Basque Jack

Jose Lazcano, commonly known as Basque Jack' (c. 1682- 11 July 1719) was a Basque-born pirate, active in the Caribbean from 1715 to 1719. Basque Jack came to the Caribbean on a fishing boat around 1700. In 1715 he set up a base in Bequia, having turned to piracy that year. He would wreak havoc in the Lesser Antilles on and off for four years. With his heavily armed ship Vengeance, he was able to commandeer or sink some 20 ships.

In March 1718, he captured the Our Lady of Bonaria without firing a shot. The naval ship sailed from Mariana to Marigalante carrying over 6000 thalers in silvers, the entire payroll for the colonies for the year. It is said that Lazcano struck his colors and at the mere sight the captain of the ship raised a white flag, being outgunned. Eventually the government had had enough, with so many complaints by the governor of Marigalante that they sent two naval ships, the Adriana and Menorca to hunt him down.

On 2 September lookouts on the Vengeance spotted two ships closing down on it, and Lazcano made the choice of turning around and engaging them in combat. During the battle Vengeance lost both its masts, was rendered immobile and was boarded, where Basque Jack was captured after killing six would-be detainers.

He was sent to Port Elisabeth and put in a makeshift prison, where he promptly escaped. It is rumored that he promised his guards a considerable sum from his loot if they freed him, and some time before 1719 two guards resigned and left the island, purportedly having acquired < >. He was able to leave the island as most locals sympathized and aided the pirates.

Basque Jack was raiding ships along Anguilla’s waters around March 1719 when his ship was heavily damaged and captured by a Royal Navy sloop; he was handed over to the governor in Marigalante, where he would be hanged in 12 April.

Legacy
Tales of Basque Jack’s treasure have become part of Bequian lore and throughout the 19th and 20th century numerous people have tried to find it. The 12th of April is celebrated as Basque Jack Day, part of the local carnival where people dress as pirates.