Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-12-03
THE DEATH OF RICHARD LANDER.

countryman at the period of his assas-
sination, had returned home; and we
have now the melancholy satisfaction
Of stating the particulars Of that mourn
full event, as collected from an eye
witness, and party to the contest.
London Literary Gazette.
Richard Lander and his associates en-
tered the Brass River, and began as
cending IN excellent spirits. With them
were two or three negro musicians; who
when the labors Of the day were over,
cheered their countrymen with their in,
struments, at the sound of which they
danced and sang in company, while the
lew F,nglishmen belonging to the party
amused themselves with angling on the
banks OF the stream, in which, though
not very expert, they were tolerable sue
cessful. In this pleasing manner, stem
ming strong current by day, and rest
ing from their toll at night, Richard
Lander and his little band totally unap-
Prehensive Of danger, and unprepared
TO overcome or meet it, proceeded slow
ly up the Niger. AL some distance from
its mouth, and on his way thither. they
met King Jacket, relative of King
Boy, and one of the heartess and sullen
chiefs who rule over large tract of
marshy country, on the banks of the
Brass River. This individual was hail
ed by our travellers, and present of
tobacco and rum was offered him; he
accepted it with murmur CT dissatis.
faction and his eyes sparkled with ma
Lightly as he said in his own language
"White man will never reach Eboe this
time" This sentence was immediately
interpreted 10 Lander by native of the
country, boy, who afterwards bled to
death from wound in the knee; but
Lander made light Of the matter and
attributed Jackets prophecy, for so it
proved, to the petulance and malice Of
his disposition. Soon, however, he dis.
covered his error, but it was too late to
correct it, or evade the danger which
threatened him.
On ascending as far inland as sixty or
seventy miles, the English approached
an island, and their progress in the large
canoe was etfectually obstructed by the
thallowness of the stream. Among The
trees snd underwood which grew or
this island, and on both banks Of the riv
er in its vicinity, large ambuscades Of
the natives had previously been formed
and shortly after the principal canoe had
grounded, its unfortunate crew, busily
occupied in endeavoring to heave it into
deeper water, were saluted with irregu.
lar but heavy and continued discharges
Of musketry. So great was Lander's
confidence in the sincerity and good will
Of the NATIVES, that he could not at frs,
believe that the destructive fire, by which
he was literally surrounded was any thing
more than mode Of salutation thew
had adopted in honor of his ARRIVAL
But the Kroomen, who had leaped into
the boat, and who fell wounded by his
side, convinced him of his mistake, and
plainly discovered to him the fearful ma
ture Of the peril into which he had fal,
len so unexpectedly, and the difficult,
he would experience in extricating him
self from it. Encouraging his comrade.
by his voice and gestures, the traveller
prepared to defend himself to the last
and loud and simultaneous shout from
his little party, assured him that the,
shared his feelings, and would follow
his example. Meanwhile, several of tb,
savages, having come out from thei
concealment, we're brought down by the
shots Of the English; but Lander, willis
STOPPING to pick up cartridge from thu
bottom of the boat, was struck near III,
hip by musket ball. The shock mad,
him stagger, but he did not fall; and h,
continued cheering his men. Soon find
ing, however, his ammunition expended
himself seriously wounded, the courag,
OF his Kroomen beginning TO droop, AM
the fire of his assailants, instead of di
minlshing, becoming more general thar
ever, he resolved to attempt getting int
the smaller canoe, afoat at a short dis
lance, as the only remaining chance q
preserving single life. For this pur
pose, abandoning their property, the SUI
vivors threw themselves into the stream
and with much difficulty, for the strengt
Of the current was incredible, most @
them succeeded in accomplishing thei
object.
No sooner was this observed by tn
men in ambush, than they started u D an
rueha1 With mild 81 l:J- N,