The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-11-27
LWy 0f Nesp- 3oyk, Z

5 CRY oF Nev- 3o,k, ~
JOHN ATKINS, Of the city of n. York,
mariner, being duly examined and sworn, be.
tore Pierre T.. Van Wyck, recorder OF the
city oi New-York, saith, that he was born in
the town OF saltwater, in the county of Sar-
ratoga, and State Of New-York /; that he, was
seaman on board Of the Phoebe, on her
bomeward bound voyage from Bordeaux to
Ncw-iork, and was impressed, with two 9TH
er seamen, Samuel Freis and Stephen Ban-
chard) by an officer from the Little Belt
that he was on board Of the Little Belt ut tho
time o. her engagement with the President
that when the President came within hail, he
distinctly heard the commander hail FIRST,
"what ship is that Z" TO which he heard capt.
Bingham reply, "what ship is that ~ that
the commander Of the President hailed a Sc
cond time, and asked I" what ship is that !'s
to which Captain Bingham gave no answer,
but jumped of her poop aud placed himself
by the second after gan, and called TO bis
men to stand 6ys" and then immediately
gave orders to fire |; upon which a gun was
fired from the Little Belt, and immediately
after another gun was fired from the. Belt
after which, in few seconds, gun was fir
ed from the President.--1be engagement
then became general afterwards, when The
President finally ceased firing, the men on
board the Little Belt had deserted their quar-
ters. .ss~.' 3
This deponent further SAITH, that in the ae.
tion between the two ships, a*ong the num-
ber who were wounded, was an American,
named RosEnr Howell, who had been Inn
pressed from the brig Martin, from Martini
que that he was wounded by . cannon shot
which struck him in the groin, and cut OIL
has thigh close 10 his body, in such a manner
that his bowels came out that he appeared
to suffer great pain for several hours, until
he died, about o'clock in the morning that
this deponcnt saw Howell while he was dying,
and heard the second lieutenant Of the Little
Belt ask him how he did % 10 which How
ell replied, see chaf yon have 6rousdt ne
TO, 10 }srce me TO fght dgains: my 5rofters J.
my oWn connfrymea have ,dken m Efr nrong1
your means )" tina, the officer replied, he
could not help 1t he must obey orders )" that
Howell, just before he died, requested this
deponent to call his comradc IIershell Whee.
Ter, Gan American who had also been i,nprcsr
sed at the same time from the big Mart in) !;
that Wheeler came, and then Howell held
out his hand to him and requested h,m TO
take ring from his hager, and, also, losk
OF hair which was plated, and which he
wore round his neck, and 20 give them 10 the
person from whom he received them, For his
sake that Howell was greatly affected and
shed tears while he was giving directions TO
his comrade |; that Wheeler escaped from
the Little Belt at tfalifsx, and Is now, as this
deponent has been informed, in New-York,
but that this deponent has not yet seen him !;
that this deponent, this morning, saw Mrs:
Stevenson, to whom the ring and hair wore
sent, but who has not yet received them ;that
she told this dcponent that she had given
them 10 Howell that her husband and her.
self are now In mourning for him ;i,hat the
body OF Howell was scwcd up in a ham mock
the next day alter the engagement, and
thrown into the sea.
This dcponent further saith, that fhere
were about twelve Americans, including him
self, on board the Little Belt al the time OF
the engagement, all Of whom had been inn
pressed from different vessels. That when
they found the vessel with whom they were
about TO engage was an American vessel, they
all objected to going to quarters, saying, /" n
Is hard for ns 10 go and fight against or com.
fry NATE prisoners Of MS If you please" TS
which the captain replied, "you are now on
board with US, and you must now do your
duty 10 his u'sjesty's service, for we know no,
whether you are Americans, or not" other
wi,e, he swore, he wonH try fAem By conrf
mariicl, and nut .hem 10 irsfnaf death, az nn-
timers on board his majesfy's shin Betf."
That after the engagement. this deponcat
and two other Americans were eosged at the
guns, two dozen each, sor speaking IN favour
Of their country. That the conversation for
which they we're SO punished, was with "A
lieutenant. That not only the Amer.cins
who were On board. but many others Oft
crew, wished tina; the Little Bel, had bcea