Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-08-06

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mander at the brig Adventure, then a prisoner In Al.
gers giving an account Of the wreck of that vessel
anu OF the Syene on The coast. the 18th u and Of
The treatment experienced by their crews Afer de-
sciiong the exerons made 10 get the crews safe on
| shore, NJ D'Assigny gives the following relation:
"Ssvlng assembled the officers OF the two brgs. we
On. D'Assigny, and nj Bruat, the commander of the
Sy'ene) presented to them the two means of safety
which naturally occurred to The fret was. 10 arm
ourselves. and TO remain near the briggs, until time
should eapse Tor the French vessels Of TO come to
our sGccour the second was offer no resistance and TO
aow ourselves to be conducted by the Bedouins TO Al
gers. we decided for the latter, our powder being
wet' and having little hope OF perceiving our vessels
during the dsy. Having then mustered all our me ~
ana collected some provisions which the sea had wash
ea asnore, we commenced our march towards Algers
at about four o'clock in the morning.
"We had scarcely proceeded a quarter of a league
when troop OF armed Bedsuins pounced upon us A
mong the men who formed the crew of the .Svlene
was Maltese, who had been taken on hoard this brig
near O'an; This man. knowing Arabic, and having for
long time sailed with Asetine seamen devoted him
SELL ne 1t were. To our salvation Having rccomme nd
ed to Ne not to contradict what he should state he
tested to these terocous bsrsaranr that were Eng
sh Three times was the ponard placed TO his throat
for the purrose Of terrifying him, and Judging from hi.
emotion whether what he stated true. Hi, firm
ness imro'ed upon the Arab, aud although they were
NOV quite convinced IL raised doub, in their minds
which partly contributed 10 save the crew"
"Under the pretex' OF conducting US to Algsrs by
shorter road they made take the route of the noun
ta'ns. Alter quarter of an hours march, arrived
at email village where thew beg an 10 plunder us with
he greatest cruelty leaving without shirts, ex-
posed 10 the uind and the cold rains from the north
Alter having travelled about four leagues in the noun
ta'ns, in traversng which were al different halts
stripped Of The rest Of our clothes. arrived at pref
y considerable village at which they ordered STOP
and distributed to each Of us small quantity Of bread
Here our msfortunes thickened AT the house of the
hrst Bedomin, who had taken under his protection
the women refused TO receive u were also repulsed
from the second house; but at length the females OF the
first house relaxed, and IL became our ASYLUM.
iowards the evening Of the 18th the frigates of the
division and some briggs approached the wrecked
vessels ana cent boats TO reconnore.-These dispos
tons OF debaIkaon spre AL terror in every mart, ali the
Arabs armed themselves and rushed dawn the noun
tans shouting; the took their children on their
backs prepared for flight whilst unfortunate pris,n-
ere. were shut up i'm the strongest houses, menaced
With death IL we made the slightest attempt to escape
We were on the point Of being assacred and the re-
port Of gun which fred app ared TO US to be thu
sgnal for our desruc'sD, whatever turn fortune nigh,
take. The Bedouins vanoui.hed would take ven
geance on us Tor their losses IL exalted by success
would add ne 10 the unhappy victims Of their fury.
fortunately the result more favorable than we
could nave hoped; the boats were recalled and every
thirg returned TO it, former state; but il was not the
'ame in the mountains NJ. Brnat, whom had left
with % men, among whom were the Maltese and six
ohcers, was at hrs lodged in the house with hi.
companions, but as large enough to hold them
all they were taken OIL, and placed in sort of M zone
oprn 70 me public by which they were exposed to We
ry bad treatment On the two first DAYS The Arab,
who had captured them, told them that the Bouberak
river had been so swollen by the rains which had fallen
thatit impossible take them 10 Alpiers On The
third day, although their intentions appeared still more
hostile, the lives of the insured BY the ar
rival oil the son of Turk who had passed the river
and who stated that the officers of the Dey on
the opposite side waiting TO protect u.s. but that the
Arabs were silly in believing that we were Eng.
lsh The Maltese imagined that his presence would
hasten the which we expccted az he wa bet
YER aole than any other person TO explain dreadful
situation NJ Brua,, therefore, despatched him with an
enrea;y TO use all diligence.
I'M. Btuat in swimming across the river lost his
clothes which were carried by the current. On
arriving at The opposite bank, Turk part of his
own clio hes to cover him. From hence he con.
eyeG 10 The tent Of tie ET.nd whore finding No ner
con who understood French or English he was nterro
gated in Spanish and received the strongest assurance,
OF the safety OF all. Two officers were immed
sent into the mountains, and he was permitted 10 write
TO his second Officer TO sive him the SINE assurances
The Efendi who evinced much humanity asked him
.evera' qne1tons respecting the intended Invasion; he
inquired, il IL true that the troops were
agains: their will M. Bruat replied that the conduct
OF our troops. when they shond dsembark would show
the iesehood OF this assertion AZ TO the point, or the
period al which the landing was take place circum-
stances alone could determine Nj Bruat particu-
aly interrog aed as to the contents of his dispatches
Upon his replying that he had torn them up a few
minutes before the wreck lie informed by means
OF Turkish officer who had just arrived and who smoke
French, that he could deliver them up he should be
Immediately set al liberty His reply was that even il
his life at stake he would not hesitate TO refuse
Every thing seemed quic, in the mountains and The
late OF our comrades appeared to be ture but about
O'Clock in the evening loud cries heard on the
Their side of The river and il that the French
division hal approached near the wrecked briggs and
that some Bedouns lad been wounded by discharge
from their guna, and that several Frenchmn had escap.
ed from the mounias4 having first wounded a woman
here These united causes probably the motives
or the massacre. Efend tCrned pale on hearing this
news. and complained to NJ. Bruat that the presence
oil the French ships had eXasperaed the Arabs without
being OF the slightest assistance 10 On The follow
inc day Nj. Bruat sent to Algers by order OF The
Dey. He arrived there the morning of the 20 H.
and was instantly taken before the Aga who repeated
The questions already Put TO him letter was shown
him Gated To"lon, which proved a he received infor.
ma'on OF all that was passing. On the day following
NJ Bruars departure from the mountains, the Arabs
conducted TO the river eleven persons including two
oficers; these were Immediately sent forward 10
Aigiers On the 20lh, at four o'clock in the morning
the Atdbs with whom and some Of my crew remain.
ed led us 10 The river, and placed in the honds OF
the Dey's officers, Of whom smoke French told ne
that we very fortunate in having escaped the
massacre that 20 heads had been carried to Agiers;
and that sti larger number was talked of-Ths ac.
count wrung ne 10 the heart, and the subject du-
ring our march, OF sorrewful conversation.
owe passed The night at Cape Ma,iloux On the
following afternoon of four O'clock entered Agfers
escorted by Turkish soldiers and followed by the popu
lace. We were taken in front of the Dey's palace,
WhfTe ihe ai peciac'e OF our misioriunes struck
sight IN all its horrible trutlthe heads Of our com
tadcs exposed there The eyes OF a furious mob
Several OF unable 70 bear this sad exhibition tainted
away AT the expiration OF ten minutes we were taken
to prison, where we found about twelve Of our men
Who with the sevPny-fou whom accompanied are
all that remain Of this dreadful shpwreck
"The English and Sandman ConsuIs had demanded
an audience OF the Dey TO obtain permission for the Of
hcers To reside with them; but begged the not 10
persis in IT, our determination being to abide with our
men and share their bad fortune The Sandman Con-
sui has taken upon himself advance the funds nece,.
ssry for the support Of the crews the expenditure for
which has been regulated by us with The greatest nos.
sibe order and economy. The Dey himself on the
day OF our arrival cen, us the objects which our fret