Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-01-22
From the same pape,.
pIpATpc

II
port under the following circumstane ,s,'
When off the Hole-in-the.Wan.I4b,"
COY in company with the briggs Com
Preble and Florida, both from Kenne'
bee bound to New-Orleans, fell in WITH
a suspicious schooner, with an Amer.
can ensign and pennant flying, with
four guns and apparently twelve men
on deck. On coming up, the schooner
fired two guns to bring too the shin and
briggs, and afterwards fired a shot,rd
gun directly across the bows Of the
Louisa. The schooner continued to
sail round the vessels, her commander
asking numerous questions respecting
the latitude, the course they intended 10
pursue, &c. Capt. Hopkins dislikinp
her appearance, hailed the briggs, and
after supplying them with ammunition,
OF which they were in want, it was
agreed to ascertain before dark the in.
tentlons OF their consort. The Loui.
sla and the two briggs then wore, and
stood for the schooner, which made all
sail to escape. The Florida fired the
only piece she had on board, and cut
away her foresail haulyards. The Loui.
STA then fired FIVE guns, some Of which
took effect on the rigging Of the schr.
The latter then signi6ed that she had
struck. Capt. Bowen, of the Florida,
sent his boat and brought the Captain
and another man, both Spaniards, on
board the Louisa. They appeared to
be perfectly unconcened, and made no
complaint Of the treatment they had
received. After OBTAINING them on
board until o'clock, A. NJ. the Cap
tains of the briggs decided upon dis
charging them, and they were returned
to their vessel. Next day, being nearly
calm, discovered the schooner, having
repaired damages, still following. At
night when the latter was about four
miles from land, black sloop Of about
thirty-6ve tons, put of, towing large
launch, which was despatched full Of
men to the schooner when she imme-
diately stood for the briggs, then about
three quarters of a mile of.
A breeze coming up, as soon as it was
dark, the Louisa made all sail and stood
for Savannah. Capt. H. is Of opinion,
from every circumstance, that she could
have been nothing but pirate; but
having only ten souls on board, it was
impossible to retain possession of her
without the cooperation of the Cap
tains Of his two consorts, which they
declined giving. Captain Hopkins
fears that unless they were fortunate
enough, like him, to escape in the
night, they have both been plundered,
if nothing worse has occurred to them.
The schr. was long low vessel, pilot
boat built, of about forty tons burthen.
with Fame of Philadelphia" on her
stern. The Captain called himself ia
cob Silbert, and said he was from Phil
adelphia bound to Alvarado, out IS
days. The Louisa is armed with two
twelve and two eighteen FOUNDERS
The briggs with one gun each.
On reference to the Philadelphia
papers, we find that the schr. Fame,
Silbert," was cleared from that port
for AIvarado, on the 18th Dec. by J.
Beylle s. Co. The account given OF
himself, by the alleged pirate, there
fore, is so far correct. The persons
by whom the vessel was cleared, can,
perhaps, furnish some information.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. l9.-Capt. Rigid
way, from St. Thomas dec. 24) in
forms, that about ten days before he
sailed, a desperate gang Of Thieves and
Pirates, Is or 30 in number, had been
arrested, and would be tried after the
holidays. Among them were some
old offenders. 1t appears to have been
their intention to supply themselves
with goods and money from the stores
and iron chests in that place, and to
take possession Of two or three OF the
best vessels in the harbor to carry oh
their booty. Two vessels had already
been selected for this purpose, viz: the
new schooner Joanna Hamilton and
brig Morris, Williams, both oil Bal
timore. Part of their number, undef
pretext of wanting passages, actually
shipped on board with view to assist
in capturing them Immediately after
sailing. They had small sloop be-
longing to one of the leaders, which
was to take out men and arms to eject
their object. The same sloop was al
forwards captured with FIVE OF her
crew, by Danish sloop DIVA Capt.
R. adds, that too much praise canno,
be bestowed on gov. Van Scholten, Of
St. Thomas, to whose vigilance the
public are indebted for the timely ar
rest of those outcasts Of society.
Freeman's Journal
LATEST FROM ENGLAND.
Ne,o-York, Jan. ls-The Packet snip
W., Tbomnson. CAPTAIN Croker, ar