Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-09-03

Captain DouviIle, arrived at Savannah
from Port-au Prince, whence he sailed on
the 18Th inst. reports that Gen. M'Gregor
was at ux-Cayes. and could not raise suf-
hcient funds to get away.
From the Charleston City Gazette.
CRUEL USAGE.
The following extracts have been po-
litely furnished US, by the gentleman to
whom The letter was addressed:
HaDana Prison, July 90.
have been nearly three years pri.
soner, and have suffered more than tongue
can cypress For your .amusems nj will
give you small sketch OF them. was
taken on The Sd of October, 1916, IN sight
Of St Jage de Cuba, and on The 4th was
brought into Havana, and committed 10
prison, with all my crew, SO in number.
On the 5tb | was confined in the dungeon
by myself, and both legs put in irons, and
only allowed one plate of rice and
pint Of water for "a hours-no person al
lowed to speak to me, or render me the
least assistance whatever. Previous to
my being put ia the close room, the jailor
took from me my watch and what money
| had about me clothes | had none, ex-
cept the shirt and trowsers had on, hav
ing been deprived of them before. In
that situation, remained in the dungeon
until the 25th Of February, 1917, nearly 5
months, when Com. Taylor appeared off
the Moro. with his squadron, and sent
letter to the governor demanding me and
my crew, in exchange for prisoners he
had on board-the governor was little a.
Iarmed at the appearance Of this squadron,
and Immediately ordered me out of irons;
then hand-cuffed me, and eleven others Of
my crew, and put us on the march for this
place, under strong guard, the most Of US
bare foot, and only allowed sufficient food
to keep life in us, and nothing more-in
this situation | was compelled TO march
ESQ leagues, which took US forty six days
to complete il. We were obliged to use
every exertion to reach here, as the 60.
verner's order 10 the officer Of the guard
was, in case Of any Of US giving out, so
that we could not reach this, to cut off his
head, and bring it here in a basket, to
.hew that he had not made his escape. We
all, however, arrived here on the l2th of
April was in most dreadful situation
my feet swelled to that degree, that they
were nearly round ; my Toe nails came out
and the vermin on the renant Of the shirt
and trowsers | had on nearly devoured me
my beard six months and half grow.
ing. as was never allowed to shave or Cur
my beard from the time | was taken until
arrived in this prison I; therefore, will
leave you to Judge what figure cut. /
was very near dead so lar gone, that |
partly lost my senses but by the attention
Of some Of the prisoners, and the assistance
of some masters of vessels Of my acquain-
lance, | recovered again in part {; | still re.
main feeble, owing to the horrid living we
are obliged TO put up with; all the allow
ance get, is, one ounce of bread and one
ounce Of beef for twenty.four hours-we
are allowed some damaged rice and
beans boiled together, but make no use
Of them cannot ca, them therefore
am obliged to support myself, or starve-
the most Of the prisoners make QUITO live
by their work man must work atten-
lively to earn l2i cents per day--some
have starved to death.
Many people, no doubt, censure me
for being taken in arms against the Spa
niards; but they are ignorant as to the pro-
vocation Ibad which induced me to take
arms against them. bad been defraud-
ed and cruelty injured by them. | will
give you small sketch In the time of
the late war between Great Britain and A.
merica, | purchased brig; a Spanish
merchant now residing in Havana, procur-
ed Spanish papers tor her, and lent bis
name 10 them, for which be charged ne