Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-07-04
We blush that there should be found a


every suggestion OF humanity, as in their
unhallowed views of self ACKNOWLEDGEMENT,
deliberately to plot the destruction OF
seven of their species, the innocent instru-
ments of furthering their base designs
We trust that our forbearance to give ear
ly publicity to this brutal deed, will ena
Bile the intended victims, to bring the
wretches to justice, and that no legal sub
Titles will be resorted to, to screen them
from merited punishment.
Communicated
THE siOOP NORFOLK.
For particular reasons silence has been
preserved relative to this Vessel, but as
these reasons no longer exist, the public
will expect an account of transaction,
design.
The Norfolk arrived in this port on the
18th of this month, under circumstances
as stated in the following extract from the
Beacon Of 10th inst.
Betreen the Forts-Sloop Norfolk,
Robinson, from Philadelphia, bound to
New Orleans-put in in distress The
Norfolk left the Capes of the Delaware
on the 10th inst. and on Thursday last,
l4th inst. in lat. SIS 81, long "a IS, at
A. NJ. the Mate, being below in his birth,
found himself almost suffocated with
smoke; he Immediately gave the alarm,
when all hands being called, on examina-
ton the smoke was discovered to proceed
from the after hold, and search being
made, it was found that the fire originated
from some boxes and kegs containing oil
of vitriol, which had been shipped at Phil
adelphia, without the contents ofthe pack
ages being known to Capt. R. The bot
ties bursting set fire to the articles with
which the vitriol came in contact. The
extent of the damage to the cargo is not
yet known; some few articles were thrown
overheard, and many others somewhat
burnt 1t is hoped the injury may not be
considerable. Capt. r. deemedit prudent
to bear away Cor this, as the nearest port,
as his situat ion at sea did not admit of his
ascertaining whether the fire was entirely
extinguished. The Captain and Mate suf-
fered much from heat and smoke, in their
efforts to extinguish the fire. The cargo
will be discharged"
When information of the vessel being
here reached Philadelphia, some alarm
was excited, which was increased, by find
ing that upwards of $4,000 dollars had
been insured in the Offices of that City, on
Cargo, and that goods and specie, stated
to be OH board to a very large amount,
were uninsured, or elsewhere insured. A
confidential Agent, residing here was re-
qrested to look into this business on the
part of the Insurance Companies, who re-
ported his opinion. Mean time, the In
surance Companies, having collected some
material evidence sent on special Agent
who, in conjunction with their Agent
here, proceeded on Monday last to 60 into
full investigation, by an examination of
the Cargo, when plan of unexampled
villalny was developed.
The first examination took place at the
Virginia Bank, of four kegs, which instead
of specie contained lead in bars. About
sixty packages were then opened, and
found to contain in each two or three pie
ces of pig iron, and filled up with hay: &C
cording to the invoices, these packages
should have contained goods to the amount
of So 900 dollars. On deck stoed case
which was stated to contain the box of
carriage, invoiced at 900 dollars; upon
opening it, nothing was found but hay,
some hoops and slaves which had bound
the hay in bundles. 1t is but Justice to
state here, that Messrs. Watson d Son,
Merchant Tailors of Philadelphia, had six
OF seven packages in the vessel, which
were found to contain what they purport-
ed, and these are the only packages on
board which were not shipped with a
fraudulent intention
The other shippers, according to the
Bills of Lading and Manifest, were j.
Hulme, Humphrey Green, Daniel ScuU,
and e. T. HoIingshead; for the three
first, assurances were effected; the latter
does not appear to have been insured in
Philade phia: By Bills Of Lading he ap-
peared to have shipped seventeen packa-
ges of merchandise and five keys OF spe-
Gle ScuU appeared to have shipped and
insured two kegs of Specie; but only the
! four kegs of bar lead were found on board.
Yesterday the Agent from Philadelphia,
with the Master, set out for that City,
where full investigation will be made,
and the guilty parties, it is hoped, be pun
ished.
Various opinions are entertained upon
this occasion, and it is not little difficult
to arrive at correct conclusion of the ORR
gin of this ambominabie transaction, and
perhaps at present 1T might be well to
hazard no conjecture. The mate and