a

same manner.

the sacrament, each one was accom. neck, and he swung off without say. panied to the top of the steps by his ing a word. priest.

After they were all hung, the exeAll of them, except one, had a few cutioner began at the first one, cut words to address to their companions, the ropes and let him drop to the by the way of taking leave of them. ground, and passed on in the same Bergud, a native of Poland, and a manner through the whole. The brave fellow, evinced a great con- fall, being some distance from the tempt of death. After the ropes

ground, broke many of their limbs, were round his neck, he observed : which piercing through the flesh, “ Fellow prisoners, we have all suf- presented a shocking sight to their fered much, but my sufferings will surviving countrymen. Each body soon end. I die innocent, and relief was then taken, and laid upon a bench, will come from that source [pointing with the head upon a block. The neto Miranda's colours.) Miranda's gro, with a chopping knife, cut the arms will rid you of your chains, and heads from their shoulders, and tatriumph over your oppressors. When king them by the hair, held them up, that shall happen, remember to bleeding, to the view of the spectaavenge my death.” Then, without tors. The rest were served in the waiting for the executioner, he jumped from the scaffold, and ended his After this scene of blood was finishexistence at once.

ed, Miranda's colours were cut down Mr. Donohue, after his priest had and triumphantly carried to a little left him, observed : “ Fellow prison- distance from the gallows, where were ers, I wish you a final adieu ; [then placed in one pile, the uniform coats painting towards the Spaniards) these and hats of the officers, their commisbloodhounds will pay ten-fold for this sions, arms, and implements of war, ere long."

together, with Miranda's proclamaEvery one evinced a similar firm- tions. Upon this pile the colours were ness of mind, and met their fate with placed, and then set fire to and burnt an unchanged countenance, except to ashes. Mr. George,* a young man, and the Their heads afterwards were taken, last one executed; who, instead of agreeable to the sentence, and distriacquiring resolution, by the examples buted to the different adjacent publick of intrepidity, which had been set places. Three were put up at Lahim by his companions, was disheart- guira, two at Caraccas, two at Occoened by the shocking sight which manus, two at Valentia, and one at was left after life was extinguished. Porto Cavello. They were put into He sunk under the weighty thought iron cages, prepared for that purpose, of encountering an unknown eternity placed upon poles, which were erectHe fainted just as he was about to ed in conspicuous places, so as to ascend the steps. After some exertion strike the attention of the people. he was brought to his recollection, This horrid scene of death 'and and taken immediately to the top of butchery being over, after having the scaffold, the ropes put round his lasted from six o'clock in the morn

ing, till about one o'clock in the af. * This young man was by birth a Por. ternoon, the remainder of the prison. tuguese. He left a wealthy and miserly ers, with heavy hearts, were returned parent, in consequence of being too se- to their respective prisons, there to verely restricted in pecuniary indulgence, remain until the Spaniards were ready and came to New York,, After spending to transport them to their respective some time in a state of idleness, and being short of money, he embarked in Miranda's places of servitude. expedition, flushed with the idea of me. After witnessing the execution of king a fortune at one stroke.

their ten companions, the prisoners VOL, IL,

remained in confinement without any means were necessary to be attempt alteration of their condition, except, ed. Just before the appointed time from the heat of the weather, and the arrived, they were surprised to see weight of their irons, their sufferings the number of the guards about their were more insupportable than they persons increased, themselves exhad been. They anxiously wished amined, and their irons thoroughly for the day when they were to be inspected. This excited a suspicion, taken out for the purpose of being re- that some one of their number, whose moved to their respective places of heart failed him, had betrayed them.-servitude ; inasmuch as they cherished Two or three at a time had been a hope, that some auspicious circum- permitted to go upon deck, during stance might favour an escape. The the day time, and remain an hour or expected period arrived on the 7th two in the fresh air. These indulof August, when they were all ex- gences were attributed to the fear of amined, their irons inspected, and the commander, of being captured by more firmly rivetted upon them; and some English vessel with whom they about four o'clock, P. M. taken out might fall in during their voyage; and carried on board of an armed when their severe treatment might merchant ship (the Prince of Peace) be retaliated. of ten guns, for the purpose of being The prisoners, finding they had conveyed to Carthagena, an exten- failed in one scheme, had recourse to sive Spanish seaport town, situated another. It was proposed and agreed on the Main, and about three hun- to, that in case they should not hapdred leagues froin Porto Cavello. At pen to fall into the hands of the Enthe mouth of the harbour of this place, glish, before they should reach Car. is situated Bocca Chica, whither a thagena, one of them, at a time to be portion of the prisoners had been sen- agreed upon, should descend into the tenced. At this place the remainder magazine room, and by means of a were to remain, until they could be lighted cigar, set fire to the powder, conveniently transported to their des- and put an end, at once, to their suftined places.

ferings, by blowing themselves and The prisoners were all placed be. the vessel out of existence. This tween the decks, and guarded by scheme met with the same ill success about fifty soldiers, placed on board, as the former. exclusive of the ship's crew, for that They were now arrived in sight of purpose. In consequence of this Carthagena, and all hopes of being guard, it was extremely difficult to captured or of escape were gone. put in execution any effectual plan Just as they were making the port, an for the purpose of regaining their li- English frigate hove in sight, and in berty, notwithstanding the extreme in- full chase after them-but she was dolence of the soldiers, who spent the too late. An uncommon fatality seemgreater part of their time either sleep- ed to attend all their prospects of reing or smoking. Several schemes lief. They arrived in Carthagena on were concerted, and all frustrated. the 17th of August 1806, after a voyPreparations were made at one time age of ten days. for ridding themselves of their irons, On the next day they were all taken which was to be effected during the out and marched up through the night; when they were to rise upon gate of the walls of the town, and the guard, take command of the ves- through the town to the prison, ready sel, and carry her into some port to receive them. The sorrowful apwhere they might escape. Had this pearance the prisoners made in bold attempt been undertaken with marching along in their irons out success, several lives, no doubt, through the town (about 47 in numwould have been lost. Their situa- ber) not having any thing upon their tion was desperate ; and desperate heads, but exposed to the hot sun

more

ted up:

without any thing upon their feet, find, afforded them more room, more and in rags, drew forth a multitude air, and more light. of Spaniards to behold them. Sur- They were now reduced to the rounded with men, women, and chilnumber of twenty-eight, who were dren, it was with difficulty they could all confined in one apartment. Their make headway through them. The irons were examined and shabby appearance of a majority of strongly riveted upon them. Those the inhabitants showed, that the pri- irons consisted of two heavy clevises soners were not entirely out of fash- which were placed round the ancles, ion in their tattered dress.

at the ends of which were holes, and After arriving at the place of con- through these ran an iron bolt, fasfinement, they were separated and tening them upon the ancles and put into three different rooms or joining one ancle with the other, at holes, almost destitute of the light about six inches apart, just enabling of the sun; cut off from the circula- them 10 limp along, by hitching one tion of the air ; hot, filthy, and with- foot before the other. These irons out any thing to rest their heads upon weighed about 20 or 25 pounds but the bare ground. Whilst reflect- weight. At first their ancles became ing upon these sorrowful regions of so galled by them, which continually despair, they were comforted by the fretted the flesh whenever they atinformation from their keeper, that tempted to exercise, that it was with these were only temporary places of difficulty they could walk about the confinement until another one was fit- floor of the prison. At length having

grown Jank and thin by the loss of The prison which was fitted up to Hesh, they were enabled to raise the receive the prisoners was adjacent to, irons almost up to their knees, and and formed a part of the walls of the by means of strings tied to the bolts town, or the walls of the town form- and round their necks, kept them in ed the back walls of the prison-the that situation, by which they were front facing in upon the town. The much relieved in walking. walls were made of stone and lime, Their keeper was an Old-Spainer,

-, about 12 or 13 feet thick. The rooms and a sergeant of the guards. He or cells, in which the prisoners were was intrusted with the superintento be confined, were about 90 feet dence of all the prisoners in confinelong and about 30 wide. There were ment. He kept a kind of provision no windows or holes to let in light, shop, near the prison, and was the except through the gratings of the purveyor of the prisoners, and supdoor, where the guard was placed— plied them, in behalf of the governa few small air holes led through the ment, with food. The prisoners were back of the prison; and sentinels served twice a day, with a sort of fare, were placed upon the top of the prison consisting of boiled plantains, rice, walls. The floor of the prison was and water, and sometimes a small made of bricks, which formed the piece of fish. About one pint of this only pillows the prisoners had to lay pottage was served out to each, in their heads upon. To this prison all the fore part of the day; and towards were removed after remaining seve- evening the same repeated. In some ral days in their temporary places of seasons of the year, when vegetables confinement, except those who were and food were not so plenty, they sentenced to labour at Bocca Chica. were scanted to a little rice and water, They were taken out and commenced or a boiled plantain or two, scarcely their term of servitude, of which sufficient to support nature. Their mention will be made afterwards. allowance was eighteen pence per This prison, although of a similar day. This was paid to the old sergeant, make to the first, they were happy to who for one shilling a piece, supplied them with those two meals a day, and These they procured out of the money the surplus six pence he paid them. which was allowed them to live upon. This money they either laid out in The large straw hats were of great buying more food, or some kind of service in screening much of their covering for their bodies, or laid it bodies from the sun. After labouring up till times of sickness. After a in this manner for some time, they while, they were allowed the eighteen became more accustomed to the clipence in money, instead of food, with mate, their skins were soon tanned which they were to support them- from white to brown, and the heat selves.

became more endurable. They are In this situation they were to re- called up in the morning by their main, as they were told, until they drivers, at daylight, and put to work. could be removed to their places of At noon and night they are permitted Jabour. It was, however, understood to eat whatever they can procure with that they would not be removed du- their scanty pittance. At night they ring the war between England and are locked up in a prison, where they Spain, as the harbour was continually rest till morning. They passed and blockaded by English vessels. repassed the prison where their fel

Those nineteen prisoners who low countrymen were confined, but were sentenced to the Castle Bocca were not permitted to have any access Chica (Little Mouth] which is situa- to them. Whenever any one was ted at the mouth of the harbour of sick, he was sent to the slaves' hospiCarthagena, were taken out and put tal, where he remained till his health to labour in the town of Carthagena; was recovered. In this manner they their irons were taken off-an iron still continue to wear out their weaband put round each of their ancles, ried lives. with a staple in it, by which two per- Soon after their imprisonment, sesons were chuined together, with a veral were attacked with fevers, the Targe ox-chain about 20 feet long, flux, black jaundice, and other disorand weighing üfty or eighty pounds. ders that prevail during the sickly

They were then put to labour with season. Their complaints were little the common criminal convict slaves attended to by their keepers. No asom of the place. Their labour consists sistance was offered them at first. principally in digging, fetching, and They were obliged to endure their carrying large stones and sand, for sickness, lying upon the hard tiles of the purpose of building fortifications, the prison floor. At length one of the &c. this they do upon a handbarrow. prisoners, by the name of John Burk, After they get their load upon the died. This excited more attention to handbarrow, they place upon it their their complaints, and shortly afterchains, which would otherwise drag wards, they were indulged with the upon the ground, and proceed to car. liberty of going to the hospital whenry it wherever it may be wanted. ever they were unwell.

When they were let out to labour, The prisoners seeing no prospect being almost naked, the scorching of meliorating their condition, turned sun was so powerful, as to raise blis- their attention to the making of a ters upon the parts exposed to the breach in the wall of the prison. heat; the middle of the day was al. Every convenient moment that could most insupportable, many would faint be embraced, with safety, was approand fall under the load they were priated to that purpose, not only duże compelled to carry. This, instead of ring the night, but sometimes during exciting pity, would only bring upon the day. The person from whom them the lash of the negro slave- detection was most to be feared, was driver, who attended them. At first the sentinel at the door, and by watch. they suffered much for want of hats, ing his motions through the grates,

a

they might direct the one at work, in risk and blame upon themselves. such a manner as to avoid suspicion. Sometimes the sickness and removal During the night, a lamp was kept of several of the prisoners to the continually burning in the back part hospital, would cause a cessation of the prison, for the benefit of the of their progress for awhile ; but it sentinel ; and as the prisoners had was again renewed upon their reco• little else to do in the day time, except very. indulge themselves in sleep and rest, In order to be prepared to rid it was generally the case that more or themselves of their irons, by the time less of them were up during the the hole through the walls should be night, walking the floor for exercise completed, or upon any other favourand air. This practice was now re- able occasion, they procured (by cergularly pursued, that the noise of tain out-door assistance) several old their irons and their talk, might knives, which by means of a file they drown the noise of the hammer. The made into saws. With these, while hole where they were at work, was some were engaged at the walls, at the further end of the prison, and others were busy sawing upon their about 80 feet from the door, so that bolts, which passed through their anno uncommon noise beyond what was cle irons, and connected them togeconstantly made amongst so many ther. When they ceased sawing, the prisoners, was required to deceive saw cuts, made in the bolts, they fillthe ears of the sentinel. The wall, ed up with wax, by which means they through which they expected to pass, could scarcely be discovered upon inwas about thirteen feet thick, and spection. After several months sawwas made of stones, bricks, and more ing, occasionally in this manner, they tar cemented together. The stones had succeeded in sawing their bolts were not of the hardest kind, but ge- so far off as to be enabled, with their nerally such as are found along the hands, by bending them backwards seashore, from whence they were and forwards, to break them apart. brought. After one night's work was This being done, they filled the cuts over, and just before morning, the up with wax, and remained in that sipieces of stone, brick, and mortar, tuation, prepared 10 throw them off &c. which came from the hole, were whenever occasion required. by means of water and lime, which Those who were sick at the hospi. was privately procured, made into a tal, having recovered, returned to kind of mortar, and replaced into the their prison, and commenced workhole, the outside rubbed over with a ing at the breach in the wall, with all little white-wash, and the old ham- possible diligence. Mr. Lippincott mock hung before it as usual. So and Mr. Sherman had previously rethat the keeper when he came into ceived from a friend certain advances the prison, seeing every thing in its in money, for which they gave him proper place, his suspicion was not their bills on their friends in America. excited, nor had he any curiosity to This money was privately smuggled make any particular examinations. into their prison. To this they were

In this manner they continued to in a great measure indebted for their pursue their labour, alternately re- subsequent success. They were now lieving each other, particularly those enabled to obtain many things in pri- . who made their escape; the principal son necessary for carrying on their part of the rest being averse to the operations. They procured knives, attempt, conceiving it hazardous, and files, &c. and a sufficiency of provi. that it possibly might involve them sions by which they were enabled to in a worse situation. But Mr. Lippin- recover strength to encounter the incott, Sherman, and Smith, were de- tended attempt. Many other advantermined to persevere and take the tages they derived from this source,