South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-05-23
Outrage at the Cape De Vsrds.

He iuiIoWiUS " ptIt VI u ielteis ie
ceived by a gentleman of New York from
his correspondent at Port Praya. which
has been handed US for publication
ISLAND OF ST. JAGo, April /, 1885.
"a party of soldiers, two hundred
and twenty-five 10 number, were landed
here on the 26lh Of February, from Por-
tugal they we're Migueli,es, original
ly deserters, it is said, from Don Pedro,
and were sent to be distributed among
tue islands in Punishment. On Satur,
day, the 21st ut., they rose at about
midnight upon their officers, who were
all constitutionaist and shut them up
in the military prison, arrested some Of
the principal inhabitants, broke open
the mag azine, stationed soldiers at diff.
fsrent points, and took possession of a
Government schooner, formerly the
Evening Edition, of New York. They
then invested the Prefect'c quarters, g.
having commanded him to appear be-
fore them, required him TO proclaim
Don Miguel on peril Of death TO himself
& his family. He could do nothing but
comply, as his house was surrounded
by these armed brigands, and loaded
cannon planted before the door. The
proclamation was accordingly made on
Sunday. On Monday such ofthe prin.
cipal citizens as had not fled, were
commanded to assemble at the Gov
ernment house, when the insurgents re.
quired them to furnish money and pro.
visions, promising to respect persons
an6 property if their demands were
complied with but, Notwithstanding
their promises, the plundering system
was commenced the same day, at the
warehouse of Senior BORA, a well
known constitutionalist, who vas rob-
bed of money and goods to the amount
of twenty thousand dollars. He had
fled early on Sunday morning, or there
is no doubt he would have been killed.
In the course ofthe day, the insurgents
imprisoned the families of the officers
in the civil! prison, bu, some Of them
wers shortly released on paying ran.
som.
"At night these demons in human
shape took the officers from their place
of confinement, tied their hands behind
their backs, and drove them to the bu.
rying ground, where they stripped them
naked, and murdered them in cold
blood, with the exception Of three young
ensigns, Two of whom they spared on
condition of joining them, and the third
escaped by falling when fired at, as
though he were sho. dead, and starting
up and running for his life at the first
favorable opportunity. The number
thus butchered was six. Early the
next day, the citizens, except ten or
twelve, fed for their lives. The plum
dering and wanton destruction of prop.
erty were continued until Thursday,
when force Of about two hundred
mounted troops from the interior made
its appearance. Some of the brigands
sailed out to meet them, with field
piece, and commenced firing. AT the
first discharge, the horsemen took to
fight with the exception of eight men,
who kept up random fire upon the
insurgents, which so alarmed them,
that they hastily embarked with their
spoil, and one Of the two ensigns who
were spared the other having escaped
on board the schooner, and Brazilian
polacca of which they had taken pos
session, having first spiked all the guns
and thrown the powder into the sea-
Ia the evening they made sail, intend.
ing to steer for the United States, as
some of them said, and, according to
others, for the Mediterranean. The
ringleaders and the most valuable por.
ton of the plumber are on board the
schooner, and it is most probable thai
she will make for the United States.
"a day or two after their departure
the inhabitants returned, Donna Ma
ria was again proclaimed, and order to
some extent restored. But, strange to
say, the Project was arrested, and his
life threatened by those who ought to
render him every honor for his COOL
ness and presence of mind, which a,
lone saved the town from being burnt
and utterly destroyed. There is now
strong reaction in his favor. !
ought to mention that the property of
the American Consul and Vice Consul
was respected by the insurgents"
The following additional particulars
are gathered from letter written by
the American Consul, and published in
the Essex Register;--