1809. ] 
execute Mr. Billopp, Kemper; Bergud, 
Hall, Johnson, and Ferris; after which 
they proceeded in a like manner to ex- 
ecute the three Roman Catholic prison- 
ers, Gardner, Doushue, and George, who 
were constantly attended by their priests; 
they were taken to the other part of 
the gallows, where they again received 
the sacrament, each one was accompa- 
nied to the top of the steps by his priest. 
_ All of them, except one, had a few 
words tu address to their companions, by 
the way of taking leave of them. Ber- 
oud, a native of Poland, and a brave fel- 
low, evinced a great contempt of death. 
After.the ropes were round his neck, he 
observed, “ Fellow prisoners, we have 
all suffered much, but my sufferings will 
soon. end. I die innocent, and relief 
will come from that source (pointing to 
Miranda’s colours); Miranda’s arms will 
rid you of your chains, and triumph over 
your oppressors. When that shali hap- 
pen, reinember to avenge my death ;” 
then, without waiting for the executioner, 
he jumped from the scaffold, and ended 
his existence at once. 
Mr. Donohue, after his priest had left 
him, observed, ‘* Fellow prisoners, I wish 
you a final adieu; (then pointing towards 
the Spaniards) these blood-hounds will 
pay ten-fold for this ere long.” 
Every one evinced a similar firmness 
of mind, and met their fate with an 
unchanged countenance, except Mr. 
George,* a young man, and the last one 
executed; who, instead of acquiring re- 
solution, by the examples of intrepiaity, 
which had béen set hin by his compa- 
nions, was disheartened by the shocking 
sight which was left after lite was ex- 
tinguished. He sunk under the weighty 
thought of encountering an unknown 
eternity; he fainted just as he was about 
to ascend the steps ; after some exertion 
he was brought to his recollection, and 
taken immediately to the top of the 
scaffold, the ropes put round his neck, 
and he swung off witbout saying a word. 
After they were all hung, the execu- 
tioner began at the first one, cut the ropes 
and Jet him drop to the ground, and 
passed on inithe same manner throagh 
the whole. The fall, being some distance 
from the ground, broke many of their 
* This young man was by birth a Portu- 
guese, he left a wealthy and miserly parent, 
in consequence of being too severely restricted 
in pecuniary indulgence, and came to New- 
York. After spending some time in a state 
of idJeness, and being short of money, he 
embarked in Miranda’s expedition, flushed 
with the idea of making a. fortune at one 
stroke, 
ios 
of part of General Miranda’s Squadron. 
117 
limbs, which: piercing.throuch the flesh, 
presented a shocking sight to their sur- 
viving countrymen. Each body wasthea 
taken, and laid upon a bench, with the 
head upon a block; the negro with a 
chopping knife, cut the heads from their 
shoulders, and taking them by the hair, 
held them up, bleeding, to the view of the 
spectators. ‘The rest were served in the 
saine manner. | 
After this scene of blood was finished,. 
Miranda’s colours were cut down and 
triumphantly carried at a little distance 
from the gallows, where were placed in 
one pile, the uniform coats and hats of 
the otlicers, their commissions, arms, and 
implements of war, together with Mi- 
randa’s proclamations; upon this pile the 
colours were placed, then set fire to and 
burnt to ashes. 
Their heads afterwards were taken, 
-agreeably to the sentence, and distributed 
to the different adjacent public places. 
Three were put up at Laguira, two at 
Caraccas, two at Occumanus, two at Va~ 
lentia, and one at Porto Cavello. They 
were put into iron cages, prepared for 
that purpose, placed upon poles, which 
were erected in Conspicuous places, so as 
to strike the attention of the people. 
This horvid scene of death and butch- 
ery being over, after having lasted from 
six o’clock in the morning, till about one 
o’clock in the afternoon, the remainder 
uf the prisoners, with heavy hearts, were 
returned to their respective prisons, there 
to remain until the Spaniards were ready 
to transport them to their respective 
places pf servitude. 
After witnessing the execution of their 
ten companions, the prisoners remained 
in confinement without any alteration of 
their condition, except from the heat of 
the weather, and the weight of their 
irons, their sufferings were more imsup- 
portable than they had been. “They 
anxiously wished for the day when they 
were to be taken out for the purpose of 
being removed to their respective places 
of servitude, inasmuch as they cherished - 
a hope, that some auspicious circuin~ 
stance might favour an escape. The ex- 
pected period arrived on the 7th of Au- 
gust, when they were all examined, their 
irons inspected, and more firmly rivetted 
bpon them ; and about fouro’clock, P.M. 
taken out and carried on board of an 
armed merchant ship, (the Prince of 
Peace) of ten guns, for the purpose of 
being conveyed to Carthagena, an exe 
tensive Spanish sea-port town, situated 
on the Main, and about three hundred 
lengues from Porto Cavello. At the 
mouth of the harbour of this place, is 
; - situated 
