Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-09-09

ants rushed iato tsc iaulss Casia, Use iaiI eHes
keeping up the deception by screaming most
Justify. Here he was seized by the supposed P-
rates, who, after pulling him about and tr'Shteh-
ing the poor smpet0n nearly out OF ms scnSes'
ran Off A loud cheer was theu raised on t'ie
deck, to mark the defeat Ut the pirates, the lead
err Of whom it was affirmed. had been shot dead
in attempting to reach the schooners boat
The second act of the hoax was played oh on the
next day. Our hero who had been congratulate
ed, by all his fellow passengers, on the courage
he had displayed in defending the fair. was usf
ured into the presence of the ladies', who, with
the ceremonies usually attendant on the bestow-
al of knighthood in the times of chivalry, made
him kneel down before them: they then bestow-
ed on him the honor of knighthood, placing on his
head crown of their own manufacture, and Wv
inc him medal, made by impresslng dollar
on a piece of leather, on the reversed OF which was
an inscription. commemorative OF his heroic and
knightly conduct on the occasion of the packet
being attacked by pirates! He took the captains
place at the head of the table. wearing The crown
on his caput, and proposed the opening OF sub
scription to reward the crew for their heroic cour-
age in defending the ship, handing out his own
ten sovercigns towards the fund! The farce was
| kept up from that day to the end Of the voyage.
the poor simpleton believing, all the time. that
the George Canning had been actually attacked
by pirates, and that he, by his own personal cour
are. had saved the ladies' from being murdered:
or subjected TO even worse treatment than death :.
He related the story wherever he went; and to
crown the hoax. the Morning Herald contained
an account of the piraticaI attack on. and plum
der of the packet ship George Canning; on her
passage from New York TO Liverpool!
We subjoin the account gwen OF the above
occurrence in the Herald, to which paper. doubt
less, it was furnished by Sir john s..
I've give the following extraordinary state
ment. which was obtained from one of the pas
sengers of the George Canning, without note or
comment
"Thc George Canning, Captain Allan, bound
to Liverpool. from NewYork, was boarded at
sea ON the night Of the 21st of June, by pirates.
Six kept station on deck, and four entered the
large cabin. One fellow presented pistol at the
head of gentleman IA passenger) who placed
himself against the door leading to the ladies' ca
bin, and thus prevented them effecting an en-
trance. The pirates threatened him with imme-
diate death if he did not move out Of the way,
when another of the party dressed as a sailor,
came down, aud looking at the gentleman, desir-
cd the party holding the pistol not TO fire, as he
knew him. The passengers aud crew armed
themselves, and fired at the pirates-two or three
of whom were wounded. They succeeded. how
ever, in regaining their boat, having obtained a
small amount, of money from one of the passen-
gers. This must have takeEplace very near the
| English coast. The ladies have subscribed sum
of money, in order to present the gentleman, by
whom they were So CALAMITY defended, with a
gold medal, which is now manufacturing IN LII
verpOci.'