Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-07-13

tered the cabin, where the mate and pas.
sengers we're confined they in.errogated
us as to the cargo and destination OF the
vessel, behaved politely, encouraged US
not to feel alarmed, as they intended us
no injury, The captain was then ordered
into the cabin, after which the whole com
nanv were taken individually upon deck,
and required to confess if there was mo-
ney on board, and there being none, mega
tive answers were OF course gwen. Ha,
wing proceeded through the examination 81
the whole, threatening al the same time,
if they found any money, our lives should
pay the forfeit-they agaio ordered US
with the crew into the cabin, threw blan.
ket over the gcompanion way. and placed
guard over us-the slaves were IN the
meanwhile kept in the hold, guard post
ed over them. After the lapse OF quar-
ter of an hour, during which the pirates
were making preparations to torture US IN
to confession that We ha money on board'
we were again sum Honed upon deck. be-
ginning with the sailors, then the captain,
mate and passengers. (The passengers
were called in the following order, VIZ:
Stephen w. Wikoff, capt. John Campbell
VIM. lnskeep, Chas, A. Warteld, Will
liam Campbell.) Those who remained
behind in the cabin from the sound of
arms, the agonizing groans and the prayers
Of their fellow passengers, who went be-
fore them, and from the termination OF
their woful sufferings by the report of pig
tolls, we're convinced they were to suffer
cruel death. So regular and systematic
! were the arrangements, and so well calcu.
lated TO inspire terror and to fill the breasts
of all with the most dreadful apprehen-
SONS, that every man marched upon the
deck expecting to meet inevitable death.
/ We were all in succession ordered upon
the deck and made to run the gauntlet
through IS or 20 most ferocious and bar.
bsrous monsters disguised in the shape OF
human beings, from the cabin to the wind
] lass, being beaten most cruelty and up.
mercifully with swords and pistols. until
death would have been welcome visitor
We were then ordered to sit upon the
windlass with our backs turned 10 them,
there to be shot-they put the pistols to
our heads and fired them--it is impossible
to describe our feelings. when after the re.
port Of the pistols we found ourselves still
alive. This was the system Of terror
they adopted to compel us into disclo-
sure of our hidden riches, as they ina
gined. We were Immediately, as we
we're successfully dispatched, ordered in
10 the forecaste, there to await their fur
Tier vengeance. Language fails to con-
sey an adequate conception OF our asto'
nshment aud agreeable surprise when we
behe!d eur fellow passengers, who we be-
lieved were sacrificed to Spanish cupidi.
ty and sunk into their watery graves, still
breathing the breath of life, but whose
counlenances etiIl communicated the cru
eI apprehension that harrassed their minds.
In this place we remained Illuminating
upon our situations, and anticipa ting the
most horr;d consequences of Spanish bar
barity. Git is worth while 20 mention,
that when we were brought to the windlass
we found it bloody, those hellhounds OF
war having in order to convince US OF The
murder of our fellow passengers, killed
duck and sprinkled its blood on and about
the windlass.) The sailor who had secret
ed himself being discovered. was barbar-
iously beaten; the poor fellow believing
that we were all dead, in order to obtain
some cessation of bis tortures. told the pl--
rates that he knew Mr. Wikof had a box
Of money in the hold, to get at this box
they cut the cabin fool away and broke
few of The lockers, but their search was
in vain, for there was no money, they then
recommended to maltreat the sailor who
persisted in declaring that he knew There
was box of money on board; not being
able to find it, they beat the sailor most
cruelty. Mr.. Wikoff was then ordered on
AL, ,e bo woo oecondipo . r,,ff,t q h..
bed him in the thigh with a stiletto-being
on deck, he was again barbaronsly treat
ed, being stabbed in several places and
beaten with swords and pistols--in vain
he declared he had no moIe money-in
vain he declared his ignorance of there be-
ing any on board; to cap the climax ofhu-
man suffering, they put a rope around bis
neck and hoisted him up to the yard arm,
then dropped him almost lifeess into the
chains. then struck him with with swords,
calling out for money; but he was too far
gone to answer--they again hauled him
up to the yard arm, and when be was APP
parently dead, they dropped him into the
water, then drew him up and threw him
into the long boat, which was alongside
the brig-when he was able TO move, they
drew him on deck, and beat him back in
70 the iorecastle. At the sight rfhim bleede
ing profu-ely from severa! wounds, wea
kened from the loss OF blood, and almost
drowned, we all again were certain OF IN
dergoing the same cruel treatment. In
this horrid state Of suspense we were
suffered to remain for hours. Being
disappointed in the object Of their
pursuit, they commenced to plumber the
brig of every thing that was valuable
the captain Of all the briggs papers, and
his desk With all his private papers, and