The National Register. — 1821-07-29 (London, England)

THE NATIONAL REGISTER  CHILL MESSACRE OF THE MASTER AND PART OF THE CREW OF THE SHIP OFFLEY. OF LONDON, AT THE ISLAWE OF ST. MARY'S. ON THE COAST OF CHILI. " On Saturday, February 24, 1821, at 10 A. M. saw several men, six or eight, on the Island of St. Mary's. Captain Hales suppo4ing those men to have come over from the main for the purpose of trading, as they usually did, went on shore with a boat's crew, armed with cutlasses and pistols, for the purpose of procuring refreshments for the use of the ship. On their lauding, these men, supposed to be Spaniards, ran away behind the beach, and our boat's crew after them. Sunday 25.—Sun down, boat not returned ; all on board felt anxious for the safety of the Captain and crew. At Gh. 30nt. r.x. sent the third mate on shore to launch the Captain's i boat and bring her off--7th do. the third mate returned, informed us there were several men on the beach, and from their movements supposed there were more behind the beach, and being dusk he judged it most propor not to attempt landing. The chief mate immediately armed the boat and sent her off, with orders to lay as near as possible abreast of the Captain's boat, but not on any account to land. At day-light perceived the boat was missing; the night being dark, it was supposed they carried her behind the beach. Five A. tt. boat returned on board ; at Bh. 30m. armed two boats, the one headed by the chief mate, the other headed by the third mate. and went on shore. On coming near the Leach they perceived a man naked, sitting on the beach ; on cawing up to him, they discovered hint to be Thomas Moore, armourer, covered with blood ; he was perfectly sensible, ar.d informed them that on 'their first landing the Spaniards appeared very friendly, giving them bread and meat ; afterwards they persuaded them to deliver up their arms, bound them two and two, and carried them about three miles into the island; after that they brought them back nearer to the beach, amongst some bushes, and as soon as it was dark they stript them and put them all to death, excepting him, whom they left for dead, having received 23 spear wounds in his body and two sabre cuts, one on each side of the neck. He was immediately brought on board, when I examined him, and found that his lungs hal been pierced upwards through the diaphragm, one ach side ; he told me he had counted twentyfive men just prior to their being murdered. Soon after the boats returned, a great number of men, supposed to be about fifty, were seen coming towards the beach; soon afterwards a man presented himself, dressed in the Captain's clothes, and waved his hat for a boat to come on shore ; he was accoompanied by three or four, who appeared to be officers in green uniform, with cocked hats and sabres; the rest we could discover lying behind the beach. The man on the beach appeared so much like Captain Hales, that I questioned the armourer whether he was positive the Captain was killed ; he assured me he was, and said the Captain or leader of the Spaniards very much resembled Captain Hales, as to outward appearnnce; that he had remarked it when on shore. We immediately weighed anchor, and stood for Conception. At 5 P. K. the armourer much worse; 9th do. departed this life," The above is a verbatim copy of the Surgeon's sa cement of the circumstances.