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

Insulting mockery OF his pursuers. One
incident which occurred in the fight, de-
serves to be recorded. A white man
named T completely overpowered
by his fears, refused to fire on the eava-
ges, who were in paddles length of
him, but stood up in the canoe with "a
loaded musket in his hand, beseeching
them, by bis gestures, to take him pris-
oner rather than deprive him of his life.
While in the act Of making this dastardly
appeal, musket ball from the enemy
entered his mouth and killed him on the
spot. The others behaved with the great
est GOODNESS and intrepidity. The fugi.
lives gained on their pursuers; and when
they found the chase discontinued alto
gether, Lander stood up for the last time,
in his canoe, and being seconded by his
remaining associates, he waved his hal
and gave, last cheer in sight Of his adj
versaries. He then became sick and
faint from his loss Of blood, and sank
hack exhausted in the arms Of those
who were nearest him. Rallying short
ly afterwards, the nature of his wound
was made known to him by Mr.. Moore,
ayoung surgeon from England, who had
accompanied him up the river, and
whose conduct throughout the disastrous
ARRAY was most admirable; the ball could
not be extracted, and Lander felt con-
WINGED that his career would soon be
terminated. When the state of excite
ment 10 which his feelings had been
wrought gave place to the languor which
generally succeeds powerful excitement
Of any kind, the invalid's wounds panied
him exceedingly, and for several hours
afterwards he endured with calmness
the most intense suffering. From that
time he could neither sit up, nor turn in
his couch, nor hold pen; but while he
was proceeding down the river in nah.
ner SO melancholy, and SO different from
the mode in which he was ascending it
only the day before, he could not help
Iindulging in mournful reflections; and
he talked much of his wife and children,
his friends, his distant home, and his
bllghted expectations. 1t was period
of darkness, and distress, and sorrow to
him; but his natural cheerfulness soon
regained its ascendancy over his mind,
and freely forgiving all his enemies, he
resigned himself into the hands of his
Maker, and derived considerable bene-
tit from the consultations of religion
The travellers arrival at Fernando Pc,
and the account of his death, have al
ready been made known to the public.
i Various conjectures have been urged
as to the probable cause of this cold.
blooded and heartless murder. Some
j persons imagine that the natives had
been stimulated to the rpetration Of
the disgraceful deed by the Portuguese
and South American slave dealers, who
have considerable influence in the conn.
TRY, and whose interests would unques
tionably decline by the introduction in
to the interior of British subjects and
British manufactures. Others enter.
tain the opinion that the natives commit.
ted the assault in revenge for the loss OF
one Of their towns, which, it is believed
was burnt to the ground by the crew Of
the Alburka steamer, on her last voyage
, to Alta; whilst others hazard the con.
lecture, that the Brass people, perceiv-
: ing that their lucrative carrying trade
) between the coast and the inland coun
r tries, would be annihlated if they suf
/: fered the English to trade with the ma
, tives OF the interior in their own vessels.
= formed a coalition with the people Of
Y Bonny, whose interests would likewise
= be affected by the new order of things
r and that these men, aided by the sava
> ges inhabiting the country in the vicin
t ity of the spot where the ruthless ane
: cowardly assault was made, met togeth
e er, and resolved ON the destruction O
e the unoffending Englshmen.
e From what cause soever it originated
h, this much is certain, that the attack wa
|, premeditated, that the arrangements Q
e the assassins had been made in meth
odical and skillful manner, and that tn,
: Brass and Benny canoes were engage,
j in the assault. Those who have ha,
o the best means of knowing the charac
j. ter and disposition of the Brass peopl
# and their neighbors Of Bonny, who's
>, treacherous maneuvering can only b
: equalled by their Unsuitable rapacity
J, consider the last as far the most proba
h BILE hypothesis; and believe that Kin
# Boy, Notwithstanding bis affectation @
r lsvmpathy for the sufferers md bic n,