Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-08-19

Sea Ssrpent,-A few years ago, profession
al gentleman, "a Doctor of Medicine) of New
England, and an obstinate non-believer in the
Sea Serpent, was sailing in Boston Harbor with
a party of friends. He had been out day or
two, when one fine afternoon two gentlemen,
with an oarsman, got into the boat, and rowed
off little way to fish. Shortly afterwards those
on board saw-the Sea Serpent. He seem,
ed to be two hundred yards long, and showed
his train of bumps perfectly plain. Inc DOCTOR
beheld him with wondering eyes, ana mehtany
concluded that his doubts must now END Inc
great monster approached, and seemed TO make
for the small boat. "Good heavens"' exclaim-
ed every one, che will run the boat DOWN.
But it happened that they were mistaken. ne
did NOT run it down. but he went so near, mat
the boatman struck him with his oar-and pres
to- the Sea Serpent disappeared! When the
boat came alongside, enquiries were mace OF o.,
the boatman, what kind OF fsh It wasF ro 90,
said he, cit was only Horse Mackerel!"-
And such has been ascertained to be the fact
The description so often witnessed arises from
a peculiarly this fish has at times in its SWIM
ming The peculiarities of many fishes are
we'll known. Some cannot sink under water
for moment Others as the flying fsh, can
sustain themselves out of the water for some NJ
tie time. Others, as the Porpolse, throw thelr
bodies with force out Of the water, though only
Mackerel is, that he can swim for time per-
pendicularly, with his head a fen feet out OF wa
ter. But to keep the body erect in the water,
and to make progress at the same time, requires
great force of the lower extremity, as every eX
pert swimmer can tell. Accordingly, ne Is
compelled to ply his tail with great force, and
every stroke of it causes a swell in the water
behind. and q succession Of these swells forms
what has so often been taken for tue bumps or
protuberances Of sea serpent. And that is
ain Here is the solution of the great mystery
which has puzzled so many wise heads, Tor Sucn
length of time, explained by the discovery OF a
very simple and ineligible fact in the natural
history of this fish.-N. Y Gag.
Murder al sea.-We have been favored with
the perusal of letter from Capt VIM. n.
Welsh now lying at Cadiz, TO his owners mere,
detailing the particulars of most ferocious muir.
der comitted onboard his vessel on her outward
bound voyage. On the 7th of June last, pas
senger whilst the crew were utterly unprepar.
ed for an attempt OF the kind, attacked one OF
them Henry irwin native OF Sagharoour, Long
Island, and stabbed him to the heart: he fell dead
Instantly. Tie assassin then turned round and
stabbed il rie sack, but not MORALLY, the sec
ond mae .yl.I cry irg out murder, Capt. Welsn
ran upon Geek. ia; had no sooner got up the
compan;nn ladder tnan the villain thrust his Gag
ger into his et side nj il struck against RIB
Ferepeated The blow and stabbed HIM IN the mp,
wnen the captain fell down with the loss of blood.
By this time the crew having collected, ran to the
captains assistance, and knocked the murderer
down. He was then tied and secured; but on the
day before the vessel got into the bay OF Gibraltar,
and was lying to in heavy gale Of wind, he
jumped into the sea and made his escape
The young man killed was of exemplary char
acter, and adsaed with Caption Briton in the
JULIAN y. Com.
A Pirote-The schooner Gideon Lee, of this
port, from Mobile, arrived at Providence on
Thursday. In lat. %, long. rs, saw Spanish
brig to windward, standing on the same tack
at P. NJ. came up with her, when the brig hail
ed three times, but could not be understood.
On hailing the fourth time, in Spanish, Captain
Hall replied that they did not understand that
language, when four shots were fired in sue
cesson at the schooner, but she fortunately re-
ceved no injury. The vessels at this time be-
ing on opposite tacks, the schooner was put away
before the wind, and left the brig, she making
no attempt to pursue them.-M. y. Com.
Capture of Mocha-Were it not for the deli
cious coffee to which this place lends its name,
perhaps few Americans would be aware even
Of the existence of such city on the eastern
side OF the Red Sea in Arabia Felix. The pro-
fit upon its staple enables il to support popu-
lation of ten thousand inhabitants, but its 60
vernment is vicious and weak and the walls of
the CITY Insecure IltHSe, ociuE an op-
iect to marauders, tribe of he party of Be-
douin Arabs, being hungry, for the .spoils,'
made descent upon it in February last, under
the command of a chief in the pay of Mehemet
Ali, the celebrated Pacha ofEgypt. The place
was obstinately defended by four hundred Of
the Sultan's troops, but was finally carried by
assault; about forty OF the Turkish troops were
killed, and the rest made their escape on board
some English ships in the offing. About 300 of
the assailiants were slain.-N Y Com.
The steamer Cape Breton, Capt. Denner, ar
rived here on Thursday night from Halifax, via
Boston. This is the first steamer, under the
British flag, that ever entered our port. She is
propelled by the Nova Scotia coal, consuming
6 chaldrons in "a hours. She weathered out d
very severe gale on the passage, without receiv-
ing the least injury. The pubic will have an
opportunity Of seeing her to-day, as we learn
she will make ali excursion down the bay in
the afternoon We trust that this will lead 20
the opening ola steam communication between
this city and the British provinces
~ y. Dai. ADJ.
Health ofMe C3iy.-It is now 90 days since
4 n