August 2017 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 25.


Chatham; ABIGAIL, Gilman, Boston. July 15th


HISTORY FROM THE PAST - Hancock Gazette - 1827 July 21st


– schooner BOSTON PACK- – BRUTUS, Clark, Boston;


LYDIA, ---, Portsmouth; LIBERTY, ---, Dennis; LINITY, Boardman, Providence.


25 July The captains of two ships lately arrived


at New York from Europe, with passengers, were brought up before the mayor of that city on Saturday morning charged with having brought paupers into the city, sent out by the parishes. On investigation it appeared that one of them, from Liverpool, had a number whose passages were paid for by the parish. The Captain, however, declared that he had no knowledge of it, as the passages were taken by a broker without his knowing who advanced the money. The penalty in such cases is very heavy, and will no doubt be enforced. It would be well for shipowners to be particular that such frauds are not practiced on them in the future. Some years since, before the present


regulations – requiring all captains of ves- sels to report their passengers on arrival in this port, and give security that they shall not become chargeable to the public – were adopted, a poor infi rm old woman, sent out probably by some kind friends who were charged with the administration of the poor laws, arrived here from England. Before she had even stepped her foot on shore notice was given that she was an object of public relief, and she was accordingly carried to the old Alms House and provided for in the usual manner. The old lady was so much pleased with her new quarters, and with the endeavors to make her comfortable, that in a day or two after she wrote a letter to some poor relations of hers in England, describing herself as lodged in a magnifi cent building, well clad, faring sumptuously, and with all her wants liberally supplied, and advising them to come over to this land of plenty and benefi cence to partake of her good fortune. This letter came accidentally to the hands of the keeper of the Alms House, who, looking upon it as a document of some consequence to the city, laid it before the Common Coun- cil; and to the light thrown on the subject by this singular accident, it is said the present regulations owe their origin. – N. Y. Eve. Post


Rapid Traveling. – The steamboat CONNECTICUT reached Providence from New York at 9 o’clock on Sunday, last week, and her passengers were set down in Boston at two o’clock, PM making an eighteen hours passage to Providence and only twenty-three hours from New York to Boston.


DIED In Wilmington, NC July 6, Capt. John


B. Perkins, of Prospect, of brig ELIZA- BETH & ANN, of Northport, Maine, aged about 29. The brig, several weeks since, in attempting to cross the bar, grounded, and was obliged to return to town, to unload to repair damages. Capt. Perkins became somewhat disheartened, and took up the idea that he should never more see his fam- ily – soon after, being taken with a bilious fever, this operated so strongly on his mind, as to retard very materially, the means used for his recovery, and no doubt the fatal termination of the fever may be attributed principally to this cause. Capt. Perkins was a very gentlemanly in his deportment, and much respected by his acquaintance in this place.


MARINE LIST Port of Belfast Arrived


July 19th – CLEOPATRA, Gray, Som- erset; sloop NORMAN, Jordan, Portland.


ET, Shute, Boston; FAME, Woodward, Hingham. July 24th


– ENTERPRISE, Sherburn,


New York; DEFIANCE, Wood, New Lon- don; ROB ROY, Donnell, Newburyport; RAMBLER, Baker, Dennis; sloop JULIA ANN, Lunt, Eastport.


* * * * * NOTICE TO MARINERS A Light House, is erected on Matinicus


Rock, off Penobscot Bay, coast of Maine, and will be lit up on the night of the 19th July inst. There are two lanterns, one on each side of the Keeper’s house, and will appear two distinct fi xed light sailing coastwise, northeasterly and southwesterly, and as one light, NNW and SSE.


I. ILSLEY, Superintendent Custom House, Portland, July 16, 1827


1 August [From the Aurora and Franklin Gazette] Extract from the Journal of a Voyage to Canton


I left the ship at Whampoa to go to Can-


ton. The distance is about 12 or 15 miles; the river winding in serpentine courses through a low marshy country, converted for the most part into rice fi elds. A few miles back the ground swells into hills of considerable height, but all apparently quite naked and barren, with nothing upon them except here and there a pagoda. These towers I am informed are to be seen all over the coun- try, and are supposed to have been erected immediately after the fi rst Tartar conquest, though the Chinese profess to have no histo- ry or tradition of their origin or use. As they are in sight of each other the whole way from Canton to Pekin, it seems very evident that they were erected for the purpose of watch and signal towers. On the passage of the river there ap-


peared nothing to engage the attention, except the immense fl oating city of boats, which almost formed a bridge across it for several miles. It seems the ancestors of this amphibious people immigrated in their boats from a distant part of the coast of China, several centuries ago, but not be- ing permitted to land, have continued from generation to generation to live in them, with the indulgence of going on shore in the day time only; so that the numerous families that inhabit them are all born, live, and die on the water. How so many, for they are said to amount to 200,000, an estimate I think much too extravagant, make out to gain a liveli- hood, I cannot imagine. Yet so far I have not observed any marks of poverty and distress among them. They all appear healthy and contented, well clothed and well fed. It is truly astonishing to see with what


rapidity boats, and even vessels of consider- able burthen are propelled by means of two large sculls or oars, working on pivots, and fi xed to two pieces of projecting wood on the stern. From six to ten men, according to the size and the vessel, are required to work one of these, in which there appears to be con- siderable slight necessary, and is equally as well understood by the women and children, down to the tottering infant of three years old, are all seen laboring at the same oar. To prevent these little creatures from drowning in the event of falling overboard, they have generally a string made fast to them, and some, have a hollow gourd tied upon their backs to keep them from sinking.


First Voyage of Columbus. – We learn


from the Boston papers, that a translation of the valuable and interesting Spanish documents relating to the fi rst voyage of Columbus, is in progress in that city, and that the printing of the work has commenced.


The originals of these documents were discovered in 1789, among the archives of the Duke del Infantado. They were not published until a year or two since, when they were given to the public by order of the present King of Spain. The manuscript is said to be in the handwriting of Las Cases, and to be an abstract of the original Journal of Columbus, made by this author while compiling his history of the Indies. It is in the form of a diary at sea, and is probably more interesting from not being elaborated. Its authenticity is said to be unquestionable. N. Y. Spectator


BY THE MAILS Pirates of the Brig CRAWFORD. – The


three Spaniards, engaged in the horrid mur- ders on board the brig CRAWFORD, were brought up for trial at Richmond on Monday. Pepe, or Jose Helario Casaris, was put


upon trial, and after objecting to 18 persons summoned as jurors, a jury was obtained. On the part of the prosecution, the mate of the vessel and a passenger, a French gentleman, and the persons who took the prisoners, after their landing, were examined. The case was submitted to the jury without comment, who after a retirement of a few minutes, brought in a verdict of Guilty. The trial occupied from ten, until past six o’clock. The trial of the other prisoner was to commence on Tuesday. On Tuesday the case of Felix Barbato


was brought on, and the prison convicted on the same evidence as was given at the former trial. Messrs. Leigh and Schmidt, counsel for the prisoner. On Wednesday the court proceeded


with the trial of the third prisoner, charged with piracy, who was also convicted. It was supposed Judge Marshall would pass sentence next day.


From the Richmond Enquirer, 20th ult. The Pirates. – Yesterday, Chief Justice


Marshall proceeded to deliver the sentence of the Court. It met at an early hour, and, as has uniformly been the case during the week, was crowded with anxious spectators. Mr. Leigh tendered to the court two papers in the Spanish language, and which were translated by Mr. Schmidt, as follows: I, José Hilario Casares, in the name of


God, give this my declaration before the Chief Justice of the United States: That I took passage in the American


brig, for New York, with $6000, which were put with those belonging to Don Felix, to be applied to the purchase of a vessel in New York, to go thence to the coast of Africa. I declare that all, of which I am accused


by the mate and the Frenchman, is false – because Tardy was not a man, by the demon: and he alone, with his medicines, was capa- ble of killing anyone, even a hundred men. I hope the judge will delay my cause,


that I may furnish evidence of my characters; and I pray God to preserve him many years. His


JOSÉ HILARIO CASARES X Mark


I, Felix Barbeito, in the name of God,


give this my declaration, before the Judge presiding in this court of the United States: That I took passage and the American


brig, in Matanzas, for New York, with $8000, which I gave in charge of the captain of the vessel, together with other papers, and my letters of recommendation. I declare, likewise, that everything of which I am accuse, is false – as I was asleep, and only know, that in the morning, Tardy told me that I need not be afraid, as he would pay me my $8000; but I and the other Spaniards were the cause that the vessel arrived in Norfork; because Tardy and the French passenger did


Capt. Elliott, of the CYANE, in com- pliance with instructions from Government to naval offi ces to endeavor to improve and promote the breed of useful animals in the United States, brought from South America a pair of fi ne Jacks. It is said that mules are far preferable to horses for working on Canals.


Notice to Mariners. – From and after


the fi rst of September next, the Light House at SCITUATE will exhibit two lights, one above the other; the lower one blood red and the upper one white. This alteration has been considered necessary, the better to distinguish it, and prevent its being mistaken for Boston, or any other light in the Bay. The lantern of the Boston Light House


is elevated 82 feet above the level of the sea and contains a revolving light. When at the distance of 7 or 8 leagues the time of dark- ness will be twice that of light in approaching it, the time of darkness will decrease and that of light increase, until within three leagues of it, when the light will not wholly disap- pear; but the greatest power of light will be to the least as 44 to 1. Vessels making Boston Light and unable to get a pilot may bring it to bear WNW and run boldly for it until within a cables length, then run W by S until the soundings give fi ve fathoms of water, where is safe anchorage. Editors of Newspapers on the seacoast


are requested to give publicity to this infor- mation. H. A. S. DEARBORN, Superintendent of Light Houses in


Massachusetts


Custom House, Boston, July 14, 1827 The Fisheries – The Portland Gazette


not wish to go thither. As I also declared to the presiding


judge, that if he will do me the favor to delay the cause, I will furnish proofs from the city of Havana, and from my relations, respecting my good character and situation in life – a favor which I expect from the presiding Judge of this court, whom I pray God to preserve for many years. – Your suppliant, FELIX BARBEITO


The Judge replied, that it was his duty to


execute the laws; and that they did not permit him to comply with the request made to him – that it would be happy for the prisoners, if their consciences were as much at peace as they professed – but that all that was left to him, was to discharge the duty imposed upon him. He then inquired of the Prisoners


whether they had anything to say, why the sentence of the law should not be pro- nounced upon them. Through Dr. Lemosy (the interpreter) they requested time to hear from their friends in Havana, in order to obtain evidence of their character, &c. The Judge replied, that it was out of his power to suspend the course of the law. But that every indulgence should be extended to them, which it was possible to grant; that they might communicate with their friends, and that facilities would be granted to them for this purpose: he recommended it to them to think of the awful situation in which they were placed; and assured them, that every mean should be aff orded them of commu- nicating with the ministers of their own religion, (the Catholic.) He then pronounced their sentence, and


fi xed the day of their execution to Friday the 17th


for piracy only – Mr. Standard, U. S. At- torney, considering it to be unnecessary to arraign them for murder.


of August. They were tried under the Indictment


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