Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-04-19

Ateen hundred troops on board, BOUND 10
the isle of France. That directly after the
Sumner received the shot aforesaid, she
was boarded BY two boats from the said
foremost ship, and not long after by four
other boats, being two from each OF the o.
Their ships as they successfully came up,
he said boats containing about ten men
each, the officers in the boats having side
arms and IN the first boat were several
carpenters tools. On boarding the vessel
the officer demanded of the master where
he WAS from, and where bound, and on
being informed that he was from Liver
pool and bound to Lisbon, the said officer
told the master and crew to pick up some
of their things for the vessel would be
sunk. That the said Frenchmen then pro.
ceeded to plumber the vessel, took her
small stores, broke open the main matches,
knocked in the ceiling and stern lockers OF
the cabin, and took out some porter, and
stripped the vessel of all the blocks and
rigging which they could handily get at.
That they demanded the ships papers,
which were given to one OF the boarding
officers. and finally detained from the mas
ter, as he him self saith. That all the ofti.
GERS and crew of the Sumner were permit
ted to take their chests and beds, and the
master and mate were permitted to take
their trunks, which were all the articles
that were saved by them from the Sumner,
and Of most of which they were afterwards
plundered while on board the squadron. as
hereafter mentioned--T That by the time
they cot ready to leave the vessel, they
perceived she was scuttled, and by the
time they got on board the squadron she
sunk-That the crew of the Sumner con-
sisted of nine persons in all, three OF which
were put on board of each frigate. And
the deponents doth further say, that while
on board the squadron they heard the OFF,
GERS repeatedly declare, that their orders
were to capture and destroy all American
vessels not bound to or from France, and
not release the prisoners until they were
thirty in number-That on the twenty.se-
cond day OF February aforesaid, the said
squadron came across and captured two
American briggs, the one the Harriet, Cap
tain Hurd, bound for New. York, and the
other the Endeavour, Captain Powers,
bound to Marblehead-That they sunk
the e.nuEdvoufs ahu pus III w" ~HSN ~-SO
the crew of the Sumner on board OF the
Harriet, which, after plundering her OF
sundry articles, they released, having on
board the crews of three vessels, thirty in
acknowledgements the said Notary,
at the request, and on behalf OF the said
Andrew Malcolm, have protested, and by
these presents do publicly and solemnly
protest, against the aforesaid squadron,
their officers and men, and against the a
foresaid wanton, unlawful and piratical
destruction of the said brig Sumner and
her cargo, and all losses damages and in.
iuries. which thereupon ensued.
In testimony whereof, as well as
the deponenss, as I, the said No
tary, have to these presents sub.
(sEAL.) scribed our respective names,
and have hereto affixed my seal
Of office, the day and year first a.
bove written.
GEO. w. STRONG, Not. Pub:
ANDREW MALCOLM,
WILLIAM SNOW,
PETER MARSH,