The New Hampshire Gazette

The Snow Fox, James Drew, Master, arrived here last Sunday from Bristol, Waterford, and Madeira, having been taken by the Enemy, and retaken by the Sturdy Beggar Privateer of New York, Robert Trunn, Commander. The Fox had 8 guns, 3 pounders, and 17 men and boys besides two men and three women passengers, when on the 7th instant, about 25 leagues to windward of Antigua he was attacked by the Capricieux, a French privateer of 14 guns and 104 men, Anthony Marie, commander.

The action began about half an hour past six in the morning, and continued till half an hour after eight, when the enemy had received so much damage, that they were obliged to drop astern and rest, which gave Capt. Drew an opportunity of repairing his rigging in the best manner his situation would admit; and at the same time he crowded all sail, hoping to get clear: But tho' the enemy at one time appeared near three leagues astern, yet the Fox, being a heavy sailer, was again overtaken about four in the afternoon; and a second engagement ensued at half musket shot distance, and several times almost close aboard.

The little force Capt. Drew had, was employed to the best advantage, and his great guns were fired with a much better direction than those of the enemy, whose small arms only did him much hurt; but this unfortunately proved the ruin of the former; for by 6 o'clock, the enemy found their vessel sinking, and necessity obliged them to board the snow, suddenly and all together, as the only means of preserving their own lives; a measure which their courage had never suggested.

The people belonging to the snow were till ignorant of the condition the privateer was in, (tho' she went to the bottom a few minutes afterwards) and finding all further resistance in vain, they submitted, and called for quarter. Amongst men not totally lost to all sense of honour, and the regard due to merit, even in an enemy, the defence those people had made would have intitled them to particular marks of favour and distinction; but how opposite to this was the conduct of the French? Deaf to all intreaties for quarter, they tore up the decks, threw down combustibles, and kept firing balls amongst the people below for a considerable time: At last however some of the Frenchmen being below, and having promised quarter to those who had sheltered themselves in the gun room, Mr. Bull, late of Waterford, Merchant, ventured to climb up into the cabin, where he presently received a blow with a cutlass, designed at his skull, but happily the weapon glanced and only cut off his left ear close to the head, and occasioned him to fall backwards into the gun room again, having also received several other wounds from different people.

In the mean time Capt. Drew having been seized and stripped of every thing valuable, a pistol was presented to his head, and fired; yet the ball, as it were providentially, missed him: they then began to cut him with a knife, in the most barbarous manner, aiming chiefly at his head; and made several thrusts at him with a sword, which he avoided by getting behind the mast.

The enemy had now been masters of the vessel a considerable time, and the people in the gun room began to hope the rage of their cruelty might be subsided. It was therefore resolved, on further promises of quarter, to venture up again; and to excite their companions, if any spark remained, the women went up first, led by Mrs. Bull, exposing her tender infant, born but 4 days before, and bathed in the tears of its mother: a scene which might have moved the most obdurate savage. But no sooner were the women followed by a hopeful boy of about 15, brother in law of Capt. Drew, than he was dragged away, shot, then wounded with swords, and afterwards thrown overboard whilst yet alive: This was also the case of Mr. Broughton, a passenger, who being badly wounded in the action, was afterwards stabbed by the French, and then thrown overboard, still breathing and not dead; and this too would certainly have been the fate of Mr. Bull, had he not thrust himself under a gun, from whence he could not easily be disengaged; yet whilst in this situation two attempts were made to thrust him thro' the body, but on both occasions he received the wound in his thighs, hands, &c.

The gunner, whilst yet on his knees and begging for mercy, was shot thro' the thigh; but this not being mortal, they attempted to split his skull, whilst he parried the blows only with his hands and arms, and received the wounds there.

This horrid massacre was all the while countenanced and encouraged, if not expressly commanded, by the French Captain, Anthony Maire, and by his officers; and it is hard to say where the scene would have ended at last had not a thirst of plunder succeeded that of blood. But providence never deigned that such brutal murderers should go unpunished. Capt.

her prize ran ashore upon the tail of the reef, and tho' she was got off in about 3 hours, yet she was so much damaged, and made so much water, that they were obliged to run her ashore in deep bay, where her hull is irrecoverably lost, but all her rigging and stores will be saved. Her loss is the more regretted, as she was one of the best privateers in America; had already been of great service to our trade, and was commanded by a gentleman of known courage and merit. She had some days before retaken a snow from Cork and sent her to Barbados.