ARRESTED AND TRIED

By the late 1720s, an eye witness described the remaining pirates on Madagascar as ‘the most wretched of men.’ They included La Buse, who, ‘having frittered away or lost the ill-gotten gains from his piracies, has replied to those who have exhorted him to take advantage of the amnesty, that if he retired empty handed after such a career, it would be unforgiveable.’ With the French East India Company running out of patience and a new Governor installed on Bourbon with instructions to clamp down on the pirates, La Buse’s luck was finally about to run out. In early 1730 Captain d’Hermitte of the Meduse made a trade voyage to Madagascar with a detachment of 29 soldiers led by Captain Caton, on board. Contact was made with Olivier La Buse, now reportedly based on Marosy islet [Nosy Mangabe] near Maroantsetra in the bay of Antongil. He was overpowered by the small troop of Captain Caton, placed in chains, and brought to Bourbon on 27th April 1730 where he was imprisoned. On 7th July 1730 ‘Olivier Le Vasseur known as La Buse, a native of Calais was duly convicted of the crime of piracy’ and sentenced ‘to be conducted to the public square to be hanged there, and strangled until death took place, his cadaver to remain there for 48 hours and afterwards to be exhibited by the sea, his goods to be confiscated in the name of the King.’ The sentence was carried out at 5 pm the same day.

For more information about La Buse’s career, follow this link to purchase a copy of “LA BUSE: The Life and Legend of French Pirate Olivier Le Vasseur” (e-book).

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