The blood began to run and the flesh to quiver like jelly, and Jim's shrieks and cries fairly made the pigs look aft to see what was going on. " Now, who cut the bag?" Poor Jim had nothing more to say on that subject, but continued to beg most earnestly. He took the other half dozen and was let off. Now Jim was a short, chunky, funny sort of a fellow, and notwithstanding the pain he had, and was still suffering, after he was clear of the gun, he turned round among his shipmates, and with a half smile, dryly remarked: " I've got off with four dozen less than them other beggars after all." Besides the flogging, they were compelled to carry a 321b. shot, with 321bs. of chain attached to their legs, and a wooden yoke about the neck four feet long and nine inches broad, and on it was painted, in several places, in large letters, THIEF.
The bail and chain they were to wear during the pleasure of the captain, were also to mess together under one of the gun-deck ladders, and to do the sweeping on the gun-deck. We were now on our way to Callao, and arrived there, I think about the first of May, 1821. When we passed St. Lorenzo, we saw the O'Higgins at anchor, passed them however without any further notice, ran up and took our former moorings. It will be remembered that when we left Callao, five months before, we gave the prisoners at the Castle encouragement that we should return in three months, and notwithstanding that their condition had been made quite comfortable through the generosity of our officers and crew, some of them were nearly distracted by the delay, ungenerously charging Capt.
Downes with neglect, if not of gross deception. They had numbered the time by making a notch each day with a knife, and when the number had reached ninety, one of them was permitted to go up to the tower to watch the arrival of the frigate, but after ten, fifteen, and twenty days had elapsed, and no Macedonian in sight, they began to despond, and some that were sick when we left, and had been kept alive by the fond hope of being liberated, when they found that the ship did not come, died in despair. Their stock of comforts also began to fail, but what was worse than all, sweet hope had spread her pinions, and was about to leave them forever.
One morning just as the sun was "peeping o'er the hills," the sentinel on the terrace cried out. " Mi? a, Mira, frigata Americano.'''' In an instant all were up, some wringing their hands, and others crying like children, and all for joy. Those that were able to get from their sick quarters, crawled out, looking as though they had just risen from their graves.0 Although Capt. Downes had a great deal of business to attend to, and much of it of a highly important character, yet the first item to which he gave his earnest attention, was that of liberating these unfortunate prisoners. The Viceroy, agreeable to his promise, was willing to give them up if Capt. Downes would become responsible that they should not reenter the Chilian service.
How he managed this part of the negotiation, I was never informed. They were however, all released and brought on board the Macedonian. And as I have before stated, there were many English and Irish among them, and those who were able, obtained employment on board the merchant ships in the harbor. There were three or four among them, whose constitutions had been broken down by their suffering while in prison, who died on board the Macedonian. The Americans all remained with us, until we arrived at Valparaiso. There was one American among the prisoners, who had been severely wounded on board the Chilian brig, Maypo, in the action with the Spanish ship by whom they were captured. A shot cut his bowels out, and broke his arm at the same time.
Through the skill of the Spanish doctor he was cured; and while a prisoner, confined to an iron bedstead. He is now an enterprising and wealthy merchant in Boston. We found many merchant ships lying here, both English and American, notwithstanding the blockade. Capt. Downes was requested to receive a very large amount of specie on board his ship, both from the shore and from the ships in the harbor. As Gen. San Martin with his vast army were still encamped near the walls of Lima, and * These scenes were described to us after they had got on board the frigate. it was generally expected that the city would fall. This was why the merchants and others were so anxious to get their money away.