Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-11-29
Ssssfs siS'E'RC.

To The Editors af the Charleston Courier: hoo,
Cr,lemen-As many misrepresentation nave n'eI
the burning Of the Light House al Cape
Eld, the undersigned feels it his duty to state iacts
!, would have been published at Key West but at Inc
time left, no PAPER was pFIsWy at b. s'' TioMpsoN
On the 23d July last, about P. NJ, as | was going
from the kitchen to the dwellng-houSe, osc"ve'ea
larpe body of Indians within ~ yards OF me, n"I" ="
the kitchen ran for the LIGHTHOUSES u"r G'r ILs
to the old negro that was with me, 10 rum "r u'e
Indians are here; that moment they dlScnarseu va"
lev of rifle balls, which cut my c'ehes anu NAT an" pei
foraed the door in many places. we Gnt r' aux, do
was turning the KEY the suvages had hold OF the dnor'
stationed The negro the door, with orders 10 let me
know if they attempted to break it. then took my ,hee
muskets which loaded viii ball and aucS sac" au
rent 10 The second window seeing large BODY Oh tel'
onnosite to the dwelling house, discharged my mnskeS
in succession among them, which put them IN some con
fn thew then for the second time began their horrId
wells and in minute no sash or glass was '".' d. '"
window for they vented all Their rage at mat spot
fred a, them from some Of the other windows, ana iron,
the top Of d,e house; in fact tired whenever ! Iou'a
get an Indian for mark kept them from 'he npuse
Snl DARK They then poured in heavy hire al all t!e
windows md antern that the time they SET RFe l"
the door and window with The ground the whu""
was boarded up with plank and filled up with STONES III
side; but the flames spread FAST being lea WIN yei'o"
nine wood Their balls had perforated the TN tanks OF
OIL consisting o225 gallons; my tcddng cloh;ns and IN
fact every thing had, was soaked IN OIL stopped
at the door until driven Away by Inc names l
then took keg of gunpowder my balls and one mus
ket to the top of the house. then went below ana cega
to cut away the stairs about half way up from the 'o't
| had great difficulty in getting the old ne@ro Tah up
the spaee had already cut, but the flames now drove
me from my labor and recaed to the top OF the mouse
covered over the scuthe that leads 10 the lantern:
which kept the FIRE from for some tnc al last, Tue
awful moment arrived, the cracking flames ourst aouu
me- the savages the time 6cgan their heish yes
NV Door old negro looked TO with tears In his eyes,
but could not speak Went out of the lantern and Iad
down on The edge of the platform, TWO ieet woe Inc
lantern now was full Of f1ane The lamps and glasses
Hvnu in all directions; my clothes on fire. and TO move
from the place where was would be instant death from
their rifles. My flesh was roasting, and to put an emu 10
my horrible suffering, got Up, threw the keE VI Gun
powder down the scu,le instant exploded and SHOOK
the tower from The top to the hoOm 1t had not the de-
sired effect, of blowing me 70 eternity; but It threw
down the stairs, and all the woodea work near Tie Top
of the house II dumped the fire for u moment, but
If soon blazed as fierce as ever. The negro man
said he was wounded which was the last word he ever
spoke BY this time, had received some WOUNDS
myself and finding no chance tor my lie, '?r W." og
roasting alive, | took the determination 10 jump Oil
| rot up went outside the iron railing, recommends,
ing nv soul to God and On the point OF gong heaa
forcmos, on the rocks below. when SOMETHING dictated TO
me 10 return and lay down again; did So ana 10 TWO
rnnuics the fire fell to the bottom OF the house IS
remarkable circumstance that not one bail struck INC
when stood up outside the railing a!thousn thry "efe
Hvnp ,ll round INC like llalsoncs. found the old negro
man drad beip. shot in places, and literally roasted
few minutes after the fire fell, Still breeze sprung
mn from the Southwark, which was great blessing To-
me | had To lay where was, for could not walk,
bnying received SIX rife balls three ;n each foot. The
Indans thinking nc dead left the Lighthouse, and SET
fire 10 the dwelling house, kitchen and other out houses
and began carry their plumber to The beach, tEey LOOK
a the empty barrels tho drawers Of the bureaus anu IN
f,c, eve,v thiur that would act vessel 10 hold any
tbinr; nv provisions in the Light house, except
barrel of -four which they lock off The mex. nornng'
they hauled out of Ike Light house, BY means OF por,
the tin that Composed the Oil Tanks no doubt 10 maze
nraters 10 manufacture the Coony Rnn into what we
call Arrow Root After loading my little s!oop, about
ten twelve into her. the rest took 10 The oeach 10
~ g ,l,a and his hnnn
Judge about 10, A. NJ. My eyes being mach affected
prevented me from knowing their actual force, but
Judge there were !ro forty TO fifty, perhaps more
a!mcst bad OFF as before, burning lever OH
me- my feet shot 20 pieces, no clothes 10 cover NE, II"
thing 10 eat drink, hot over head, dead man
by my sde friend near or any to expect, ana pc'd
between seventy and eighty feet from the earln anu no
chance of uctting down my situation WAS truly horrible
Aboul 10 o'clock thought could perceive vessel not
far off, took piece of the old Negroes rowsers that had
escaped the flames By being wet with blood and made
SIGNAL Some time in the afternoon saw TWO ona's Will
nv sloop in tow coming the landing; had no doui
that they were Indians, having seen my sgha ana hao
returned to finish their muEdeious design oa 1t p[oVeo
to be boats Of the United States schooner hnt, capt
Armstrong; with detachment of seaGien and Marines
under the command of Lieut. Lloyd Of The soop war
Concord they had rctaken my sloop after the Indians
had stripped her OF her sails and rigging aud every th'ng
Of consequence belonging 10 her; they informed me ti'y
heard nv explosion twelve miles OF, and ran down 10
my assistance, but did not expect to End ne alive These
gentlemen did AL in their power to relieve me- butnghl
coming on they went on board the Motto aef assuring
me of their assistance in the morning. Next morning
Monday July 9th. boats landed, amongst them, capt
Cole, of TIE schooner Pee Dee, from New York;
they mad made kite during the night to get line
to me, but without effect; they then Tired twlne
from their muskcts made fast to ramrod, which re-
ceved, and hauled up tablock and made fast round
iron sancheon the Irvine through The block ana
they below by that twonch rope and hotst.
ed up two men, who landed me on terra frma. 1
must state here, that the Indians had made ladder by
lashing pieces Of wood the lightning rod,
four feet from the ground, if to haze my scalp noens
yolens; this happened the 4h. After got on board
the Motto every man. from the captain to the cook tried
to alleviate my suferings On the 7,h was received
in the Military hospital, through the polleneSs Of Lieut.
Alyord of the 4h regiment, u s. Infantry; he has done
every thing 10 make my situation comfortable.
mus. not omit here to return my thanks 10 the ci.
zens of Key West generally Tor their sympathy and
kind offers Of any thing would WISH that was in then
were extracted, and remains in my right leg; bu
since om under the Of DR. Ramsey, who bias pait
eyery attention to me, he will know best whether to
tract il not.
These lines are writtcE TO let my friends know that
am still in the and OF the living, and ON in Charles
ton. S. c., where every attention is paid me- although
cripple can eat my allowance, and walk about with
nut he use of u cane Respectfully, yours,
JOHN W. b. THOMPSON.
(From the Globe Of Saturday.
We publish the following Interesting narrative, lately
received the War Department being report CT the
march of two companies Of United States Artillery, and
the Native Regiment commanded (as CosoneD by The
iaIe I:anain Lane OF the Dragons, from Tampa Bay
to Enri Dranc. Florda by Capt II. Brown 18th United
States Artillery acting Lieutenant Colonel of the
Native Regiment at the time:
A'aA'e Foar DaAsE, October o. 1886.
GovERKoR: The melancholy event which occurred
<ka Ipfy tn 1eyol IN nj