American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-08-29
From the Winchester { "a. } Republican.
DESPERATE ENCOUNTER.

DESPERATE ENCOUNTER.
The following circumstances were lately detailed
to the editor by gentleman Who lives near the place
where they occurred. They exhibit ferociy, and
at the same time fidelity Of character, that has few
parallels.
On the 9th inst. negro called at the house Of Mr.
Lloyd Ward, on the Alleeany mountain, in Hamp-
shire county, and asked for something to eat. Up
on being interrogated as TO his name, SC. he pre-
duced pass which Mr.. w. on examination told
him he would do we'll to be cautious about showing;
for if the person who gave it to him discovered,
he would certainly be hung. Upon this the negro
tore the pass in pieces, saying he never would be-
tray his FRIEND and confessed that he belonged to
person on Big Capon. Mr.. Ward then determined
toa pprchend him if possible and upon the negroes
asking fhe would hire or buy him, replied that he
was not able to do eith.r himself but that his neigh
Dor probably would, and offered to accompany him
thther. They went off together, Ward taking his
gun which was loaded, and the negro talking freely
by the way, without however exciting in the breast
of w. the least suspicion that he had any base de-
sign. When advanced some distance from the
house, the negro suddenly faced round, sprung at
w. and by a violent effort wrested the gun from
his hand, imedaiely cooking and leyeIling it to
shoot Most fortunately, the triggers were not set,
iii being -barrelled) and while the ruflian
was doing this, Ward gained tree few yards ds-
hunting Ratchet, rushed upon his adversary, who
was armed with large butcher knife, and dread
flu combat (both being large men) ensued. Ward
was assisted in the onset by a powerful dog, which
was soon despatched however, by sklful stroke
upon the neck, and the conflict maintained single
handed. 1t was horrible ARRAY. Victory for a
long time remained doubtful, but at last decided for
Ward; the negro being exhausted from the loss of
blood and surrenderng at mercy. Deep tho not
hurt that Ward sustained, although his clothes were
literally torn to pieces. Receiving promise from
the negro to remain where he until aid could
be procured, he departed for that purpose, but on
returning found him gone; although from the num-
Der and severity Of his wounds, it is highly improb
able that he will survive, Our informant adds, that
he never saw the ground torn as much by bull
6ght--the bushes were all spattered with blood,
and in many places there was much blood on
the ground as if some animal had been butchered.
OMNAMBULISM.-A young man in the
village OF Taunton, (Mass short time since, get
ting up in his sleep, opened window in the third
story ofthe house in which he lodged from which
he actually suspended HIMSELF holding only upon
the lower part OF the frame with one OF his hands.
From this situation he was seen in a short time to
recover himself without injury, having awakened
while thus suspended!
The HORSE is valuable animal and if kindly
treated and prudently exercised, will be seryicea
BILE TO good old age. In June last, HORSE died
on the plantation of JOSEPH WALMsLEy, of Byber-
ry Township, Philadelphia County, al the age of
81 years.
Outrageous.- writer in the New Orleans Iris,
states that on the 18th ult. he sent corpse 10
OF the burying grounds Of that city, through charity,
when the right of seputure was refused. The
corpse was returned and decenty inferred in pri.
waite lot with this inscription placed on the coffin
Z" The last rights of hospitality are denied"
The James Kent, steam boat, now plying on the
Hudson, is lao feet long, 4a feet wide, and measures
upwards OF 400 tons. She is fitted up in the most
splendid style, with cabins and drawing rooms and
sitting rooms, sc. She starts at O'Clock A. NJ.
and arrives the same evening a; Albany, at about
10 O'Clock, so miles.
A Scotch paper of the 18th June, says, that the
monument in memory Of Burns, was in such state
of forwardness, that the gilded tripod with which
it is 10 be he surmounted was expected 10 be placed
on the building, on the 24th of that month. The
placing OF this monument to be done in masonic
form
An Arkansas paper estimates the damage sus-
tanned by the planters on the Mississippi 10 conse-
quence of the late inundaton, at not less than
IS 100000.
Cheap 1IavelAng. price of passage to Liverpool
in the splendid ships belonging to the New York lines is
reduced to thirty gineas, which includes all the comforts
and xurcs usually found board of these first rate pack
cts.
DIED-In Philadelphia, on Sunday morning, Mr.. DA-
vID HOGAN, Bookseller, in the 50tb year of his age