American Privateer Anaconda-- Part 5: After the Surrender

The enemy (the American privateers) now employed themselves in exchanging  the ship's company and rummaging the Express, taking on board the Anaconda the bullion, to the amount of 20,000 (British) pounds and, in fact, everything that could be got at, and that was valuable.

After rummaging the ship fore and aft, and finding her a complete wreck, the Captain of the packet gave us our choice to remain in the latter, or the Express,  and get into what port we could, offering to stay by us till the next morning, to ascertain our safety.

We quitted the privateer with 27 days of water on board, and got into Juan Fernandes.  The carpenters being employed in looking after shot holes, discovered pieces of iron, from 14 to 18 inches long, sticking to the bottom; and getting two men from shore to dive found them to be langridge fired by the enemy.

--Brock-Perry