The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-10-27
Office Of The PHILADELPHIA Enquirer,
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. "a, II a.. M
PACKET SHIP sUsQUEHANNA CAPTUR-
ED BY PIRATES.

Our city was thrown into high state of excite
ment yesterday, by the arrival of an express from
Lewistown bringing the appalling and almost in
credible intelligence that The packet ship Susque
hanna of this port with all her crew, Ii cabin and
40 Storage passengers, had been captured by pi-
rates. The intelligence passed like lightning
through the city, and in the course Of few minutes,
the Merchants Exchange was thronged with in
curing and anxious citizens eager for all the de-
tails OF so frghlu incident. 1t appears that the
Susquehanna put 10 sea from the Capes on Sunday
last; and while yet in the sight Of land, the weather
being fine and the wind NV was observed TO be
pursued BY schooner, cliPperbailt, and full of
men
They boarded the Susquehannah when on Five
Fathom Bank, and in very short space of time,
she was seen to steer away in southwardly drec-
tion in full possession OF the feebooers, and with
their schooner in company. The parties who
brought the sad and fearful intelligence, do not APP
pear to have ascertained whether the Susquehanna
made any resistance; nor have We yet learned whe-
Their any firing OF large guns or small accompanied
the capture We need scarcely add that the greatest
indignation was felt and expressed in this city, at
the bold and daring enornly of this offence and it
is to be hoped that Government will, Immediately
and without moments delay, despatch an adequate
force to bring the villains 10 Justice
Expresses were sent from Wilmington and New
Castle, direct TO Norfolk, requesting that an armed
vessel might be instantly despatched in pursuit OF the
buccaneers but the danger is that the wreches Will
have made their escape before the arm of justice
deepest anxiety is felt for the fate Of the passen-
gers and crew of the Susquehanna
AT later hour last evening the city was still in
high state of excitement and the story OF the cap
ture of the Susquehanna was generally but not uni
versally credited. 1t is not known what amount OF
specie the vessel had on board but the impression
is that it was not large, with the exception OF any
sums that the passengers might have taken on their
own account. As is usual on such occasions the
most contradictory accounts in circulation Cap
tain Pedrick who left Lewistown five hours after
the Express says that the ship went to Satur-
day morning at o'clock, and with every prospect
of an uninterrupted voyage.-This, II will be per-
ceved does no, tally with the letter given above as,
according to that account the ship went TO sea at
o'clock on Saturday afternoon II was proper to add
that Expresses were sent in every direction, the
moment the intelligence reached Philadelphia. 1t
is also said and we believe with TRUTH that Commo-
dore Stewart early yesterday afternoon, despatched
a steamboat with 100 seamen, to the revenue CUTTER
at Wilmington with orders to have her put in rea-
diness with all practicable despatch, and proceed
instantly in pursuit.
Volunteers in abundance could have been obtained
in this city, had il been possible TO render their ex
ertions available. Captain Bohlen, Of the German
Guards, pledged himself to procure 100 armed men,
at two hours notice. should their services be called
for
| The Revenue Gutter "Gallatin," Captain Gold,
has been lying at Wilmington for some weeks, un-
dergoing repairs.
Among the rumonrs of the day. is one, that
piratical looking vessel has been lowering of our
coast for some time and another, that suspicious
vessel was at anchor for two days of last week of
the Pea Patch-whence she suddenly set sail and
returned to sea- The only positive intelligence
which reached us for some time past in relation TO
pirate the statement of the Captain OF the brig
Margaret at New Orleans on the ID inst. His brig
was chased between the coast of Florida and the
Island Of Cuba and by just such schooner as that
described in MIR. Rodneys letter ."