Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-09-24
From the Sidney Gazette, Dec. Is, 1924.

I, From the Sidney Gazette, Dec Is, 1924.
The Governor Macquarie fell in with
the English whaler Elizabeth, that had
Only Just arrived from the Friendly ISL
ands, after providcntial escape of cap
ture by the natives of lavaoo. On the
9Th of June, the Elizabeth went into
Vavaoo to wood and water. Here the
vessel remained for several days up to
the 18th of the same month; on which
day chief visited the vessel, attended
with armed followers, and accompani-
MED by an European OF the name OF
Brown, some time resident at Vavaoo,
who lived with one OF the native wo-
men, by whom he has family, and
had so entirely sunk into barbarism as
to Join in the plot. Captain Douglass
did not come ON deck before 9 o'clock;
he was surprised at finding a number
of the canibals in the vessel, and gave
directions for their Immediate flight to
the canoes. The chief, who was near
the captain, hereupon took down a
staunchcon from under the skids, and
rushing forward, gave the war whoop,
and struck the captain several times
on the head, till he was apparently life
less. The chief mate, carpenter, and
a boy, were also levelled to the deck.
The crew were so unsuspicious of any
treachery going forward, as to be scat
tered in all parts of the vessel about
various duties. The natives soon be-
came possessed Of the deck, while most
of the crew assembled the rigging, with
the exception of the steward, who with
another man were in the cabin, and
soon commenced rapid fire through
the cabin windows, and up the compa-
Mon, at the savages, making every
shot tell; while the crew in the tops,
which had been provided with arms by
captain Douglass, opened discharge
Of musketry by which the chief was
wounded with two balls, who fed into
the sea, and he was followed by all on
deck, with the exception Of the fellow
Brown, who was wounded almost per-
pendicalarly in the breast, and secured.
The ship was not many minutes in pos
session of the barbarians, but the deck
exhibited most frightful spectacle
The cables were slipped, and the crew
providentially succeeded in beating out
of the harbor. Had the contest lasted
much longer, the vessel must have
been taken, the powder being nearly
exhausted. When they left the bay,
il was ascertained that ten in number,
comprising captain Douglas, his chief,
and third officers, carpenter and six
seamen, were dreadfuIly wounded. The
Chief mate and carpenter only survived
two days, Wills, captain Douglas lin
gered ten days in excessive torture
One boy was thrown overheard and
drowned by the natives. The second
officer, upon whom the command of
the ship devolved, had his collar bone
broken, and also received a severe cut
in the head, from which he shortly re-
covered,
Captain Dillon, of the Calder, was at
Otaheite when The Governor Macqua-
RE was lying there. He sailed from
thence Tor Navaoo, the island at which
the above affair transpired, and took off
with him the man Brown, till then
prisoner in irons on board the Eliza
beth. He had been left at Vavaoo ORR
ginally by captain Dillon.
The following account of Turkish
army in campaign, is from a recent
number Of the Military Journal of Ber-
lin:
can Ottoman army may be compar-
ed to those bands of armed pilgrims
who at one time inundated ali parts Of
Europe; but instead of long train of
PILGRIMS, bearing the cross and rosary,
Turkish army is followed by dervi-
ses. clothed in strange nantes, and
riding upon asses, in token of their hu-
nifty. They are at the head Of a troop
which carries the colors Of the Prophet.
After them come a light body, called
the lost Children who pillage and ra-
wage The Country through which the
army passes. They precede the TINA
riots, or national militia, mounted upon
asses or mules, procured at their own
expense, or rather that Of the country
in which they levy their contributions.
Then come the infantry, formerly the
pride of the Ottoman army, but now
entirely degenerated. They are armed
with guns without bayonets, and pistols
without poignards. They march with
out order, in detachments, like so ma
ny flocks of sheep. Behind them are
the topchis, or artillery men, whose
cannons are drawn by oxen or Chris
tian slaves, whose pace is quickened
by the lashes Of the whip. Among
these soldiers some are singing, others
crying, and others firing their pieces
in the air. The rear ground of this
mixture is closed by chief, richly
| l.. l.,