Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-08-02
SUMMARY JUSTICE.

spirit. Ii Is from an EngllSn MagaZihe
We had negro on board of a very sullen
and Tepulsive aspect, who bore the coghomen -, VI
Quaco. He belonged to the Captain OF tne
schooner, who had treated him WIN gte eSa
kindness, aud cured him of that scourge Oh the
African called Z" NAL d'estomac" caused oy
eating earth. That his cure might De compiet-
ed, his humane master brought him up the UT,
noco with u.s. and as he had been accustomed
to the kitchen, or, what is better understood Ia
the West Indies, the cook room, employed nun
as cook on board the schooner. The crew nav
ing been much fatigued with their exeruens'
that day, the Captain ordered some Gomez,
and enough for all on board. This was pre-
sently brought us; but the lad who served as
steward, an intelligent Creole youth, the mo-
ment he placed it upon the table oesought us
with earnest entreatieS not to touch II, saying
that he felt certain there was something wrong
in it, and thathe had already cautioned the crew
The Captain was inclined to treat the ooy's
warning as some idle suspicion, observing that
the man had not been on shore, and that the me-
dcinechest was safely locked But nothing
could pacify the boy. ~
Look at it, sir" said he earnestly; smell IT,
and say if it is as il ought to be-"
"Why it is rather thick" said the Captain;
and taking the cup id his hand, sand egad! 1t
does smell rather queer"
Ienquired whether he had any test on board
that might detect any thing deleterious.
"True,n said he, ~ have test, and sure
one; and he reached case from which he drew
a brace Of pistols, and very deliberately began
to load them.
"What would you dog" exclaimed" Su.
rely upon such slight grounds, you would
not"
"Don't be alarmed" said he, interrupting me.
81 shall do nothing rash;" and he cody examin-
ed the flint. Having loaded and primed the
weapons-"C Call down Quaco and all the crew."
They came into the cabinet The cook was
called orward5 and the crew thronged around
the door.
"Quaco," said the Captain sternly, "drnk
that cup of coffee to the very dregs"
az don't like Coffee" said the African, draw
ing back in evident surprise and alarm.
"Swallow it this Instant"
The negro took a spoonful of the mixture,
though trembling with fear. He held it in his
mouth for moment, and then shuddering spit
il out.
"Force him to take it, sir" said one Of the
sailors. :,
Gle would have poisoned the whole of us, y
said stout Angosturian-"St' ANTONIO ano
the saints keep usn' and he crossed himself most
devoutly The sailors made an advance as
though they would have enforced the request VI
the former, when the Captain called out
"Stand off, let no one lay hands upon him. y
He then emptied the cup which held the ilquid
into vessel containing about pint or more,
and addressed the negro:-
"Do you see these pistols? each contains TWO
balls,-you are a guilty man il you refuse 10
drink that coffee which you have made, and
YOU only choose your death; for as God is just,
your minutes are numbered. But II you drink
and are unframed by it, will give you your
freedom for accusing you unjustly. promise
it in the presence of these witnesses. NOW
drink it."
Id ,0h ha nd
the action of his master, if he did not fully COM
prehend his words, for he appeared to mediate
flight on deck; but the crew seemed to anti
cipate his Intentions and their angry gestures
plainly told him what mercy he might expect
at their hands. Meanwhile all was silent as
death, save the clicking noise which accompa-
MES the cooking Of pistols. The negro paused;
big drops of sweat poured down MS DARK PROV SU
like rain; his eyes glared wildly round, ana the
paleness of death was on his lips.
"Drink it this instant, you black murderons
yillainw cried the Captain, who had now no
doubt of his guilt; and he levelled his pistol at
his head
The African with a convulsive grasp seized
the lug, and while his teeth Chartered against
its edge, drank every drop; then rolling MS eyes
frightfully, either from fear or agony, sunk with
a deep groan upon the floor of the CABIN.
murmur of execration arose from the crew as
he fell. and not one moved forward to assist the
wretched man. Whether the Captain thought
he was hardly warranted in enforcing such
summary Justice, or that slight shade OF COM
passion came over him, he Immediately endea-
vored to ascertain the nature of the poison with
which it was evident the coffee had been drug
ged: but the negro either could not or would
not answer. We examined his chest, and
sought for a clue but without success, until one
of the crew discovered quantity OF Savannah
flowers (echiies suberectd,) most deadly pol
son, which the assassin had picked out from
the refuse of the mules, the instinct of the ami
mails always inducing them to reject 1t from
their food. Satisfied with this discovery we re-
turned to the cabin, where we found the youth
who had warned us in this instance on his knees,
returning thanks to Prov dence for having been
the means of saving us all from dreadful
death. His thanksgiving were only interrupt
ed by the groans of the negro, who was with
ing on the floor apparently in his last agony.
We prepared an emetic Of white vtrol; which
we forced the murderer to swallow; but it was
useless. II brought on slight vomiting; butt
a few minutes he expired in dreadful fortunes.
Manu- , time since have been haunted by that