Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-08-06


friend in this borough With an extract of
a letter from Com Porter, on bis arri
val at the city Of Mexico, after the at
Il ppt to sssassinste him. The account
! given Of this affair by the Commodore
differs in some respects from that which
was published in our paper of the 18th
inst. copied from the New Orleans Ar
gus. The cecil and deliberate name
IN which these Williams were received BY
The Commodore and bis friend DIR
Boasdman, displayed a bravery s. firm
ness which have always marked the
character Of the gallant Porter whenev-
eF placed 10 danger.
"MExIco, May 2etb, 1929
1 have net yethsd an interview with.
the President, bu. shall to morrow,
when | shall settle all matters with them
and return home On my way here ]
had a most unpleasant and extremely
dangerous adventure. but nv good ge
MUS protected me as it has done on ma
ny other occasions. Travelling with q
friend and having no apprehension OF
danger, we we're suddenly attacked BY
three bandiid, being part Of a gang of
seven, well mounted and well armed.
with their faces BACKED. and looking
more like devils than human beings
We bad merely time to form a line on
one SIDE Of The read while they formed
on the other. The battle commenced
by their captain discbarging bis pistol at
ne at the distance Of a few PAGES. Then
fred, and should have killed him. had
not his horse thrown up his bead and
received the ball in bis neck IIe in
great raget6red again at me and missed
me-by this time ell the pistols of the
badd'tti were discharged as well asthese
Of ny friend, one Of ny pistols was
loaded. anu ] charged with ny friend in
among them; they fed and we pursued
when the captain suddenly wheeled his
horse, passed my.friend and came di.
Fectly ct me With his sabre to cut me
down; | waited quietly until he came
within six feet Of me, when I shot him
through the body; he fell on TIE neck OF
his horse, and they both came 10 the
ground together
His companions seeing this. became
intimidated, but after q little. seeing an
intention on their part to charge against
me (my friend being occupied in finish
ing the captain who was not quite
deadly seized @ small fowling piece
which was in the hands Of my servant,
and compelled them TO retreat: this left
us masters Of the Geld. We took pos
session OF the captains horse, arms sc.
and delivered them to the AIcade or
Magistrate of the mex viilage-the vii.
layers burned out armed. -andsgaye par.
suit, when soon meeting FIVE OF the gang
they killed ~ Of them 1t is a most
fortunate circumstance for US that I'VE
did not fall in with the Whole gang, If ps
bad | should not now be alive TO tell the
tale. Ny friend Or Bosrdman) re.
ceived a severe sa bre wound in his laft
arm. DAVID PORTER"
Il splendid Coffin The Coffin
which received the corpse Of the late
king of Madagascar, Rodam, was a
largo and massive one Of silver. 1T
was about eight feet long, three feet
and a half deep, and the same in width
il was formed Of silver plates, strongly
riviteditogether With nails ofths same
metal all made from Spanish dollars:
twelve thousand dollars were employ
cd j q its construction. Immense ouas
ties OF treasures of various kinds vera
placed in or ahect the cefin, belong
ing to his late majesty, consisting chief
~ of such things dnring,his life be. most
priced. Ten thousand dollars were
placed in The silver coffin for him 10
lie upon; and either inside, but chiefly
outside tae coffin, were placed or cast
all h's rich clothing especially military;
there were eight suits of vsry costly
British uniforms, hats end feathers.
goldsn helmet. gorgets, epaulets, sash
as, gold spurs, very valuable sword,
daggers, spears, tive OF gsld) beautiful
pistols muskeis. fowliog pieces, watch
es, rings, breaches. and trinkets. His
whole andsns sidsbsard ofsiivor plate.
and large cad solid gold cup, with
many Others presented 10 him by tba
Hing OF England; large quantities. of
costly silks, satiss fms cloths, very
valuable silk, Lsmbas of Madagascar.
&c. The missionaries say, ,ha. the
expense Of the funeral could not have
| been less than sixty tba,s.nJ -I