Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-08-14

Nth violence at US, one struck MI. EhHBort;
and cut him badly in the forehead, and another
struck Mr.. Bigelow, and nearly knocked him
down. The distance from Hanson s house TO
the gaol was about one mile
At our arrival at the gaol door and as We
entered it, several ofus were struck by some
|of the mob whom we found there. Beng de-
|liyered into the custody OF John IL. bentley,
the gaoler, some time in tbs forenoon, we
were put in room in the common Criminal
denartment where VS. remained the rest OF
the day, The Dragons and infantry lei tsie
gosl soon after we were placed IN 1t, ana they
did not return, nor was there any millaiy
guard afterwards. In the afternoon the may
or came TO US in The gaol, and assured US taa'
there should be guard, aud that preparations
we're making 10 send enc. He told us be
Ivonld lose his own life be- fore we should be
hurt. Gen. Stricken was also at the gaoi out
side ofit.-The mayor having been with US a.
bout twenty minutes, went away leaving Us III
the belief that there would be guard OF arm
cd militia sent to protect US IN the g2ol--
During the afternoon we were told severai
times by persons admitted to see Us that the
militia were called out and assembling. Late
lin the afternoon two butchers one named
Mumma and the other Maxwell, came INTO
our room, the former hasinga key IN his hand.
Mumma asked me the names OF several OF the
prisoners told him. Mr.. Hoffman said ne
wondered Mr.. Bentley should suffer SO many
men to cone into their room VINO had 40 ou-
siness there Mumma answered that nc
come there on Mr.. Bentley's business. Ihey
were personally known tome, and to some OF
nv fellow prisoners--We suspected their m
tentions we're not good, and Ienquired OF Mr..
Bentley if Munma was a friend OF hls--Bent-
lev answered ne pretends to be SO. replied
YOU ought to know him well before you trust
the kew of our room in his hands, and pro-
posed that he should lock the door and give
me the key through the grate.-On the IN
side the door cannot b unlocked, and there
was the outer door locked. Bentley refused,
saving | cannot do so as you are prisoner
under nv care. The door was immediately
locked by some body, and the mob very soon
began to assemble from various quarters, but
no troops were arriving. This excited much
alarm in our room, it being after sunset, and
we unprecedented wa were to be sacrlhced.-
About dark the back door of the gaol vas be-
SET bv the mob who entered it without break.
ing it BY force. BY whom it was opened |
do not know but by hearsay They began 10
break down the wood and iron gratlngs IN the
passage leading to OR room, which took them
At least three quarters Of an hour They had
the light of torches. The grating ct our
room was opened instantly without any exer-
ton, which makes me believe Ii was opened
5v some one having the key, and believe
itbcr by Mumma or Maxwell The first
aerson / recognized at the grating was Isn-
Heating, who keeps printing office and
aim should have killed with my pistols, bat
Tor Gen. Lee, who laid hold OF my arm and
begged rue not to fire, and also prevented M
Murray from frieg. 1t had been agreed that
Mr.. Murray ard myself, being the strongest
men, should FIRST rush ont and make the best
Of our way, and every person was 10 escape
as he could. Some of the mob rushed INTO
he room, and Mr.. Murray and myself rush
cd out, both of us armed, had pistolin each
hand and he dirk and pistol. We made
our way through the passage and ball without
injury till ] was at tbs front outer door, when
was struck on the back of my head with
heavy club by ss4ne man l had passed,
which threw me forward from the head OF the
steps, and fell head long down abou. 10 feet,
rnere | saw gang OF ruflians armed with
clubs ready TO destroy whomsoeyer should
pass down the steps, and six or seven OF them
instantly assaulted me while down, and beat
tne about the head until was unable to rise
Some then dragged me twenty or thirty yards
While Others were beating me with clubs
Tney then tried to make me stand on my feet,
and looking around perceived Lemuel lay
lor, and called upon him to prevent those
men from taking my life. Hetold the men to
desst & said they had beat me enough, & beg
gedthemnot take my life; thcysadthey would
Kill me: he again repeated that was beat e.
nough, and desired should be let alone, and he
would be security for my forthcoming in the
morning. They disregarded what he bad said,
they dragged me along and it was proposed to
tarand featherIme, and as went along they con-