Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-04-05

We have seldom heard Of more oareface'
and shameless attempt, by imprndent aSsunp-
ton to deprive poor lad ofwhat was in the STRICT,
est sense of the word his own, than Is discioseo
in the following. which we copy from the ffovi-
dcnce Literary subaltern. If the statement DC
correct, the conduct and language were utterly
unworthy, we will not say of gentlemen, put OIL
honest men fit be not correct, 1t ought 10 De
officially coptradicted. New- York Sentinel
Mysterious.-A mysterious affair occurred On
board of the President Steamer, while Oh her pas
SAGE from New-York to this port on the morning
of "Wednesday. We were wltneSseSt 10 part vi
the painful occurrence, and 1t Is more WIN .'e
hone. that the recital of the story will prevent
similar disreputable occurrence-at least 50 iaf
as number of gentlemen passengers were con-
cerned that we tell the story, which Driehy Is as
follows:
1t appears. that as stranger lad, aged ABOUT 10
or IS, was promenadiag the deck OF the steamer
his eve wa arrested by roll of bank notes. which
lay near the vicinity of the office OF the captain;
The lad. of course, took up the roll-examned
it. and finding that it was of great value, lmme'
diately reported annoy tie ships company, pas.
seneers and crew. that he had found pacquet OF
money of value, which he was ready to surrender
to the owner, if the property was identified and
proyed. The finding of the money was very soon
made matter ofnotoliety throughout the steam
err. and captain Bunker, the commander OF the
g! President, anxious that the loss should be made
good to the unfortunate loser, directed the bell
man of the ship, to cry the loss, from stem TO
stern, and from :'clew to caring All thls was
done, and yet nobody appeared to claim the loSt
property.
As ample publicity had been gwen to the voya'
gers of the steamer and as no one had claimed the
| money. the lad said that he considered the pro-
perry his own, and his only, unless 1t was claim
ed by the legitimate owner. Here difference
of opinion arose between the lad and lew Of the
passengers; and that by the latter 1t was contend.
ed. that as the money had been found on board OF
the steamer. 1t ought of right to be delivered up
to the captain, and that in the event OF us not
being called for. it should 60 to the benefit OF the
stockholders of the Steam Ship Company! The
assumption was urged with considerable warmth
and pertnacity by one or two of the Stockholders
| who happened to be present ;but as the lad would
not accede to its Justice, warm feelings, and IN
| Gamatory language, was issued on both sides.-
On the part of the lad, it was contended, that
4 pubIic steam packet was as much thoroughtare
az the common turnpike road that whatever
property be found IN the decks of the ship, 1t 1t
was not called for, was in law species OF trea-
sure trore and that the captain OF the steamboat
stood to him in the same relation that keeper OF
turnpike gate would, under similar circum.
stances; and he therefore ayOwed, that he could
not surrender the money to Captain Bunker or
any one else unless the legitimacy of the loss
was fully established, and the money identified
by the loser The lad was undoubtedly right, in
equity and law; but it was decreed that he should
not leave the boat unless he money was surren-
,lered to the captain. Hard words and ungen-
tlemanly epithets were now applied to him by Sc
veral of the passengers; and in the end, his nte-
gritty and bis motives were mpugned. This was
too mnch for him. and he fell into alternate fits
of laughter, weeping, and wailing. His honor
was assailed-he wept bitterly and loud-and IN
paroxysm of anger, threw the money upon the
CAPTAINS deck, and said that it was the most I'M
fortunate incident in his life, that he should have
found the money. He was a sailor lad-hls per-
sonal appearance was interesting and imposing,
and if we are capable of judging, we should say
that a more upright or more noble minded
youth never existed. On our feelings he made a
favorable impression, and we could not but pity
the sorrows he endured. from the consciou sness
that he had been wrongfully and unprovokedly
accused of the commission of crime at moment
when his every act proved the purity of his mo-
tives. Although we cannot admire the conduct
of the passengers, who so unnecessarily and un-
Justly assaed the pride and the sensibility ofthe
youth, it is due to Captain Bunker to say. that
he treated the lad with every kindness, and was
evidently not disposed to give him unnecessary
pain or any uneasiness. The money remains IN
the hands of Captain Bunker, and if no one
should call for it-and it is by no means probable
that it ever will be demanded-it will, at pro-
per time, be delivered to the lad. who. it was
evident, was very anxious it should be delivered
to its legal owner.
In the whole affair, from the finding of the mo.
ney, to its surrender to Captain Bunker, there
was an air of mystery surrounding the transac
ton which may yet be removed, and lead to the
exposure of some iniquitous deed, which the find.
ing of the money was well calculated to expose.
The money must have belonged to some one on
board the boat; every one was noticed OF its be,
ing found. and yet no one came forward to make
claim. By many, it was supposed that the
money had been purposely throw away, by some
guilty one, who was fearful that the retaining II
would load IN tha dafoction IF crime. hut this tr