Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1848-08-24
The HuIks" of Bermuda.

$ ii may be interesting to some of our readers tc
know something ebout the place where the Irish
Patriot, Mitchell, is condemned to lnger out hi:
days in confinement on board prison ship. They
are truly named Hulks," and would add loath
some hulks. too l was once prisoner of war
and confined on board of them, and have mos,
vivid recollection of those floating castles
The Bermudas, or Somers' Islands, are small
group, situated about half way between Nova
! Scotia and the Antilles, and about six hundred
miles from the American coast, or from Cape
Hatteras. During the war of 1912, it was the
head quarters for the British army ard navy on
| the American station. 1t was from the Bermudas
that the army under Gen. Ross sailed for the
Chesapeake, and for the attack on Baltimore. 1t
was also from the Bermudas that one division of
the army, destined for the attack on New Orleans,
! departed under the command of Gen. Keene-the
division under Gen. Gibbs, for the same destlna-
ton, sailed from Jamaica These Islands are a.
bout thirty five miles in length and about twenty
broad, and are divided into about forty islands,
the running through them in every direction,
forming bays and inlets on almost every side.-
One of the hulks the "Goree," an old African
ship, is situated at the head of ST. Georges har-
| bour and is used as a receiving ship. The "Ar-
dent" sixty -four, was situated in the bay, about
four miles from the navy yard at Hamilton, and
three miles from the tanks, at the head of long
and dangerous reef OF rocks which extends from
the eastern end of the islands for about thirty
| miles, in kind of semi circle, running around
the western side of the island. Inside of this reef
and near the head oft, lies the Thames, a large
dismantled ship, her lower masts only standing
looking like three stumps sticking up, and a bow
spirit sticking out lookins like dogs tail cut off.
This is the place the patriot Mitchell is incar-
cerated. This hulk-the Thames"-h has taken
the place of the :" Ardent" which has been hauled
into the docks at Hamilton.
Confinement in one ofthese hulks is bad enough
and hard fare but for landsman, who has been
bred in scenes of refinement, it is absolutely, un-
endurable. His fare is the condemned provisions
of the British navy, and that which is not con-
demned, an American dog would turn up his nose
at--the scenery is the constant dash of the ocean
I
in on the south by high hills and, on the west
open to the Atlantic, but locked in by that impas-
sbe reef that no vessel dare venture near.
During the war of 1912 to 1915 was captured
| by the Lacedemonian frigate, and carried into
Bermudas, where | remained prisoner of war
eighteen months, and was, for time confined in
| the Hulks." | know them well, and when
was first crowded down into the gun-deck of that
loathsome craft thought my days were numbered
There are very few persons that can form the
slightest idea of an entrance on board of prison
ship had been partially initiated before, hav-
ing once been picked up at sea by the Meya-
none frigate, and once before captured on the
coast Of France, and sent on board the hulks a,
| Portsmouth. Onentering the gangway /. your mess
is called out, and if they are not at hand for
your protection, ynu are pretty sure to lose your
kit"
The hulk at the head Of ST. Georges's harbor
may be compared to wart on handsome wo
mans face. The bay which forms the harbour
is beautiful sheet of water. On the left are lofty
hills with plateaux of ceder groves along up their
sides, dotted with the white villas of the citizens
and in vally. and gradually rising to the hills,
is the town of St. George, with its white stone
houses and fiat roofs; and stretching far down
the BAY, and on the hills below, are the Barracks
and Fort Somers On the south are some low is
lands, which the open sea rolls on in inierminable
swells sometimes dashing against the rock bound
Shore until the white foam looks like ady's frill,
gracefully fitted to her neck.
AS soon as | was through with my examination
at the court of Vice Admiralty, | was marched to
the dock boat, and when ! approached the huge
slack hulk, swarms of heads could be seen peep
ing through the port holes. Nv blood ran cold as
/ was ushered on board ofthis floating pest-house
few mariners were pacing fore and aft, and un-
er a large awning, on the quarterback, my name
was registered by an officer. and my mess num-
bered. Fortunately for me, my mess was near
the gangway, and got but one black eye before
was surrounded by my mess. My clothes bag
was gone and | had the satisfaction Of seeing
one or TWO very pretty fights for the possession of
one of my shirts. The Goree was general re-
ceiying ship, where the pirate, the privateersman,
the sailor and the landsman were all thrown to-
petber Afterwards. the American prisoners were
transferred to the Ardent, sixty four in the upper