Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-01-02
Nsoe York, Dec. 90.
TUE ALIGATOR'S PRIZE.


TUE ALIGATOR'S PRIZE.
The Portuguese ship Mariana Flora,
commanded by Captain Ventura Anac-
leto de Brito, has arrived at Boston
from the Coast of Africa, prize to the
IT 9 schooner Alligator. Lieut.. Com.
stockton. This vessel was sent in by
Lieut.. S. for an attack upon the United
states flag. The following particulars
of her capture are taken from the Bos-
ton papers:
On the sth Nov lat 90, long. 80. the
Mariana Flora was discovered by the
Alligator. standing to the N. and E.
Che soon after tackled to the South
ward. and az the Alligator neared her,
she ciswed up her courses, handed her
topgallant sails, and hoisted small blue
nenant half mast at the main top gal
liant mast, az a signal of distress. 1t
was supposed on board the Alligator
that shs was in distress, and she accord
inOly run down for her, under press
of sail. but was surprised by the dis
charge eff the whole broadside of the
sbip when within short distance OF
her. She kept up firing for nearly
an heur. in a raking position, before q
.jngls gun was fired from the Alligator.
All this time the flag of the United
States was flying on board the Alhga-
tor and the ship was without any ma
tional flag displayed. The Alligator,
at he expiration OF about an hour from
the first attack, commenced firing on the
ship. and continued the same till she
was within pistol shot of her, on her
onarter. when all her broadside being
ready for discharge, Captain Stock
ton hailed the Ship, to kaow who and
what she was. and whether she had any
national flag or not. No answer was
returned. but few minutes after the
Portuguese flag was run up at the miz-
en-. and two guns were discharged at
the Alligator after the flag was up
Can't. S then hailed the ship, saying
If they did not cease firing and send
their boat on board the schnr. he would
sink her. The crew on board the ship
then deserted their quarters, and the
captain of the ship soon after came on
hoard the Alligator For this attack
on the flag of the United States, Capt.
Stockton thought it his duty to order
her to this por' for trial.
The shr. mounted 10 guns, viz: Q
long les, 2 long 6s, 4 "a ID caronades,
and 9 l8lb caronades, and had on board
go men. including officers. Part of the
guns were thrown overheard. All the
officers and crew are still on board.
She came into port with the same
penant flying, and displayed in the same
manner, as it was when she attacked
the Alligator, or when the Alligator run
down for her. A more particular ac-
count of this transaction, will no doubt
be forwarded to the secretary of the
Navy.
The prize crew consits Of Is, including
Lieut.. Abbot, prizemaster. Midship-
man Geo. s. Blake, and hlr. J. Dixsn,
masters mate.
In a communication from Lieut. Alb
bot, TO the editor of the Boston Cent?
mel, be remarks:
"From circumstances which have
come under my own observation, and
what have learnt from the prisoners,
the captain of the prize appears to have
been for number of years captain of a
guineaman in the slave trade. The
crew are SAID TO have observed. that
they had had plenty of fights before;
but that at this time they told the cap
tain it would be no good fight for them.
for they knew, by our looks, we were
an American man of war; and that his !!
orders were to hght US, let US be what
we would"
In addition to the above, our Boston
Correspondent communicates the fol-
lowing:
The ship Mariana Flora got under
weigh this morning, and beat up to the
Chsrlsstown. / think she
will be given, up, for it appears evi.
dent, that she was engaged in q legal
trade, and the captain states that he
took the Alligator for Buenos Ayrean
erivssssr, or pirate, aRd he supposed