Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-10-22
COMMUNICATED
For ths .Aleraudria Gazette.

with captain Saunders OF the pilot boat
schooner Trimmer, belonging to Phlla-
delphia, to take 10 cargo OF corn at
this place and proceed to Cuba. On
the list the Cargo was put ABOARD, the
vessel cleared out at the custom house,
and she was hauled into the stream rea-
dy to sail on the morning of the 23d.-
On the night of the 22d there was
considerable gathering Of people in va
rious parts of the town, but principally
along the Notwithstanding appeared
to be bruing which indicated a mob.-
This collection was Aostly made up OF
subjects Of East Florida, who had fed
on this side with their families, negroes
and other effects, to avoid the destruction
that threatened & was actually carried
on against them by the Indians. About
10 O'Clock it was easy to discover the
intentions of the mob, for by this time
they were armed with guns and bayon-
cts. As a principal encouraser and pro-
moter, was seen J. II Mcintosh, who
is elected chief magistrate BY the Insur-
gents of East Florida, under the title OF
Director was also seen James
Smith, who has lately become a subject
of that Province, and who bears the title
Of Major. under the new order of things
there-He was armed, and with the
number Of 10 or IL Gall armed men) pro-
ceedcd in boat aboard said schooner,
in tue face and view of our town patrole.
When the boat arrived along side they
went aboard and with their bayonets
pricked the mate and crew Of said schoo-
ner below (the captain being on shore)
they then scuttled the vessel, and in
jured the foremost by cutting it with an
axe. This band, then returned on shore
, in sight of the inhabitants whs by this
ume were pretty much i, the strects)
| and went 10 the house OF the sad major
Smith, The consequence was, the
cargo of the schooner was damaged, and
soc in a situation not to proceed to sea
without dischargins % examine the in-
Jury that nigA, be done. The cargo
sustained considerable damage. 1t Is
now ashore
Il is petf>ctlv veil known who were
the perpetrators of this outrage, but 10
uo,lcG is token of it by The authority of
tnis plaee-Nsr can there remain a
doubt, but what this prostatlon of our
laws and damage dene to the property
of an individual, 4 citizen Of the United
Sta,es-by the refugees OF fiorida-met
with their cordial approbat!cn.
On the 24tb, there was meeting OF
the inhabitants ard others of this place
at the market-nousc, when was exhibit
ed, ready prepared, an instrument in
writine--to be submitted to by the PEG
pie. This instrument was IN obligation
binding al who signed il. not 10 make
any shipment of property Of any descrip-
lion to St Augustine. The collector
for this port--His name stands among
the foremost of the signers-he was anx-
i,us to obtain numbers. Ohe person
had the independence TO refuse signing
any Instrument 10 hamper the citizens OF
our country with shackles-and should
keep clear of any associations that tend
ed (beyouG the laws Of our country to
embar.ass them. This sage collector
then told him he would be viewed as
suspected person." This instrument
went farther: " those who did not
SIGN would be considered as enemies 10
their country"
Again-On the day preceding the night
on which the Trimmer was scuttled, a
boat belonging to the brig Ontario, now
in Augustine, arrived at St Marys, with
a message TO a merchant in this place.
The boat was brought to this town by
two men, an American and Spaniard
when ready to return, these men receiv-
ed licencc from the collector OF this
district to pass unmolested without the
jurisdiction of the district-Meanwhile,
warrant was issued certainly known,
If not prompted by the coilector) TO ar
rest those men. upon what legal charge
| know not. But the real Cause OF the
arrest, and which escaped through The
indiscretion of the mob, was this, that
the men had been on board the On
tar;o, which vessel bad put into Au-
CUISINE to procure Spanish papers. A
reward was offered for the apprehen-
sion those men; but they repaired on
board gun boat lying in the stream,
and were protected by an order from the
commodore of the Hotilla on this station.
The boat was wantonly burnt ashore,-
1t is remarkable, that the captain o! the
parole for that night, should have ielt
it to be an impulse of duty to be one
mile from the place where the boat was
burnt at the very moment when the hire
was applied. The captain of the patrole
(Will Gibson) may be assured that ne
shall be remunerated with applause
or detestation-as the case may be. A
very short time will deyslope the nature