The New Hampshire Gazette

Last Wednesday night arrived in this town, Mr. Matthew Cox, who on the 21st of January last, was taken in the Duke Packet, Capt. Owen Philips, about six leagues to windward of Cape Tiberoon; by the American Privateer, Capt. Blanco, after a resolute defence of near 1 1/2 glass, it fell at last a calm, and the privateer rowed under her quarter, and boarded her, on which Capt. Philips order'd the colours to be struck, and called for quarter, which the privateer's people refused giving, and instantly cut Capt. Philips's nose almost off, and one Ear, and gave him upwards of 40 different wounds, kill'd the master, cut the mate in pieces, and cut and wounded most of the people in the joints of their arms and wrists, by which they lost the entire use of them. Capt. Philips's son had his skull fractured, and has nearly lost the use of his arm as has the mate.

Butcherly Frenchmen. On demanding the reason of this extraordinary piece of barbarity, the officers of the privateer insolently told them, it was for so few men's daring to make defence against a French privateer. Next morning they carried them into La Coteau bay, where they unanimously agreed to put every man to death, which they certainly would have done, were it not for the merchants living on the bay, who coming on board the Packet, bought the small arms of the French sailors, instantly loaded them, and took possession of the quarter deck, which they kept till the packet's people were set on shore. They were that same night travelled by land to Ocaya, without the smallest refreshment, by which means many fainted on the road, and were obliged to be left to such assistance as the inhabitants would give them. On their arrival at Ocaya, Mr. Cox and those that had strength to travel thither, were sent to the hospital, and on the 15th of May Mr. Cox had his discharge from the surgeon: and the next night, in company with the chief mate and doctor of the Indian Prince, Capt. Watkins (that was taken last January) and a free negro belonging to Bristol, in a small boat of about 8 feet keel, without mats or sails, only one oar, and about 6 ounces of bread each man, they got to the Isle of Vache, where they cut a mast and yards, made Maho ropes and twine, and with the assistance of three shirts made two sails, and put to sea on the 17th of May, at 2 P. M. at 8 the same evening it began to rain and blow very hard at S. E. which obliged them to bear away before the sea; the bad weather continued for 8 days, with a strong current to windward, which drove them on the Isle of Cuba, after being three days without any sustenance, except gulph weed, on which they subsisted; on the 8th day they went ashore, and travelled to a place called Macauco, about 16 leagues to leeward, from whence they were sent by the Commander to Bayamo, and from thence they were sent back to Havana, where the governor confined them 4 days without food, or the liberty of going out to purchase any, when they had the liberty by day to seek provisions, in which time they purchased a boat with some gold they had saved; and after 9 days confinement, the governor obliged them to bring out what English prisoners had escaped from the French to that place, making with themselves 15; on Thursday the 23d of June, about 6 in the evening, they left Cuba, and got on shore at Manchioneal bay, where they left their boat, and travelled from thence to this town on foot.

There was a young lady passenger from Bristol on the Packet, whom they also treated with the utmost cruelty and indecency, turning her cloaths over head &c. and could scarce be prevailed on to spare even one gown for her to come on shore with. The Packet had 6 carriage guns, swivels and 26 men; the privateer had 10 carriage guns, 16 swivels, and 110 men; in the engagement Capt. Blanco was killed, one of his mates, about 15 private men, and upwards of 20 wounded, besides dismounting 5 of their guns; the Packet received no damage during the engagement, but only by the cruel massacre in cold blood as above related.