The Hillsborough Recorder

From the Baltimore American:

SPANISH ACCOUNT;

Of the death of Lieut. Com. Cocke, of the U. S. schooner Fox.

A respected friend has handed to us a Porto Rico newspaper of the 8th of March, from which we have procured a translation of the (Spanish) account of the circumstances which occasioned the melancholy end of lieut. Cocke. It is as follows:

From the Eco of Porto Rico, of the 8th of March, 1823.

Dreadful Accident!—On the 6th inst. an event, which has excited the greatest impression in every heart, took place in this harbor. It will no doubt afford an opportunity to the Americans to raise clamours against us, dictated by the various feelings and passions in every individual.

But we appeal to sensible men and beg them to suspend their judgment until they will be thoroughly informed of all the particular circumstances of the occurrence. We allude to the death of the captain of one of the United States' sloops, which belongs to a small squad ron that was in sight from the fourth instant, and of which two entered the harbor on the morning of the 5th. The incident happened thus:

His excellency the captain general being absent, the place remained under the command of the lieutenant, who supposed that he ought not to permit the small squadron to enter until his excellency should either arrive, or send positive orders. We do not wish to investigate the reasons, or motives, which induced him to act in this manner; we must however do him the justice to believe that they are just and weighed with that solid judgment which characterizes him.

We have been informed that to effect his intentions he gave orders to the commander of the castle of Moro to report all the movements of the squadron, and to the commander of artillery not to permit it to enter until the arrival of his excellency. He also ordered that the pilot should not go out, until they received further orders. At half after six o'clock in the morning he sent an adjutant to one of the sloops which had already entered the harbor on the preceding evening, to request her captain, to go to the government, and to arrange measures by which the squadron off the harbor, might receive information, that it should not enter. The captain of the sloop delaying until one o'clock the interview with the government, the adjutant told him through his interpreter, that the case was urgent, and he then explained it to him; to which the captain replied, that he was going to dress himself and would immediately call upon his excellency.

Between the hours of ten and eleven in the morning, a sloop directing her course towards the harbor, without having waited for the pilot, the seignior commander of artillery ordered a gun to be fired at her without ball, which might arrest her progress, or oblige her to take another course, but as she did neither, and still endeavored to get in, by increasing her sail, another gun with ball was fired, aimed aloft; both these shots had been from the upper battery.

The commander of the battery which stands on the shore, seeing that this vessel notwithstanding the two shots, still forced her way in defiance of the authority, fired another gun at her, which on account of her disregard was unfortunately repeated, and produced the lamentable effect of killing the captain, blowing off one of his legs. The first lieutenant then seemed inclined to veer, but as he could not accomplish it, let down the sails, and cast anchor; he then immediately threw out the boat and came ashore.

The lieutenant commanded the pilot to go on board the vessel, and ordered that the boats of the bay should also go to her and see if any assistance was requisite. At this moment the captain of the sloop whom he had requested to come at 6 o'clock appeared.

During the intercourse of this captain and the lieutenant, the then commander of the sloop, which was entering, arrived and informed them of the misfortune that had happened, which might have been very easily avoided if the captain of the sloop in the harbor had been more active in complying with the request of the lieutenant; or if he had given an immediate reply in the negative, or if the deceased captain had fulfilled his duty, when the first and second guns were fired at him, either by veering, since he could easily have done it, according to the opinion of those experienced in naval affairs, or by making some other demonstration as was done after the circumstance.

Half an hour, after this dreadful occurrence, his excellency the captain general arrived who ordered that all the vessels which might wish to enter, should be permitted to do so; and would receive them with that attention which is due to a friendly nation; since the nature of the vessels and the public spirit of the natives were such as to remove all fear of danger.

The burial of the corpse of the captain of the sloop, William Cocke, was performed with all the pomp possible. At the execution of this mournful duty all the political and civil authorities, and all the naval and land officers in this place, were present.