overladen ships of the buccaneers it would probably have been successful; but instead of instant action a council of officers was summoned, and while they were yet in deliberation, the pirates, crowding all sail, made good their escape.[1]
Before leaving the island of Sacrificios a partition was made of the spoils, which were divided into 1,200 shares; and it was found that each share amounted to 800 pesos, the total being valued at 960,000 pesos. Van Horn demanding for himself 80 shares or 64,000 pesos. Lorencillo appears to have been dissatisfied with his portion, for he quarrelled with the former concerning the dividend,[2] and the dispute ended in a duel in which Van Horn was wounded in the wrist. The commander of the buccaneers paid no attention to his hurt, for trifling wounds were not regarded among his fraternity; but this neglect cost him his life. His wrist grew worse; soon mortiflcation set in; and when fifteen days out at sea, he was thrown overboard, a corpse, off Cape Yucatan, The plunder on board his vessel, amounting to one hundred thousand pesos, was bequeathed to his son, a youth of twelve, and the command of his ship devolved on Grammont, his lieutenant.
- ↑ Robles, Diario, in Doc. Hist. Mex., i. .373; Cavo, ii. 64. The French and English versions of the matter differ materially from the above. Esquemelin says that the fleet arrived while the buccaneers were at Vera Cruz, Hist. Flib., i. 274; the author of Sharp's Voy., 119-20, that Van Horn proposed to attack it and offered to board the admiral's ship, but that Lorencillo refused to coöperate with him. It is not likely that the buccaneers would think of thus risking their spoils, or would have ventured to remain on the coast in the presence of so strong a fleet, supported by the artillery and garrison of the fort.
- ↑ Sharp's Voyages, 119. Esquemelin attributes the quarrel to a report that Van Horn had said something offensive concerning Lorencillo, whereupon the latter went in search of his traducer, and though he denied the charge, drew his sword, exclaiming, 'Voilà ce qui va me veuger de I'injure que tu m'as faite.' Van Horn also drew, and in the fight which ensued was wounded in the wrist. Hist. Flib., i. 291-2. Villarroel's version is that immediately after boasting before his prisoners that he believed in no God, and that his success was due to his own valor, he was met by Lorencillo, who reproved him for his harsh treatment of the captives. Hence the quarrel and the duel. Invasion Vera Cruz, in Lerdo de Tejada, Apunt. Hist., 281. Robles states that both were wounded, and that Lorencillo offered to restore the booty on certain conditions. Diario, in Doc. Hist. Mex.,i. 373. The account given in Sharp's Voy. seems the most probable.
