Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-11-02
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.

: The substance OF the following story, we think =,
was published some years ago. In its present
shape, however,it will readily obtain re. perusa
The Yankee who crosssdfhe .4flanfic alone -
The following interesting narrative is from the
| London United Service Journal. A correspnn-
! dent Of the New York Gazette says that Mr..
Shackford. the hero Of the story, resides some
where in the western country, aud has son now
shipmaster out Of New York.
He built. or purchased, a small vessel, in
which he ar,barked alone, for, aud navgated to,
Great Britain. When nc arrived in port, he was
supposed to be pirate-that he had murdered
the crew Of the vessel-and was arrested. He
produced his shipping paper. which contained
one name only, and other documents to prove his
proper character, and it was not till after some
persons in England were found who knew him in
this country, that he was set al liberty.
| The Yankees risI TO Sir Joseph Banks. Sir
Joseph Banks, hearing that there was man in
London, who had crossed the Atlantic in boat
alone. was DESTROYS of seeing him, and got some
Ame rican to 60 TO the hotel, and contrive ways
to bring him to his house. This was easily eitec.
ted. ShackforI,' IN company with Capt Fo!.ans-
bee, paid Sir Joseph visit They were asked
iatu room devoted to natural history. Shack
ford looked around, and was pleased to see so
many thing s which we're SO many real curlosities,
| preserved so well. At last he saw young GRO
codile "a tub Of water aud took notice OF him,
a. he appeared, now above, and now below the
surface. Sir Joseph soon made his entry. is
| this Mr. Shackiord. who crossed the Atlantic IN
an open boat?' Inquired SIR Joseph. We, SIR
was the reply. Il have done that, sir. '-'What
were yor sensations in the middle Of the ocean,
alon ? was the uext inquiry.
! why, sir. | suppose YOU mean to ask me how
felt on my VOYAGE; was sometimes dry. AID
drank;i was sumetmes hungry, and | ate;
| was sleepy and Gosed a iitie;--that was
easy, for | had nice little cubbY. and fixed
tiller there and slept with my helm in my hand
and there was no great difficulty in that
What mathematical instruments had you?' was
the next inquiry. why compass and a" axe.
pair Of pistols, and sword that Gen Pulaski
gave me- How was you sure yOn was right in
your course?' Il was not sure. but guessed
was right as steered cast when / had got pref
u well up Ia the north, and that knew would
take TIE TO England, or somewhere therrabouts,
and that was right enough tor enc whose time was
his own. and who owned the craft he was in and
mad plenty Of provisions on board
! lyon have, sir, said Shacktord, "a fine omnum
gatherum here; what you going to do with
| the crocodile you got theres' i am about pre-
pairing paper to read before the Society. upon
his habits and nature, which shall read to. NOR
row. Do YOU keow any thing about the animal,
Mr. Shackfurd" Il lived three years in The West
Indies. where they we're as thick as srashoppers.
Have you ever heard their means to cntice and
allure travellers to come to them, in order, as
| writers in natural history have'me nti"ned, that
they NAV secure them as their prey? inquired
the philosopher. No. they never did any such
I e.. fhov haya m
| make clear sound with; and they cannot make
a noise, except one of bringing their jaws toge-
! ther They move the upper jaw, and somehow
bring it-down with great force. and sins lie sound
proceeds from this; but how can thing moan
. ithout tonsuei Look into his mouth, and
Won will find he has no more tongue than the
great elephant. lsa~ the other day in this city
Why said Sir Joseph, you do not mean to
saw that an elephant has no toague!' Yes, |
do replied Shackfcrd, 'mean to say that he has
no tongue; and what does he want one Tor, a. ne
has such thing at the end at his nose. by which
| he can feel thing as nicely as a lady's finger
could, and then use il a. sledgr hammer 10
knock ones brains out with!' How DO YOU
know that to be fact inquired Sir Joseph that
! he has NO tongue? Why in the best way IN the
world: looked into his mouth until was salts
fled Of the fact; and then it stond to reason IN
| nv mind, that he did not want one. with so hne
| tool as he has for the purpose of hands. tongue
and sword Well said SIR Joseph, not a lit
| tie mortified 1.-The crncndiles are very teroc'ous
and .snsrrous.' Why said Shackford. they
have good large mouth Of their own, and an
ugly looking set OF teeth. but very seldom attack
u man; a very slight splash IN the water sener-
ally fr,shtens them off 0nce in while they
catch Young negro in the water; the old ones
don't mind them any more than mus9uetoes. =
Sir Joseph's paper would not do; all his orna-
ment o! that wondrous moanng, and great herce-
ness, at last hat opposers. To end the CONVEX
sation, and HE of to the Tower or to Exeter
! Change, to see the elephant, was now evidently
Sir Joseph's wish; but Shackford seemed in no
hurry to 60 Sir Joseph in trying to hide his i'm
patience, made several hasty inquiries.
/ did YOU ever see collection like this be-
fore?" No, said Shack, ',he nearest like it. is
at my barber's shop the other side Of the water.
He had stuffed alligator, the skin of dog fish,
/ several handsome lizards and the heao Of eata-
mount, the last he set most store BY that gives
\ ttp Ill SIN