, Apprentice to the Capt.
born in London. David Lindsay aged 50 years born in Scotland, and they
burnt his Ship.
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