CHAPTER XVIII
A NOTORIOUS AMERICAN PIRATE
The notorious sea-robber of whom we are to speak in
the following chapter has an especial interest for
English and American readers, from the fact that he
was a member of the Chesapeake during her historic duel
with the Shannon. This Charles Gibbs was born in the
State of Rhode Island in the year 1794. From the sulky,
refractory character which he exhibited as a child any
reader of human nature could have guessed that his career
promised none too well, and when his full powers had been
developed he developed finally into a singularly cruel robber
of the sea. From one cruelty to another he sunk lower
and lower until the inevitable gallows were ready to put
an end to his atrocities.
Possessed of that roving spirit which was ever an early characteristic of those who were destined to become pirates, he threw up his work as farm-hand at the age of fifteen, ran away from home and signed on as one of the crew in the United States sloop-of-war Hornet. Off the coast of Pernambuco this ship was in action and captured H.M.S. sloop Peacock. The commander of the former was Captain Lawrence, and on his return he was promoted to command the Chesapeake, and to that ship Gibbs accompanied him. When the Shannon emerged from the fray victorious, the
