The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-07-15
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BY THE MAILS.
ATTEMPT TO ROB TIE MAIL.

hours after the usual time. 30 great delay az
this season could only be accounted for on the
supposition that anothcr attempt had been made
to rob it, and this II appears was the tact.
About sixteen miles from this city, and be-
tween one and two o'clock in the morning, the
driver Of the mail carriage discovered that his
progress was Distracted Is Aome rails placed a.
cross the road, which in that place was narrow,
with high banks on each side. The guard who
sat by the driver had his attention excited by
this circumstance, and seeing two men approach
from the fence at the side OF the road,r he fired
at them with his blunderbuss one OF them he
believes fell, and on examination afterwards
some blood was found at the spot; two other
men instantly appeared close to the first two, at
which the guard fired two pistols-in succession,
it would seem with little or no effect, as the men,
Immediately approached the carriage, and the
guard hayinp no further means of attack or de-
fence, was knocked down by blow on the left
side of his head, as he thinks with the butt of
pistol the driver seeing the fate of the guard,
took to flight, and proceeded towards the near
est house on the road to request assistance.
In the mean time one of the assailants stood
BY the PROSTATE guard, with pistol presented,
threatening to shoot him if he cried out or at
tempted to move, while the other went into the
carriage to rifle the mail, and, while so employ
ed they frequently called out to their compan-
ion to Shoot the guard which order he did not O.
bey.--After being employed short time, in the
carriage, the assailants departed, leaving the
guard alone and without having tied or other
wise injured him after the first blow, which
wounded him SO as to cause some loss of blood,
but not dangerously. At parting, they told the
guard to remain where he was, and not attempt
10 follow them, threatening to put him to death
if he did. After waiting about half an hour, the
guard who was still weak from the blow he re-
ceived, attempted to crawl in the direction which
the driver had taken, and proceeded about thir-
ty yards, when, fearing that the noise be made
in crawling among the dry leaves, might be
heard by the robbers, he stopped and remained
there until the driver, with some persons who
had accompanied him from the nearest house,
approached and assisted him to return to the
carriage.-The driver stated, that on the first
approach of the robbers, one of them fired pistol
this circumstance the guard has no knowledge
of, but supposes it might have occurred without
being noticed by him, while he was engaged IN
firing at the assailants. The driver also states,
that more than four persons attacked them.
On examining the Mails at tie Post Office, in
this city, it was ascertained that the mail for
Baltimore had not been opened-the bag contain
ing the great Southern Mai, had been cut through
on one side about foot In length, but as it APP
peared to be as full as usual, ii is supposed that
there could not have been much, if any thing,
taken out oft. Whether, in fact there has been
any thing taken out Of that mail, and the extent
of the robbery, can only be ascertained at Wash
ington where it will be opened.
Half past one o'ctock.-We have just heard
that three persons have been arrested at Ridge
ly's Forge, one of whom is wounded in the
breast, and another has one of his hands much
shattered ; they are supposed TO be three of those
who made the above attack. The cavalry of
the city, aud number of the civil officers are in
pursuit of the robbers.
p. S.-Since writing the above,we have learn
ed that traces of blood were discovered in the
woods about fifty yards from where the robbery
was committed, and from the circumstance of
grubbin hoe and spade, with blood on the handle,
being found there, il is supposed that the r0bber
mentioned as fired at, was either killed, or so
badly wounded that his companions, fearful it
would lead to discovery, put an end to has erist-
ence, and buried him.
The faces of the robbers were BACKED ! aud
shirt was also found, which has the appearance
of belonging to blacksmith.
Baltimore, july 8-haLfpGst one" this
moment learn by express, that three of the mail
robbers have been arrested. One of them is bad
ly wounded in the breast by the shots of the
blunderbuss the other in the hand, probably BY
pistol. The fourth robber is yet missing, and
may have been killed.
Extract of letter from an officer on board the United
States ship Franklin 74to gentleman in Newyork,
dated Valparaiso. March 10th. 1923.
We are all heartily sick of the coast, but pre-
sumo we must bear with patience, yet another
year. Our first step from here after you sailed,
was TO convoy the ship Canton to africa, and
Quilca, which ports were in a declared state Of
blockade but which the Commodore did not see
proper TO respect. At africa, we witnessed