The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-06-16

III II was ms opinion, from MS kHoWleuge |
of his captain, that he could have the heart
to hang up eight innocent men.
81 have no donbt of their execution,
should single Engllshman die by the Gov
ernor's order, even if Murray's heart broke
in Witnessing H."
''It win be an act of hellish cruelty" re-
piled I,"and call down from Just heaven the
vengeance of the most High, upon all the
aiders and abettors in this most direlul ira
gedy.'
81 do notsee, sir, said the young officer,
show the commodore can abandon thirteen
men to shamful death for obeying his or
ders. He is humane man, an excellent
officer,& one of great determination; he has
worn out strong constitution in blockading
this abominable island, and, in my opinion,
is seriously ILL
The lieutenant was right. Captain Muir
ray died in ten days, evincing, in the ago.
nies Of death, his love for his country, by
ordering his body to be buried in a sand
bank off Curacao, well knowing that his
frigate could not be spared to convey it to
Jamaica.
"Can / see the prisoners, Mr.. FIeming?"
approaching the first lieutenant.
"Undoubtedly, sir; show the officer to
the Dutch prisoners"
And descended to the gun-room where
they were surrounded by the sentines, and
attended by the chaplain, who addressed
them in the French language, of which the
burgomastet had sufficient knowledge to
make himself understood. They all looked
worn down by mental suheIings; and as the
burgomaster placed lock Of his hair in my
hands, he earnestly made me promise to
have it conveyed to his young and lovely
bride, with information that his dying
thoughts should alone be fixed on her, whom
he hoped to meet in another and better
world. wanted comfort myself, therefore
had none to bestow on him, poor youth!
but ascended the deck in time to see this
smart frigate furl her sails, come to anchor,
and square her yards, making the signal for
the squadron to do the same in close order.
A shot frofn the mole, and one from the fort,
proved us to be just out Of reach of fire,
but near enough to observe all passing on
Fort Amsterdam, where the Dutch troops
were drawn up in military parade, with the
English prisoners in the centre of their
square. The Dutch governor and his staff
were on horseback in the fort, and masses
OF the people congregated about it. All eyes
turned on the British squadron, as they dis
played the flag that had braved the battle
and the breeze. The commodore hoisted a
white one at the fort, and fred a gun, his
gig then left the frigate with truce flag in
her bow, and lieutenant in full uniform,
bearing letters to the Dutch governor from
Captain Murray, and his prisoners. As
the Dutch boat received our truce flag, our
commodore, followed by the squadron,
struck his flags and pendant half-mast, as
mourning the necessity, and made the signal
for the boats, manned and armed, to attend
the punishment of death. At the same
time eight yard ropes wers rove, and the
carpenters axe and hammer migth be
heard fitting the platforms over each cat-head.
Shocked at these preparations, | obtained
their jolly-boat, and returned on board my
own ship; where all eyes were turned on
the Dutch governor, upon whose fiat depen-
ded twenty-one lives. They had erected
two triangles, on which lay beam with
thirteen halters displayed. The Dutchman
and his staff, with spy-glasses, were keen
observers Of the squadron; and our commo.
dore, with great tack, put his ships in mourn.
ing, tolled the bell as passing knel, and
ordered his bugles to play the dead march
in Saul; and as they sounded mournfully
over the calm bay, shrill and piercing
shrek was heard from the graceful person
of the burgomaster's lovely wife, who witt
frantic energy embraced the governor
knees, and plteously begged for mercy oil
her husband. He must have been harde
than adamant to have wIthstood this heart
broken and dropping flower. / saw him rails
her, and order the gallows TO be takel
down. The prisoners were marched to tn
mole, and embarked in large Dutch boat
and as she pulled for the commodore; /.
Franchise resumed her flags at the mast
head, dismissed all appearance of mounin
and the crews of the squadron, that wer
clustered like bees in the rigging, simults
neously cheered, and felt as if a mountai
had been removed from my breast
aE@nAI1Es
n COurdgOus PleGder.--The MetropC
Titan, in a sketch of the late Counsello
Sampson, has the following anecdote of hi
foranaic eourana xubich str; ;uoI,, illustrate