Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1848-08-03

This is the place where the patriot Mitchell
is incarcerateG. This hulk-the ''Thames''
has taken the place Of the "Ardent,"
which has been hauled in TO the docks at
Hamilton.
Confinement in one of these hulks is bad
enough for sailors who are accustomed to a
wet jacket and hard fare; but for lands
man, who has been bred in scenes of
refinement, it is, absolutely, uncomfortable.
His fare is the condemned provisions of the
British navy, and that which is not con-
demned, and American dog would turn up
his nose at-ihe scenery is the constant
dash of the ocean against the rocks, having
it into white foam; shut in on the south by
high hills, and, on the west open to the
broad Atlantic, but locked in by that impas-
sable reef that no vessel dare venture near.
During the war of 1912 to 1915, was
captured by the Lacedemonian frigate, and
carried into Bermuda, where remained a
prisoner of war eighteen months, and was,
for time, confined to the "Hulks." ! know
them well, and when | was first crowded
down into the gun deck of that loalhsome
Graf! thought, my days were numbered
There are very few persons that can form
The slig htesl idea of an entrance on board OF
a prison ship. ] had been partially initiated
before, having once been picked up at sea by
! the Melpomene friga,e, and once before cap
tured on the coast of France, and sent on
board the hulks at Portsmouth. On enter
ing the gangway, your mess is called out,
and If they are not near at hand for your
protection, you are pretty sure to loose
exit"
The hulk at the head ofSt Georges har-
Dor may be comparedt TO wart ona handsome
woman's face. The bay which forms the
harbOr is a beautiful sheet of water On the
left are lofty hills, with plateaux of cedar
groves along up their sides, dotted with the
white villas of the citizens, and in valley,
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 Bar
racks and Fort Somers. On the south are
some low island, beyond which the open
sea rolls on in in,erminabIe swells; some
times dashing against the rock bound shore,
until the white foam looks like lady's friIl,
gracefully fitted her neck.
As soon as was through with nv exam-
nation at the court of Vice Admiralty, was
marched TO the dock boat, and when ap-
preached the huge black hulk, swarms Of
heads could be seen peepng through the
port holes. My blood ran cold as was
ushered on board of this floating pesl-house.
A few marines were pacing fore-andaf, and
under large awning, on the quarter deck.
my name was registered by an officer, md
my mess numbered. Fortunately for me,
my mess was near the gangwav, and got
but one black eye before was surrounded
by my mess. M ~ clothes bag was gone.
and had the satisfaction of seeing one ortwo
very pretty fights for the possession Of one
of my shirts. The Goree was general re-
ceving ship, where the pirate, the priva'eers-
man, the sailor, and landsmen were all
thrown together. Afterwards, the Americ an
prisoners were transferred 10 the Ardent, SIX
ty-lour, in the upper bay. where the Thames
now lies. After few days confinement
on board Of the Goree, | was transferred to
| the Ardent.
N othing but stratagem can ever relieve
the unfortunate Mitchell from his position
In the passage up, inside of the Reef, at Ieas
four hundred guns could be brought to bea
upon any vessel that should venture in, anc
those at high elevation. The reef is
perfect barrier to any approach direct from
sea. There is no passage through the Is.
lands any other way, except for small boats
and they would have to pass through the
harbor of St. Georges in order to reach the
upper bay.
After remaining on board Of the "Hulks'
for some time, was fortunate enough ,e
get my parole, and lived on the Island O
ST. George until after peace was declared
The inhabitants of the Bermudas are very
pleasant, agreeable people, and the women
are beautiful. The dir is pure and who'll
some, and the fogs from the banks of Neg-
foundland bleach their delicate white SD ms,
until they are so clear, that the blue 'eIns
can be seen through them. Like II, West
India Islands, sea-ba.hing is a consant Gus
tom with both males and females and bays
and places protected by the jul,ig rocks are
a'i,,,',ed to the females, where '"ould be sa-
crilege fora male 10 enter. There are many
handsome cedar groves, vl,ich are consider
ed valuable, and, in fac, they are the only
th'ng valuable raised IN the Islands, except
Tor nome consumpton.
Bermuda is fsmous place for fishing
whales sport s|ound the Island at certain
seasons of the year, and as for fish for the
table, there is no place in the world, in the
same latitude, that equals it. The great
boast of the Island, is the gruper, which are
caught with hook and line on the coast. and
the water is SO clear, that you can see them
take in the bait, in five fathoms. | cannot
illustrate on paper, or portray the excite
ment 1t creates, in watching the motions of
the fish when all their movements are dis