The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register. (Wilmington, Del.) 1824-1825, 1825-03-03
AMERICAN cAPTIvEs

DIR. Cowderv. who was ON board the trigate,
was taken into captivity with the rest OF ms
countrymen; but, from circumstances which
will transpire in this narrative, he had the
good fortune to be permitted to visit all parts
of the town, and many curiostiesin the coun-
try-to see the manners and customs OF the
inhabitants, and to learn their characters
and dispositions He kept regular journ-
al from the time ofhis capture, to the time
ofhis release, in which he noted, as infinitely
as circumstances would admit, every thing
novel or remarkable. We againpresent them
to our reader, believing at the same time that
they will be read with satisfaction.
Extract from the journal IF Or. Go7edery
Kept during his cahtipity in IrHhoH.
After the signal of the Philadelphia was
struck, and the officers and crew were wait
ing the pleasure of their new masters, the
Tripoltan chiefs collected their favouritcs,
and, with drawn sabres, fell to cutting and
slashing their own men, who were stripping
the Americans and plundering the ship.
They cut off the hands Of some, and 1t IS be-
leved several were killed. After this bat
le amongst themselves was little over, we
were ordered into the boats, to be earned
on shore. One of their officers, whom had
taken by the hand, and who promised ne
his friendship, came to me, took me by the
arm, and told me | must so. | asked him
to let my boy go with me, which he refused.
then took hold of my small trunk, which
contained my best clothes. He gave me to
understand that | could not take it. but
should have every thing taken care of, and
l., H. L ,.E., 4, u
and hurried me over the side of the ship,
while his other hand was employed in rifing
my pockets, from which he took about ten
dollars.--I had concealed some gold IN my
clothes which he did not find | then went
down into one of their boats, from whence |
was to pass into the next, which was almost
full of orr officers and men. | made all
haste to get into it, for | observed the Turks
in the boat where was, were stripping my
messmate, DIR. Harwood, and the carpenter,
Mr.. Colby; but was soon stopped by three
OF the ru.iians, who stood over me with
drawn sabres and cooked pistols and wrest-
ed my surtout from under my arm. Whilst
they were picking its pockets, and quarrel
ing with each other fer the booty, sprung
for the next boat, which was waiting for me.
In my way met little fellow, who seized
me, and attempted to get off my coat; but
Jumped into the one which was waiting a
mongst my fellow officers, where | thought
the Turks were more civil. They then set
off for the town, compelling our men to row
the boat, and standing with drawn sabres O.
yer our heads. When we had got near the
shore, they ordered our men TO stop rowing
Two of them came to Inc and gave me Sc
we're blow on the side Of my head. They
then searched me, and took case of sur
eeon's Instruments from my pocket They
took my pocket book, but finding it contain
cd nothing but papers they returned it
One took my silver pencil, and another the
handkerchief from my neck. They Their
began upon Mr., Knight, sailing master, MIR
Osborne, Lieutenant Of marines, and all thc
officers in the boat, and plundercd thei,
pockets and took the handkerchief from
their necks. They then landed us at thu
foot Of the Bashaw's palace, where WI
were received by guard who conducted u
into the palace before the Bashaw III
viewed us with the utmost satisfaction, AM
had us conducted into an apartment wher
we found the captain and several officers, VIII
arrived in another boat, Just before Her
was a table set in the European stile. TIL
servants appeared tobe Maltese and Neapo
itan slaves. Here We supped, after whcl
it was announced that another boat had ar
rived with OIL officers and men, who wer
before the T'ashaw--Captain cambridge re
quested me to so and look for Dr. HARDWOOD
whom it was feared was killed. | foun
him with the carpenter before the Ba5haw
stripped Of every thing but their shirts an
trowsers. They afterwards informed u
that they were stripped in the boat wher
lost my surtout; and when they got With
few rods of the shore, they were throw
into the sea, and left either to drown {
swim ashore. The Bashaw's servants gay
them DRY clothes: and We were all again col
Quoted before the Bashaw, and formed I'M
a half circle. He was seated on his lit
throne, which was decorated III the Turl
ish order, and made handsome appearance
He was a good looking man, aged abo
thirty-five He counted MS, viewed MS vii
a smile, and appeared highly pleased wi
us. We were then conducted by the mi
lister of exterior relations and guard, to Il
house formerly occupied by the Amerc
consul--a Very good house with large coul
and roomy enough for our convenience. "
were seated here obout 9 O'Clock i'll the eve
ing. Capt. cambridge got permission fra
the Bashaw to send for the Danish conSl
who paid US a y.sit, and offered every {
sistance in his power. We slept upon M
and blankets spread upon the floor, VIII
was composed Of tiles.
November /. This morning the DAM
consul, Mr.. Nissen, paid us another VII
CAPTAIN cambridge engaged him to furn