Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-01-26

III me 10 the cabin. The nrSt thihs
a,r,rk nv attention was IL armed
'hal e;,,;np on a circular seat round the
ine'' ,y;t6 horrible looking countenan-
ca"i" ,'rned with cutiasses and pistols,
t,yo oAicers--the contents Oh my
WIZ. were turned over the CABIN floor. the
irS S1" 6lIed with empty and full porter
E,a'u, ,I invited me to take glass, l
po. "1;ned--one ofthe rufians replied 1t may
,,,,r last-they then placed char IN
ne 5a,,re of the cabin, and ordered me 10
une I'm in front of the IL ruihans, win
ST. Ger ON each side, it is Impossible Tor
we 10 describe their oounteE nances'- I'd T.rt
,ben addressed by the oiheer Oh my leil
= The following manner. NE are inform
~ Won have large sum oil money on Dodr4
Cd we must have i'll then toi1 MN
sad landed it. What did you laDo II ior !;
pncamse il is the law and custom 10 land
De- .. much as will purchase and pay
nc dut;es on the cargo. The officer re-
LID Il IS a damn'd lies your money is on
I'D They then ordered my boats crew
o' Sn con, Ior-I told them | did not go IN
o,Sn boat. but in boat belonging to the
Charles. He then told Inc those stories
pi ,ld moi do for them: the money was on
80 and i'll would give it up every thing
I'D he .acred--l told them as before, 1t
INV landed. A cutlass was lying on the ia
Ia no drew pistol from his belt and pre-
sau,ed.it 10 my breast, saying II did not
80 nm the money | should be dead man.
s,ben rose from my chair very much agita-
,oJNhe then put the pistol to candle, o.
uoned the pan and examined whether 1t
l~as nr;med. and put il to my breast again,
u,tering the most horrid oaths and calling on
m. name of God that he would put me 10
instant death il did not instantly give up
NV m,ney at that time be had me by the
Shoulder. and told me to turn round: re-.
6,sed- saving ifI was to be murdered
woulj face my execuhOner, who, by so
doing would deprive wife and four chill
dran Of their only support-he then sand ne
wouId spare my life until general search
was made, but if the money was found he
shosId put me to death.
The order was then given Tor general
search. and candles were ordered, they
ransack ed the ship for 80 minutes, during
which my apprehension was great, but
fortunately they did not attain their object,
and returned to the cabin where they drank
freely of porter. They then asked me II
had any watches, told them had, (pre-
viously 20 this tn y bad taken one FROM my
trunk J ami J was ordered TO be searched
by these rufians, had silver watch IN
my fob and gold one in my jacket pock-
et, which they took from me value about
POO dollars. At this time it was aboutt
past 9 O'clock. and they began 10 embark
ON board their boat and leave the ship des.
fined for the other vessels near me viz
brig joseph, of BUston-hrig Charles Of \.
York and northern scbnr. name not re-
ColIecte9--,hose vessels we've boarded al
nearly the same time, and plundered Of
their money and seamens clothing one
man vas killed on board the Joseph and
two boats cut from her and driited to the
westward, from thence they went on board
the pirate, towing the boats belonging to
them. Two of them came along side me
second time, about half past 10 O'Clock,
and hailed for rope, was the only per-
son Oh deck, and stepped forward desiring
some OF my men to hand rope, when they
came on board, they exclaimed, what are
you doing on deck you damned rascals
on which informed them that called to
my men to hand rope: they were then
sent forward The same officer, though
intoxicated, came on the quarter deck,
where was setting, and said, what are you
doing on deck, sir: thought told you TO
stay below. replied was taking the air.
1T this time both crews al the boats went
into The cabin to take parting glass. They
did not tarry, as the commander came by
from the other vessels, and hailed them to
come on board to get ready for an expedi-
ton on shore-the officer on board my ship
then invited me to go down into my cabin,
aud take 4 parting glass. We went down,
and bottle OF porter was produced : he
poured out glass and drank my good
health, bid me good night, cut my boats
from the ship and LETT me. About half past
IL O'Clock, they left the piratical vessel,
landed on the island, plundered the inha-
bhanls of 1900 dollars, part of which
belonged to the aforementioned vessels,
took all the merchandise contained in the
stores, broke all the furlIitu and drove the
nien, women and children from their beds,
naked--killed several Of the habitantS-
the governor had his legs broken by being
drawn from piazza.
On the 26th Of November, schooner, a
conSort OF the ship, anchored at that place
and cut out Portuguese brig BCnavista
had also been robbed by this ship
hope the merchants Of the United States
will join in petition to congress, not
doubling their readiness to afford relief
against tie dePredati0ns committed BY these
petty pirates, as they have hitherto done
against those OF a more exalted character.
cannot omit this opportunity of expires.
s!ng my entire appreciation Of tue conduct
Of my Ulcers and crew on this trying occa-
sion, as they behaved in a manner worthy
oi themselves, and creditable TO the cha
rscter Of American seamen.