Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-04-10

tee and liberality.
FROM UTH-AMERICA.
Extract ola Letter from Captain .qlmeda,
| dated Santa Martha.
On 9Th of December, 1915, L left Cape
Henry IN the schr. Friends Hope, bound to
the w est-lndies on the 2lst made the Is.
land OF st. Domingo, and went into Aux
lCayes; on our passage we spoke a sloop
from Jamaica, who informed us Carthagena
was in possession of the Spaniards. we
took pilot and set sail for Carthaeena on
the Spanish Maine; on the morning of the
18th, made the Highlands of st. Martha
| then ran the land down. On the MORN
ing OF the 9TH, when abreast of the town of
Carthagena, we were hailed by the sentinel
from the walls, who ordered us to keen
away anc let go the anchor. We were in.
stantly boarded by three boats full of arm
ed SPaniards, who took possession of our
Vessei at the same time robbing and strip
ping US OF every thing, even the clothes we
had on, and IN that naked state, after thew
nad beaten us with the butt ends of mus.
kets, backs of swords, sticks, &c. were car.
RED on shore. Myself, mates and crew
were put IN prison among large number
OF other prisoners, who were diving every
day IN that situation remained one ,iay.
when and my first mate were taken ont
and carried to another prison. where there
were number OF American and English
prisoners, whose vessels were taken in the
same way my second mate and crew we're
taken to another prison where there were
a number of Carthagenian prisoners, who
were dying daily for the want of pt DIVISIONS
and water-there they remained DAYS
without either provisions or water, and the
place they had to sleep was 5 or inches
deep IN dirty water-when they did get
water and food, it was of the worst kind
and IN small quantities. On the goth. I
and my two mates were examined. and our
dispositions taken--we were Obliged to sion
what they wrote in Spanish. Immediately
after, they had search for our pilot. who
they found and condemned to hard labor.
On the 1st OF Jan. we were taken out
and ordered to march for st. Martha in co.
with the officers and crews of the schr. CO.
met, OF baltimore, captain Shillaber, and
hhgilsn orig Avenger, captain Hawkins.
amounting to 63 in number, the greater
part without shoes or hats, and a number
slck-those who were so much so that thew
could neither march or stand, were proyif-
ded with asses to ride on. The first dav
we got 16 miles to town called Ouack9.
very much fatigued and worn out, az we
had water but once on the road. We eton.
ped until morning at that place. then set
out and marched % miles to town called
villa Nova number by this time had be-
come unable to walk, and the guard finding
1t impossible to beat them along any fur.
ther, which they were in the practice of
doing, provided asses for them. We star
ted from Villa Nova before day, and march
ed without once being allowed to stony 90
miles, to town called st. IsIow. On this
days march, Mr.. Cox, my first mate, faint
ed on the road ; on his recovery he was
compelled to march as usual. From St
lslow we marched to town called LARGO
Parblo, distance of "a miles, where we
got something to eat--but had to start i'm
mediately again in the night, and were dri-
ven on to Savannah Largo, 90 miles far
Their, making in that days march a miles.
Here we were permitted to eat the day
following, which was Sunday. On Mon
day morning at 2 O'Clock we again started.
and continued our march to Villa Nova IA
second town OF the same name y during
this days march, we were met by some sol.
dlers on horseback, who sat upon their hor-
ses and beat us with sticks as we passed
them, without the guard attempting to pre-
vent it F; also, towards the latter part of this
day, the guard beat captain Hawkins and
several others without the officers taking
any notice of it we left Villa Nova at two
the following morning, and had very good
roads for about 20 miles to MaIambo, where
we got something to eat and continued our
journey 8 miles further, to town called
Solidad, where we were to embark-durine
this days journey the guard continued 10
beat the prisoners they struck one of the
Comets crew, and Knocked him down..
az English boy had his arm sprained by the
blow from musket. At this place 90 Of
our number were separated from US. and
taken to town called Baron Keila, 8 miles
further, as boats could not be procured al
this place; we stopped here till Thursday.
when we embarked to cross the MacdeIena,
we were carried by water so miles to San.
ia Martha and landed among fishing huts.
During the passage we were Joined By the
lrest OF our men, who had embarked at Ba.