Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-08-15
s IL IT tai e.


The Brig Ruby of Boston, of ABOUT one
hundred tons burden. commanded by Geo.
Lane, sailed from Boston in the month of De-
cember. A. d. I7s0, with cargo consisting
principally of lumber and fish, for the Island
of Martinico. The name of the chief mate,
belonging to Newport, r. /. was Andrews
nj the second mate, Churchill. The remain
der of the crew consisted of Mr.. Young,
whose residence is forgotten.
Nothing important occurred for fifteen days,
when the Ruby was captured by British frig
ate, and her crew carried into Barbados,
where the English Squadrous of Rodney and
Hood were in winter quarters. They were
detained on board the frigate about a month,
and were then transferred to an English mer-
chairman of 500 tons burden and two decks,
stripped of her sails aud rigging, in which sew
eral hundred French and American prisoners
were incarcerated.
This prison ship was moored near the centre
Of the harbor of the Island of St. Lucia,
twenty-nine leagues from Barbados We
were confined on board the ship for the period
of four months. Permission was granted us
to come on deck every morning to have the
benefit of the air (Which was an unspeakable
privilege,) where we were allowed TO remain
for the day, and at 6 O'Clock P. NJ, we were
again crowded into this receptacle of wo and
misery. Our sufferings while confined be
tween the deck of this ship, were almost insup-
portable, owing to the large number of beings
crowded together in such small quarters, and
owning still more to the closeness and sultri-
ness of the air, for at this time ii was nearly
the middle of West India sulpler and the
heat at times was almost intense While up
the deck of the ship we were strongly
guarded and watched with much strictness
In addition TO our sufferings while between
decks from the confined state of the atmos-
Phere, we were reduced almost to starvation
The food given us which was of the poorest
Quality, consisting of bread and beef, served
ont twice week, and in quantities too small
10 satisfy the appetite.
Many of onr fellow prisoners were destitute
of clothing. some of whom economised with
the little they had when they first came on
board the ship, preserving it for the day of
their deliverance, for they knew full well that
they would receive nothing from the mercless
enemy into whose hands they had fallen
Owing 10 the barbarous treatment which the
prisoners received at the hands of those who
held them in confinement. distinguished as it
was for its cruelty and deprivations, but more
10 strong desire for liberty, implanted in the
breast of every man, plan was proposed and
maiured among a few of us TO effect our cs-
cape.
There happened at this time to be fleet of
English merchantmen living between the pris-
son ship in which We're confined and the
entrance OF the bay, outside of which feet to-
wards the mouth of the harbor, lay Letter
of Marqne,' which served sort of protec-
ton for the other vesses,-of about $50 tons
burden, and IA guns.
After much dehberaton it was resolved TO
gain the deck of the prison ship some dark
and favorable night, to swim more than mile
TO the Letter of Marque,' ascend her bows
by means of the cable, disarm her watch, cut
the cable and sail Immediately out the harbor.
There were many obstacles to such an enter
prise,-in swimming that distance, we must Of
course pass the merchantmen and numerous
privateers lying in the harbor, from whose
decks sentinels were keeping watch. But not
the least difficult part of our undertaking was
10 gain the permission of our sentry, (although
very careless and remiss in the discharge of
his duties,) to visit the deck of our ship in suf
ficient numbers upon the night we should fix
upon to carry out our enterprise.
The matches were nede of wooden gratings
with bar fitted across them TO clasp them at
the side of the hatchway, lock and key not
being used, and one hatch was sometime kept
open at periods of the night when one two,
or three of the captives desired to come on
deck and obtain some fresh air and then return.
The sentry sometimes commlserated our con-
dition, and would allow two or three of the
prisoners to visit the deck when the state of
their health demanded it. At this time many
of our number had died from exposure they
had been subjected TO since coming Oh board the
ship.
II was decided that ii of us should engage
in the enterprise, when the favorable night
should arrive. Mr.. Churchill, the 2nd mate of
abe Ruby, was exceedingly desirous to go with
u.s. but was prevented BY reason of his igno-
rance OF swimming. We were not all to 90
upon ueck at a time, but a certain interval of
time was to elapse between every two or three.
as they ascended to the deck. Each one as he
gained the deck was to 90 on his w,v w;,bo,,
waiting for the others, until he had gained the
bows of the Letter Of Morgue. We were a.
so, during the hustle purposely made COMING
upon the deck of the Prison Ship, to induce
the sentries to believe that part were return;no
to their quarters for the night. There were
four sentries stationed on deck during the night
two at the hatchways, one at the bows and
one at the stern.
A night at length arrived which was deem
ed propitious for our undertaking, it being moi
only clustering, but 50 dark and foggy, that
nothing could be distinguished half way across
the deck. With lion hearts we sat about the
work. We signifed to the guard our desire
to 90 on deck; they gave their consent to the
first ones who applied, also to the next. and
finally to the whole eleven, supposing however,
that the first had returned previous to the last