The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-07-22
NEW-YORK, July Is.
EXPLOSION OF THE SCHOONER EAGLE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE WAR
SiR-Agreeable to your request transmit to you
statement OF facts relative to the explosion of the
sch. Eagle, which presume will forever put to 81
lencc the many Misrepresentation which have been
afoat respecting that affair. Having been the author
OF the plan, feel it duty incumbent on me to state
70 my fellow-ctizens the motives by which WAS
tuated, and the manner in which the plan was fixed
and executed, and leave it to my countrymcn to
approve condemn the act.
My relatives in the State Of Ohio and on the from.
tiers nunerous-they have suffcreot much by In
dian hostility, excited by the British mandates, and
the blowing up Of the brave PIKE and his band Of
heroes, after the enemy had actually surrendered,
was, to my mind, an act Of such horrid cruelty,
that it called loud for retaliation. These are the
principal reasons which induced me TO contrive the
following plan, which has succeeded in destroying
upwards of one hundred of the enemy.
Ten kegs fpowder were put into strong cask,
with quantity Of sulphur mixed into it. At the
head of the cask fixed two gun.locks, with cords
fastened to the triggers, and to the under side OF the
barrels in the hatchway that was impossible TO
hoist the barrels without sprnging the locks each
side the powder-and on the top was placed quan.
uty of turpentine, and spirits of turpcntine, which
in all probability was sufficient to have destroyed
any vessel that ever hoated OH the water, if she
could have been got along side, which was the OBJ.
ject in view. The Eagle left this place for New
London the 15th of June and in eight % ten days
after, she arrived within sight of the enemy, about
ks N. ~
seamen, and many more in the bow and stern Of
the boat, to take possession of her, Capt. Kiker,
who commanded the Eagle states that the enemy got
within m,Eket shot, and that number of shots
were exchanged before they abandoned the vessel,
and when the enemy Got possession, he worked for
two hours to get her alongside the Families, 74 but
the wind dying away, and the tide being agana
them il supposed to be the of her not being
conducted alongside and that when the vessel blew
up, four boats were seen along side ;-and it is the
opinion of Capt. Riker, and number of others who
were very near the sccne that there could have
been less than one hundred men on board and along
side. Some suppose the number to be one hundred
and twenty. After the explosion, there not a
vestigc of boats or men to be seen. beat from
the "a was immediately despatched, but returned,
without picking up any thing. The body OF fire ap-
peared to rise upwards Of 500 feet into the air. with
blue streak ON the outside, and then burst like
rocket.
The above, as near as can recollect is the sub,
stance of the Eagles cruze, and of the plan. which
you at liberty TO give to the public, in such way
N York, Julyo JOHN sCUDDER, Jr.
July i6.
Il is with pleasure we learn, that the line
OF Torpcdocs, intended, if necessary, to be
stretched across our Narrows, are completed,
end can, at IL hours notice, be placed in a
situation to blow up the most It not all ves-
sells passing by Forts Richmond and Hudson
This Line of Torpedoes, together with the
Forts on each side Of the Narrows, which
will shortly mount upwards Of 100 heavy
cannon, will render, in our opinion, this Ci.
ty perfectly safe in case the enemy should
attempt to enter our harbor.
Jaly IL.
Extract Of a .erer from a gentleman or board
the Raniies, 74, dated July oh, enclosed
TO a gentleman ia this city.
"You will come down Long-Island about
SO miles, and then get on board a fishing
smack, which will put you on board the Ra.
miles. Gu: bargcs go on shore almost ev-
cry night at Providence, unho!ested." The
letter contains other matter, which it would
at present be improper to publish,
The new sloops Of war Of the Y. States
navy, lately built at Erie, arc noble vessels.
They are of the rate Of the Wasp and Hor-
net, each mounting eighteen ss-pound car