Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-04-13

" w en tneSe SnlpS were WHINE miie'
IOf the bridge, the seamen turned these lOu
that had the mines within their holds, d.
rectly down the midst of the channe
against the bridge, not valuing the Sinai
vessels, and setting fire to the matches
presently leaped into the boats TO observ,
the success at distance. But wanting
their pilots, they did not keep one course
Most of the small ones dashed themselves
against the machines fenced with sharp
spikes; or run aground upon the banks /:
and of the four that carried destruction In
their bowels, one leaking, was swallowed
up in the midst Of the river, vomiting out
thunder and smoke; two others by the
/ force of the wind, were driven ashore on
the Flanders side !; and the last had nearly
shared the same fate, being violently driven
towards the shore, which, with the sight of
the loss of the rest, made the Spaniartls tri-
umph and scolf at the folly Of their enemies
But the last ship being stronger than the
others. broke through all opposition, des-
troying all the engines and contrivancc
made to hinder its progress, and came iuri.
Ousiy on against the bridge. At this sight
the suldiers shouted with terror and fear
The Prince of Parma, himself, came thither
when he heard these shouts, and endeavor-
ed to prevent the danger from this fire-shir
by commanding some marines aboard to
dispense the wood and quench The fire, and
others to keep it off with large poles ana
spikes. lie himself stood on the wooden
castle on tie bridge, and with him several
| oil his chief commanders and the guard OF
the place, and among them Spanish en-
sign, who either had some knowledge of
such engines, or knew that Jambel was ex-
cellent in this art, who came to the Prince
and earnestly entrested him, that now he
had done all that was necessary, he would
please to withdraw. and not venture his
life wherein every soldiers life depended.
in so dangerous place'-but being reject
ed. he still insisted, and throwing himself
on his knees before the Prince, said,
most humbly intreat and beseech you, most
/ Industrious Prince, as you value your life,
which L now see exposed TO the utmost
hazard, that you would for this once take
the advice of your servant
{" Saying this, he modestly plucked him
by the garment, and with kind of com
manding air, entreated him to follow him,
who interpreting this unusual freedom of
the man to proceed from an higher power,
at last consented. and with some others
went away. The Prince had hardly enter
ed st. Maria's fort, when the limited hour
for the match to fire the mine was come,
and all on sudden this fatal ship exploded
with such horrid noise as if the very skies
had rent asunder, and heaven and earth
come together, OR the whole body of the
earth had trembled, for the storm of stones.
chains and bullets, being thrown out with
thunder and lightning, there followed such
a slaughter as cannot be imagined. The
castle on which the Internal machine fell
the bridge next 60 it, with the soldiers, ma.
rines, arinor aud arms all these the whirI
wind swept away together, tossed in the
air, and dispersed as the wind doth leaves
of trees. The river Scheidt prodigiously
gaping, was then seen to discover its bot
tom, and again swelling above lis banks
overtiowed the adjacent shores. The mo
ton of the earth was felt nine miles off
and great grave stones were thrown mile
from the river, and sunk two feet into tn,
ground. But the destruction of men wa
very deplorable some, the terrible VIC
lence consumed, or carried into the air
| WnChSC tucJ icil DTulSSu OH the earIl~O
into the river; others were stiGed with TIN
poisonous smoke; others boiled to dealt
with the scalding waters many slain witt
the showers OF stones and some, the grav
stones both killed and entombed. Th
ViscOunt Of Brussels was darted out of hi
own ship, at great distance, without hurt
A captain, by this Internal whirlwind, wa
carried, heavily armed, out of st. Mary
fort, like chaF in the air, and thrown int
the midst of the river. from whence, b,
swimming, with the loss of his armor, h
escaped. A young man of the Prince
guard was carried over great part of tn
river into Brabant, considerable distance
/, only hurting his shoulders little when h
, fell on the ground, and SAID he seemed Xix
{ a bullet shot out of a cannon, he felt such
, violence forcing him forward.
TO conclude, there were 500 slain, an
the Prince Of Parma was in great danger
, though good distance of, by great stak
. which struck him down, where he Law som
time in trance. And indeed the desola
ton produced by this execrable engine wa
c such as made the people say that the autho
OF it fetched the terrible fire, which mad
the river boil with heat, and those pestifcr
Gus mortal vapours, frOm;the internal Dit
/ and that the thunder and Lightning wa
Q procured by magic art.'
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