Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-09-19

He is represented howevef, as GONZALES
cent. The persons sent to look after the
negro, found him dead. The spot where
the struggle took place is said to look
more as II it had been trampled by con-
tending armies, than by two individuals.
NORFOLK, Sept. Il.
Horrible Confession. Every body re-
members-iudeed, who can forget the
bear,.repdng calamity at Richmond, on
the night Of the 26rh Of December, when
the walls Of Theatre, exhibiting within
them scene Of gaiety and pleasure, were
suddenly transformed into mausolenm
Of inundated victims. II was never sIs-
oected for moment that the hand OF an
incendiary had any agency Ia that mourn
fli occurrence--it was almost beyond
credibiily that demon capable OF such
deed, could exist 10 human shape--it was
universally believed TO have been the re-
suIt Of accident--and snch might ever
have been the conclusion but for the gra-
tuitoms confession OF an Individual that ne
performed the hellish deed! The fact Of
his having made this confession, is sup
ported by the following certificates oftwo
respectable masters Of vessels to whom it
was made. Captain Block is well known,
and his standing 10 society such as to for
bid doubt Of the correctness OF his state
ment, which he viii at any moment make
oath 10 If required
THIS is TO CERTIFY, That On
the 9th Of this month, I was ia company
with Captain Block, Of Richmond, and one
- Hall: that the said Hall, in the
course OF our conversation, said, he used
to run a vessel between Richmond, Nor
folk and Charleston Is. @. THAT he fur
Their said, that he recolIected well when
the Theatre at Richmond was burnt, and
said be burnt it with his own hand, and
boosted Of it.--Capt. Block asked him
what he did it for His reply was that
he had an inclination TO destroy some of
those Richmond gentry. He further told
how he set fire to il. The above | am
willing to attest to before any authority.
JOHN GAVIT.
Bermuda, August 81, 1920.
THIS is TO CERTIFY, sEFh Hat IN q
conversation with Capt. John Gavit, ofthe
sloop Ospray, Of N. Haven, at the Island
OF Bermuda, on the 9th Of August last,
Captain Frederick Hall, who once COM
manded the sehr Plough Boy, which sail
ed as packet between Norfolk and
Charleston, and who afterwards command
ed the sloop Experiment, which also
sailed between tiIUse two ports was pres
ent-Capt. Frederick Hall, in the course
Of conversation, repeatedly aud boastinsly
declared, that he set on fire the Theatre
OF Richmond, which was burned in The
winter OF eighteen hundred aud eleven,
and assigned as his reason for so doing,
that he waited TO destroy some of those
Richmond gentry. The manner in which
he effected it was, he declared, by being f
on the stage behind the scenes and hoist.
ing the Chandelier with his own hana &
until the fire communicated with the see. 4
merry and curtains. further certify, that a
Capt. Gavit called with me several times
at the Consul's at Bermuda, TO depose 10 II
his certificate, but that ID consequence Of
iDdisposition he could not attend TO it.
VIM. BLOCK. 4
Norfolk, Sept 9, 1920. +
A question naturally occurs on reading Il
these certiiicates--ff man could be base
enough TO perpetrate so horrible crime,
IS it possible that he would, uninhuenced 1
by computations Of conscience, and know
ing too that 1t must render him for ever 40
outeast from civilized society, make a vol
untary confession Of bis guilt Neverths-
less, that he did make such confession
there can be no manner Of doubt. Again,
II he did net commit the crime, his boast.
ing that he did commit it, 10 not less uu-
accountable for to say nothing oil the y
savage brutality Of such conduct, il must
inevitably excite suspicious unfavorable &
to his character, and render him detesla 4
Die N the eyes of all honorable men.
We were the more shocked and sur
prised at this disclosure, from recollec'
ton Of the fair standing which the indi'
vidual implicated 10 il maintained 10 inc
public estimation while running a Packes
between this port and Charleston, some :
ten OF eleven years ago. AT that time DIS
conduct and reputation we're, as lar as VIC
have ever heard, without stigma OF re-
preach. Let him answer this dannh's L
charge, N he can. y
New, ORLEANS, Aug. 10
Idoiatry and Qaackyg. In the middle
Of town, public attention was YESTERDAY
attracted, and large crowd gathered
the Principal 10 see several persons Sa'
4 - -. Al...or On q :. l.