Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-10

Nargen, who requested TO be landed with the
others at Hango.
On the afternoon Of June 5, the Cossack stood
close in, and sent the cutter away with flag Of
truce to land the prisoners. In the boat besides
were Lieutenant l.. GenesLe, DIR. X. II. Easton
Mr. c. Sullivan, masters assistant, and three
stewards, as Finnish captain, taken prisoner
here on the Goth of May, informed US there were
no t4ops here, that the inhabitants would trade
and that the stewards could get stock, SIC. Al
the boat pulled in towards the shore she was lost
sight of behind the islands, the ship standing of
and on under easy sail
There being no signs Of the cutters return,
about four o'clock the gig, with flag Of truce,
in charge Of Lieutenant Field, was sent in search.
She was observed to be pulling along the coast
in search Of the cutter, SO the ship stood close in
and anchored hear the ruined fort. About eight
O'Clock the gig returned, having seen the cutter
secured under etiy inside several small wood
boats, and with several dead bodies in her; fear
ing an ambush or treachery, the gig did not at
tempt to bring the cutter out, but returned to the
ship. Several persons were seen little distance
off waving to the gig TO land.
About three o clock next morning both vessels
steamed in close TO the telegraph station, and
shortly after the cutter was observed with one
man in her, apparently wounded, sculling towards
the ship. A boat was sent TO her assistance, and
she was brought alongside, having in her John
Brown, ordinary seaman, young man of color,
the only survivor. After being helped up the
side he said, ssThey are all killed" Afterwards,
in the sick bay, he made the following statement:
Son the cutter, with flag Of truce flying,
getting alongside the jetty or landing place, near
the village of Hango, the officers and liberated
prisoners jumped out, and Lieutenant Geneste
held up flag Of truce to a number of Russian
troops, who had suddenly sprung up from the
cover of houses and rocks,-about 500, dressed
as rilemen, and armed with muskets, swords and
bayonets-and told them what they meant, and
why they landed; they replied that they did not
care d---n for flags of truce there, and would
show them how the Russians could fight" or
words to that effect. A volly was then fired at
the officers and liberated prisoners, and after
wards on the boat, until all were supposed to be
killed
'sThe Russians jumped into the boat, and after
throwing several dead bodies overheard, lying
on the arms in the bottom of the boat they found
Henry Glddon A. B., who was only wounded;
they took him out of the boat and bayoneted him
on the wharf; John Brown, lying beside him, and
severely wounded, eigned death; he was dragged
from end Of the boat to the other, but luckily
not thrown overheard. They then took the arms,
magazine, colors, &C. The officers were shot
down, the liberated prisoners first.
CDR Easton was the FIRST who fell and the
Finnish captain took the flag of truce from Lieu
tenant Geneste, and waved it, shouting "A flag
of truce'-,chich had been previously explained to
them before they fired. The Russians spoke Eng
lish, and the person who led them, from his dress
and appearance, seemed TO be an officer. The
Russians yelled, and fired Oh the men before they
could defend themselves; indeed, there was not
an attempt made"
The boat was found to be completely riddled
above the water line. 1t was lucky she escaped
without hole through her bottom, she would
have filled. 1t was evident that the Russians
intended to leave to tell the tale, but il has
pleased Providence to ordain it otherwise. The
ships fired few shots and rockets at the tele-
graph, but fog coming on, they were obliged
to haul out into deeper. water There were no
troops seen; the cowardly rufiians had evidently
gone away. Ii was not thought prudent TO at
tempt to recover the remaining bodies.