The Kentucky Gazette

The following article, dated Faro August 12, was received by the last Lisbon mail,

"An Algerine Corsair, full of men, was lately sunk, off cape St. Vincent's by two Portuguese men of war, after a most desperate and bloody conflict of nine glasses, wherein vast numbers were killed on both sides. The Rover maintained the action with such firmness & undaunted resolution, that at one time it was doubtful whether she would not have beat them both off, notwithstanding the superior odds against her. The Portuguese behaved manfully, and offered to give quarters provided they would strike, which generous and humane offer the pirates refused, and so revengeful were the Infidels to the last, that they fired grape and cartridge shot from the decks, and small arms from the top, into the men of war, as they were sinking, which did great mischief among the people. Both the ships were severely shattered—one had several shots between wind and water, which made her very leaky, and her sails and rigging almost cut to pieces, the other had her foremast and bow-sprit carried away, with part of her starboard bow, and a large shot went fifteen inches into the main mast. It is thought the pirates had expended all their cannon balls, as, in the latter part of the engagement they fired from the great guns, marling pikes, ring bolts, rusty nails, bits of iron and lead cut in square pieces. What is astonishing, the captain was seen nailing the colors to the mast as the ship was sinking; when done, he pulled a pistol from his breast and shot himself through the head—He was a bold, daring fellow, and would often attack ships of double his own force, sometimes made prizes of them, and always fought under the bloody flag."