The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-04-30

port, BY water, where ! found the brig
Black Snake, commanded by James Phil.
ips, ESQ.,; and the brig Rattle Snake, com
manded by I.aac Freeborn, ESQ.,; The new
brig mounting IA carriage guns, aud almost
ready 10 sail. We sailed about the first o
April, in company, bound of Sandy Hook
We had been out but four days, when il
became very foggy, aud on the morning oi
the 5lh day the fog cleared off suddenly,
and we saw two British ships to windwsrd
Of US, not more than musket shot off. The
wind being a, S. East, blowing in for the
Hook, we bore away before the wind, and
they commenced firing upon us, aud every
shot they fired over us, some distance. We
on board the Rattle Snake run TO the South
ward Of the Hook Capt. Philips hauled to
the Northward-the ship GaIalea ia chasc
Of US, and the ship Drllgh, in chase of him.
Capt p. was run on shore near the west eEd
of Long-Island, and all his crew were taken
prisoners by the British our brig was run
on the Jersey shore, off Shrewsbury, n
bout four leagues TO the Soulhard of the
Hook. As soon us we struck the shore we
cut away our toremast, aud il went over
our bow we then hosc overheard all our
stores that we could get nj. The ship Ga
latca run in near us aud kept up "a coniin-
ual firing, and anchored within musket
shot. We got our boat out, and placed in
her some mu,kets, pistols, &c; Captain
Freeborn, and Doctor John Turner, and az
many others MS could conveniently GO IN her,
went, but as soos rs she drew near the
shore, she upset, aud all the muskeis, pis-
tols, &c. were lost. A number of our men
endcnvored To swim on shore, and our gun
uer, Mr.. Hathaway, of Free,own, was
drowned, and several others were hauled on
shore, supposed TO be dead, bu, were resus-
cilaled. The British sen, two of their boats
to board us the wind blowing very heavy, from
>. L. aud "a hv"ry S.u i'~"''''s i"5 "hivh
broke all over US. | went on the round
house, and The EugIishmen lay on their
oars. spoke with them, as they were not
more than thirty yards from US, and inform
cd the officer that if they attempted to come
along SIDE their boats would ell, and put
them in way that suited them. told the
officer iha, if they got out their large boa,
and dropped n kcdge off, by that means
they mi sh, ge, along side. They immediate
ly went on board their ship to get GOT their
long-boat, aud the tide going out favored US
very much every moment, towards making
our escape. 4, this time we had upwards
of sixty men on board. In abou, an hour
saw them coming with. three bonts, nnd
then called on Mr.. John Rider, our sailing
master, and informed him ] had deiermin-
ed TO ge, on shore if possible, and advised
one and all TO do the same. then called on
Capt. Freeborn, the Doctor, and all on
shore, and requested them 10 give US what
assistance they could, as knew there was
"a strong undcrtow. then went forward and
took mold Of the jb down-hanl, and gave
myself such swim. towards shore that l
fell on my fee. SO near shore that wet me
but triAlng, and the rest all followed me.
At the time of our getting on shore the ship
kept up n continual firing, yef never hurt n
man. In shor, time all our men were on
the shore, except our steward, he being lame
could not get on shore. We could get no
assistance from the Americans, this happen
ing so near the British lines. Soon after
the English boats went back 10 their ship,
and we we're compelled to witness the work
of destruction, by the smoke of the fires, by
:hen, kindled, bursting forth in various parts
our brig-au soon after the fire reached
the msgsziae of powder, and but small
part of tins new and noble brig could be
seen after the magazine blew up. As for
The young man, our steward, we never heard
from him again. One consolation we had,
that was, there was not much plunder for
them, rs we threw every thing we could
ccme a, overheard. II being late in the
day we went back into the Jrr,ey country,
aud most Of our men and officers went on
to Philndelphis. !, with Do.:tos Turner
aud his kinsmau, set out for Newport, where
we arrived 10 thirteen days, from the time
&C sailed. think they may say correctly
that we were turned on shore with an oar
on our backs. A poor miserable cruise