Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1822-12-14
THE PIRATE-FIGHT.
Extract of letter from an officer on
board of the United States schr.
Alligator, to his friend in
Washington CITY.

Washington City.
81 will now give you brief account, in
detail, OF The Pirate Fsght ofths 9th inst -
The Alligator was coming to anchor the NOR
ming previous, in tho port Of MaDtarzas,
when Information was brought on board
that an American brig and schr. had been
captured some days before, aud W ere then
at anchor and 10 possession of q large gang
OF Pirates in & bay on the east side of Point
Hycacos, about Is leagues to the wiudwsrd
OF Mao,anzas, and that the master Of the
brig and mate o. The schooner had been sen,
In the preceding morning by the Pirate. to
procure $1,000 for the ransom of the two
vessels, with which sum they were to return
IN three days on pain Of their vessels being
destroyed, and the officers and crew remain.
ing on board treated with every severity
! their avsricous revenge coald inflict.
Having the master and mate 90 board, we
immediately stosd to sea, and proceeded to
the release of their vessels. At day light, an
the morning Of tn 9Th inst. came 70 another
an FONT Hycacos and within one Of che Isl
ands at thu entrance Of the bay, and about
lUos IL miles distant from where the brig
and schooner had been left at aachor, being
hid from our view by intervening land.
We then discovered, some little distance o.
yer ANAL island, ship, brig, and schesn.
er, lying ss anchor, and, little further to
the leeward, small schooner under ,ail. her
deck apparently filled with men. and bouta
communicating between her and the vessel,
ct anchor, ,he I'VE last of which, at the
same time, getting under way. With the
bests OF the Alligator chase was Immediate.
y made after che schooner, and she with
her 'wesPs endeavoring TO escape by doub.
ling an island nearest Poiut Hycacos, and
steering up the bay. The wind being light,
After rowing three or four leagues, We had
gained withio reach, when the chase roun.
ded, hosted red flag, and commenced a
heavy fire of round and grape upon us.-
We soon rsgainsd her wake, aud when with,
IN reach OF our musksts commenced our
ire, the men at the oars at the same time
giving way 10 lay alongside and board on
her quarter. At this tins, q second schoon-
sr armed and filled with men had comman
ced hting upon Us, aud passing some distance
ahead, brai'ed up her fore sail on the STAR
board bow of the fret, which wa were DOW
within pistol shot OF, and had sienced her
hfs with our email arms, when her men took
prectpttately 20 their boats, four or five in
no mber, towing on the iarbeard ride TO get
on board their cnnsort, when oar Two boats
iianach, Captain Allen, and cutter. Lsu..
DALEY pulled away to cot them offs Seeing
cur object, they returned on board their YES.
sci. Ws Immediately regaiped our position
ssterD to pull up aud board on her quarters,
returning their fire of small arms; and thew
again took to their boats, now or the STAR,
boerd side, aud escaped on board the otaEr
schooner. Captain Allen now directed
mIdshipnan with four men in his gig, which
was near Us, to board and take possession of
the first prize, and with our two large boats
roWed immediately after The second, now
reinforced with from so "a 40 mon In add.
ton to her own, (which we since understood
to be from 80 to &c, all furnished with small
arms and boarding pixies, &c. and had gain.
ed within twice cur boats length OF her stern
and laToosrd quarter, sustaining end return
ing their fire, when the co.ter began ~ veer
OF. and was falling round on her Aterbcard
bow from the obstruction OF killed and woun
ded at her cars, ana ths lauGch unable to
keep away with the chase from like causes,
(snd Captain A. haVieg previously bsso
wounded by two musket balls, Of one OF
which he died four hours sfter,) both boats
dropped alongside the prize and remuved
onr killed (two) and wounded five, two
since dead) on board her. Sh. was armeS
win one long IL FOUNDER, Ton piyot,) TWO
do. e FOUNDERS, 2 do. 3 gsunders carriage
guns, and Two swivels, her red flag nailed
to The mast In the cabin and run were q
number of bottles filled with powder, AID
slow matches through the cork', some of
which have been lighted, and exIingulshed,
it appeared evident thar the pirates had set
fire to them on frat leaving her, expecting
she would blow up 5000 after our boarding,
but, returning so instantly on board, they ex-
tingui,hsd The matches, and the last time
they were Too closely driven IN abandoning
her, 10 take time 70 retire them The pi.
rates now kept off, and IT, shore, whers they
were joined by another schooner, about three
mileS distance, from rs, uf heavier armament
than either Of The others, and about thirty
meU on board. (accoTa;Dg to our subse9uent
informstion,) both, however, kept away un1
der ibe lspd; and, with ouE pri5s, We stood
out to The Alligator. Having buried or kiln
ed, end taken the wounded on board, crews
we're sent to take possession Of the brig snd
schooner In the bay, both of which had been
cut adrift, and weTs found without any indi.
viduaI on board either. The next day. With
those aud the ship, brig, and schooner, we5
had firSs seen at anchor, all of which had
been abandoned by the pirates, on the Ali u
gators Coming in she morning previous, lea
ing orders for the two Iast to follow thsm
to the bay On pain IF death, we prOceeded ~
Msn!snzas, where the remains OF Capt a.
Len we're inferred With military hoDors;
e'cOTs being furnished by The Lieut.. Co
Dor of the leland, end Commander Of i=
tahzas, who expressed much sympathy
regrst for bis 6eath, and The deprecated,
increasipg villainie,, that bad caused it.
"He had, the day previous N our fry
ing 10 there, furnished arms, &c. 10 %
board small American schooner, az
quest Of the Americans in the port, aBs
her a commission to go out and re C
the two merchant VeateIa Bot | am