User:El Pirata Cofresi

http://www.shartak.com/profile.cgi?id=1290 http://vacationpuertorico.com/cofresi.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Cofresi

This is the true story of The Pirate Cofresi (El Pirata Cofresi)... (ref: sp.: http://www.preb.com/apuntes5/cofresi.htm) Roberto Cofresí Ramírez de Arellano was born in Cabo Rojo Puerto Rico in the year 1791. His father was a German named Franz Von Kupferschein, who died when Roberto was only 4 years old. Roberto's mother was a Puerto Rican named María Germana Ramírez de Arellano. He had a sister named Juana, and two brothers named Juan Francisco and Ignacio. Young Roberto's last name was eventually changed to 'Cofresi' for pure convenience, since the Spaniards had a terrible time pronouncing, let alone writing, Kupferschein...

The late 1700's and early 1800's were turbulent times for the Spanish Crown. Many of its colonies (Puerto Rico, Española, Cuba, Mexico, and colonies in Central and South America) had begun establishing their own cultural identities, especially after slavery was abolished with the resulting intermixing of Spanish, Black, and Native bloods. These colonies started demanding their independence from Spain due in large part to the declining Spanish empire and the resulting poverty created by a declining Spanish economy. Many of these colonies were also using the recent American victory over their independence from Britain as a model for their own revolt against Spain. The Spanish government started removing their gold and silver processions from these colonies in anticipation of the loss of these colonies via revolution. The Spanish government also increased trade with many of its former enemies to both make it easier to pull itself from these colonies, and to better its economy due to the changing global trade scene.

Roberto Cofresi was a product of these turbulent economic and political times. He was also a very fiery young man. The lure of bounty that could be taken from Spanish ships as they traversed the Mona Passage, and other ships (English, Danish, French, and American) that used the waters of the Caribbean and Atlantic Oceans for trade made 25 year old Roberto Cofresi Ramirez de Arellano use robbery and murder in the high seas as his means to easy wealth and respect. Many of the poor came to believe that his cause was just. It has been told that the treasures he stole were shared amongst his friends and the poor, particularly within the costal towns were he enjoyed their sympathy. But every ship that was sacked by Pirate Cofresi and his henchmen resulted in the loss of any treasures or material wealth on board, and the total loss of crew and ship.

In an effort to stop this individual from causing further destruction and loss, the then governor of Puerto Rico, Miguel de la Torre in cooperation with the American Navy, and with the approval of the US State Department and the Spanish Crown, launched a massive effort at capturing and bringing to justice this individual, all his henchmen, and all other 'copy-cat' pirates that were imitating Mr. Cofresi. The governor of Puerto Rico also ordered the installation of look-out points at high points all along the shores of Puerto Rico. One of these look-out point was at Rincon's highest point, since then aptly named Mt. Atalaya (Mt. Lookout).

In the year 1824, the US and Spanish navies, monitoring the coasts for pirate activity, proceeded to set a lure in Southern Puerto Rico in anticipation of another attack by Mr. Cofresi. Disguised as a commercial frigate, an American Navy ship under the command of Captain Garret S. Pendegrast begins prowling the southern shores of Puerto Rico acting as bait in anticipation of a 'certain visit' by Pirate Cofresi and his ship 'the Ana'. Expecting yet another large bounty, Pirate Cofresi launched an offensive against yet another hapless 'victim'.

After the initial shot at his 'victim' from one of his side cannons, and expecting the victim not to return fire; he approaches his 'prey' and is suddenly and abruptly shaken by a section of his main mast falling from a main cannon shot by his 'prey', which now unfurls the flag and colors of a fully armed American Navy War Ship (the USS Grampus (photo)). A heated sea battle ensued for 45 minutes which resulted in major damage to Cofresi's ship 'the Ana'. Being a faster ship, Cofresi fled from the pursuit of the American and Spanish Navy ships that were starting to set the trap for them at the southern waters of the city of Ponce Puerto Rico. He personally navigated his now sinking ship toward Cabo Rojo, but not being able to make it all the way, he grounded it at a shore point near present day Guayanilla (west of Ponce).

Cofresi and the remainder of his crew, many of whom were killed during the battle, got out of his now useless ship and split into two groups. His orders were for them to regroup and meet at a point near Boqueron Beach in Cabo Rojo. But waiting for them on land were Captain Manuel Marcano and his troops, of the Royal Spanish Army - Southern Command. Another bloody land battle ensued which resulted in more of Cofresi's men being killed, and serious injuries to Pirate Cofresi himself. Cofresi and 10 of his remaining men were taken prisoner and sent to a hospital in Guayama to tend to their injuries.

A short time later, Cofresi and his men were taken to the main Spanish prison facility at San Felipe del Morro in San Juan. There they were they were tried by a Spanish Court and their execution was ordered. On March 27, 1825; Roberto Cofresí Ramírez de Arellano was executed by a firing squad of the Royal Spanish Artillery Regiment, along with his men. Their bodies were left on public display for 24 hours.

A short time later another copy-cat pirate, and friend of Cofresi (Juan Almeyda) was captured, taken prisoner, and met the same fate as his friend. He was captured using the same techniques conceived by the American Naval authorities and the Spanish Army and Navy. This thus concluded a chapter in Puerto Rican history regarding Pirates in the waters of the Caribbean.

Pirate Cofresi was only 34 years old on the date of his execution, but the immortal legend he created continues...