Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-07-16

swercd by roria OF ricshe.ry from :,
troops who were drawn out close toll.
which killed several, and spread cow.
nation among crowds OF towns peo,,
had assembled TN the spot -Four NV
band, who had presence Of mind 70 ,n.
upon their horses, escaped in difTe,sfp"
rections out of the town, though fola
by cavalry and fired as they fed. Ap"s
er portion were made prisoners Ny
third division sought security in a ,s IN
the first place of refuge which OtT..s9
self, and which having only one yevI
entrance afforded them a defeneibls!
lum for some time. The depth and ~.
ness of this receptacle made il dimeaI
attack them with success, for they LIN
a soldier and wounded several other
had ventured too near the Aperture y
this last desperate set, four, howeye, -,
themselves up, and made known the n".
Der that remained. In order TO h,;ns
speedy termination as possible 10 !!
dismay and agitation which this event y
spread throughout the city, two Of thoI
who had been last taken were sent IL
their companions, with their hand. Il,
to persuade them to surrender, and "a !;
form them, that ii they persevered :,
resistance which from the local natu,.
their retreat must be unavailing, a s,rl
fire would be Ii hted at the oriIce, a, a
only means of Fastening their compIi,n1
or destructlon.T The unfortunate men n,rs!
returned; and no answer being given n
threat was put into actual execution ,,l
the aperture blockedup with stones In,)
gination pictures their situation as mo-
horrible but its tcrrors were eluted /,
the last resource of despair. Two hon.
afterwards the cellar was entered within.
opposition, and their lifeless bodies COW,
| ed with wounds indicated the death Il.
had received at each others hands.
.sIn about five hours, some dcpre,.
tranquility was restored to the city, a
it was evident that the feelings of sls,l
occasioned by this singular event, L .v,l
those of aversion and universal replst
ton which the excuses of the bapd.
had excited, now yielded to emotion, !
compassion, called forth by so terrific
untimely a death. Even the policy whc.
, prompted this severe punishment m,
with comments and constructions BY \
means favorable to those whose duni
was to infict it.
"In the evening the shops we're n
opened and | returned to send my Letter
of recommendation to the general coz
mandant of the division. and the inten
| ant, who both showed Inc every sle
ton and civility during my stay. But
had with me a document Of similar !,
port addressed to very different chan
ter from either of these distinguished p
sonages.
"On my leaving Benevento, one Of
most respectable inhabitants, fearing
might encounter the Vardarelli troop
their way to head quarters, gave N
letter OF introduction to one. of TIE
which he assured me would be the NE
Of securing me from all such danga
the existing uncertainty of their pro-.
and movements might render possib'
not probable. The person to whOu
was addressed had been employed o.
farm of the writer, and retained fIie
ly and even respectful feeling toward,
former master, which had shown Itself
| several occasions since they had part
| Curiosity led me to inquire whether
| person was among the survivors Of
dreadful catastrophe of the morning a
having sent to the prison where they've
| confined for the purpose of ascertain
the fact, | was answered in the affru
| tive, and conducted as l imagined, tOl
| cell which contained the object Of M
quiries. 1t seems that the substance
my message having been conveyed fri
mouth to mouth, had undergone mat
ial change in its purport; and betOr
was rendered aware ofthe misunderstal
ing, found myself in low vaulted roo
at the back OF the public prisons, ,
standing opposite to several naked bod
exposed on some straw. One OF tn
was pointed out to me as that of the in
v;dual whom sought.