Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-06-08
A NARRATIVE
OF the suBSrinqs and ssegDe Of capt ~
SFPH GERR1SH.

Many OF our readers may reCohe''' soy
the Newburvport Herald, that capt Ger
risb, commander of the brig Retrieve, Of
this port, was captured by the savage ma
. lives ottawa, when passing over land from
Batavia to Samsrang, in 1918. The fol-
lowing is,an extract from one Of his let
tiers, which has Just cone to hand, de-
failing the particulars of the savage treat
ment he received. and OF his almost mira
culous escape from captvity--it is dated
''Samorang, Feb. 9, 1873.
DgAR BROTHER.
Since writing you last have gone thro'
ascene of anxiety and distress, which l
hal no expectation should survive. On
the 29a January, on my return from ba-
tavia. fwhere I had been obliged to go over
land to obtain ny port clearance and
certif, atesl Nas made a prisoncE by
band Of n0Iives who had ventured upon
the rublic road--a narrative OF which
relate Ia yon-at one o'clock Of said day,
I discovered a hand Of about loo men arr
med witt pixies, knives, and muskets, I'M
mediately on which the driver lett his
seat and csc ped, leaving the horses run
Mug towards The sayages, and before
c u3g in the reins, was within ten pa
ces nf their advance when the horses stop
ped AMI I jumped from the carriage, up
pon which uu>ket was instantly present
ed 10 my breast. but missed tire, then
seeing their intention gave myself up, beg
eine Tor lile-whtp they instantly rushed
upon me and seized ne by the throat and
arms. an afe, using Inc in the most sa-
ware manner, they rifed my pockets; they
then put cord, made Of bark, around my
neck, and pinioned my arms with the
same cord, drawing them So close behind
nv back, as to put me in the greatest ago
ny alter which they tied my wrists "a
.ioss. so as to completely stop the c'rcu-
la.on OF the blood /; they then lit being
the beat of lheTday, commenced march
with me, without any hat, often pulling
The cord which led TO ny neck after
walking about two miles in that distress
inc condition they made halt, when they
act ~ most horrid gel, at which there
inst nifty appeared from the edge of the
woods. detached party bringing two ma
ked bodies. one pf which they brought by
the side of no, pierce in a shocking mani
ner--t!,e other appeared TO Shew symp-
toms Of liff-they then turned into the
woods ON the opposite side with the dead
bo,Iy, with ri OF the patroie with me
Tic o'her party kept TN with the other
holy, and oarriage and horses we had
not gore tar into the WOODS when they
sill. hdy buried tie corls, naked as 1t Was,
ami 60 ;inuei or with me my anxiety
wa. So great. an the agony wa, in 30
extrrsie, hat Inc sweat ran of 1T he bot
,o4 q: Ny garments. After gong seve-
raj mi e, IN that conditioD, they came 10
a sma, .Illage by river, over which
thsy ha4 % pass on loS, except those
who !ednle, max ng me wade through.
asked 20, water to drink. but was lnhu-
manly d, MED we then came to an ex-
tensiye rsddy ground, where instead oil
going on the dykes. they made me wade
through the mud about foot deep alter
crossing this extensive plain, we came 10
a second river over which they made me
wade as before, when we came to the
village where they belonged.
was then seated on The wet ground
in the stocks, where remained until the
chief came :; was then taken out, placed
on bench, and 10 men called who foia-
ing their hands, kneeled and kissed ms
feet. After which they were brought be-
fore me, and their knives examined, IN
which place supposed Twas to be exeeu-
ted, but hearing the chief say Hotidhder,
Immediately said .4msricGR, from when
he appeared 10 look earnestly al me, anu
as earnestly at him. repeating the word
.imsric0n when after lew Moments
le ordered tie knives to be returned, ana
conu anded me 10 be taken of the bench
anu put into shed, 1t raining violently.
After | was seated he wished to ascer-
tain '.here was from, where going. and
10 what county | belonged al which |
gave him to understand. then Showed
hin, my hanls ans neck how they were
swollen. aud what misery was IN; Nhcn
he ordered me agaiu 10 he searched anG