| On April 13th of 1697 would arrive to Cartagena de Indias the Baron de Pointis, with a great fleet that would start to bomb the city the next day.
He disembarked on the island of Tierrabomba with his soldiers and buccaneers to attack the Castle San Luis de Bocachica, defended by Don Sancho Ximeno who would repel the attack bravely and then would be betrayed by his own soldiers, mostly black slaves which took the first chance hand over the weapons and open the castle doors to the french.
Pointis recognized the bravery of Don Sancho giving him back his sword while saying "A gentleman like you must never be disarmed".
The the french advanced slowly towards the city until seizing the Castle San Felipe from where they bombarded the Puerta de la Media Luna, opened a breach and stormed in seizing Getsemaní after fighting the last defenders of the place.
After according their surrender with the authorities of Cartagena de Indias, Pointis entered triumphantly to the city and assisted to a Te Deum celebrated by his command in the Cathedral. The invaders stayed almost a month in the city, time during which they would rob and sack all the inhabitants and take the religious jewels failing to fulfill the surrender agreement.
Pointis abandoned Cartagena de Indias on July 1st of 1697, betraying and leaving behind a squadron of his pirates without their part of the booty, they came back to get what was left in the city and took two million pesos in gold. |
