The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-07-01

| There was no answer the ship was quiet as death
even the stranger was quiet.
"Mr. slepper," said /, halng again. The mid
! shipman made no answer
s'Captain," said /, ' there must be something the
matter nIoft. ] have hailed twice and there is nc
! answer"
| Then be so good Mr.. Lewis" said he to me- " as
to step up and see what it is"
| As went up the shroud the enemy fired a broad
side into us and again the battle commenced with
great fury. ran up the shroud, and sprung into
the top a." Good God !" exclaimed-I found my
self standing in warm blood.-Yes, those poor
men were shot to pieces the top was full of their
hearts blood. ! stumbled horror stricken down the
shroud to Capt Dcadsidc. The action had been
going on with great fury during that time, he was
now giving orders for boarding
Capt. Deadside," said / in voice solemn
that it started him, there is not soul alive aof
they are shot pecs, and the top is full of their
warm blood. May the God Of Heaven have mercy
or them" said he, in low scpuchral voice, but
they must be revenged. Go and tell the gunner to
fire hot ball into them
Surely, Captain Deadside, you do not intend to
fire them
{" Go SIR" said he in stern rcsolute voice that
compelled me to obey L" they must be revenged.'
! went and delivered my command to the gunner
and we waited in silence the eyent.-Not so, the
enemy he showcrIng his balls into us and pep
perng away at great rate with his musketry.
"Thc gun with the hot ball is ready, Captain,
said the gunners mate.
! He walked a midship where the long thirty-twO
stood, with the hot ball and levelled it himself
| lie applied the match, "A red stream of flame is
sued out, and glaring red ball rushed upon the
enemy. 1t struck amidships, and went in with a
tremendous roar.
But a change had come the face Of
the Heavens, the moon cxtinguishcd in cur
tain Of sable clouds which oycrspread the Heavens
in an instant. The blaze Of the cannon looked
awful rs it lit up the scene.
4 tremendous crash of thunder sounded, and n
the instant yell from the stranger. Oh God
that cry it sounds in my to this day. A stream
of red fire rushed up her mainhatch, shrouds, rig
ging, sails in instant in blaze ;--curng in
long snakes up her mass shot out mt her ports, and
by that awful glare, we could picture her deck crow
dcd with swarthy-Ooking beings, and huddle Of
poor miserable creature rushing irantcally about.
1t was "A SLAYER" The poor wretches were
battling with the ilamcs screaming and yelling IN
their agony. The waves for miles round looked
like vast sheet of glowing fire. The Heavens red
as blood above head, and every where else ms
black as INK The poor negroes screaming IN tbclr
agony. The roaring of the guns they became
heated made the scene terrific. Some maddencd
by pain would throw themselves overheard, and
were instantly shot through the head.
Ii would have been ds'ruction to ourselves to
have offered any hcp-indccd it was useless.
The rain now began to pour down, and the flames
would hiss as it fell upon them. Long peals ofap-
paling thunder sounded. Flashes of blue suIpherc
fire lit up the horrid scene; and groans, shrieks,
yclls, firearms sounded amidst that awful of the
elements Still the flames gained headway and it
seemed that the waters made them burn more tierccy.
Let me live rs long l wiil,-that nights work
shall never pass away from my remembrance. 1t
haunts me like a dream.
Capt Deadsidc paced the quarter deck with hur-
ricd steps. | suppose his conscience rcproach-
ing him with It's stings, for he had not given one
orIcr since the SLAYER Was perceived to be fire.
had given all. The storm had passed away as
quick it came, and all was calm, the moon shonc
forth again in n clear blue sky.
The fire had now reached the powder room.
There brilliant broad dazzling white blaze of
flame rushed into the Heavens, a tremendous roar
large masses of fire driven through the sky i'll
all directions.
Blackcncd disfgured forms fell all oround-a
dense smoke obscured all for n moment, when 1t
passed the SLAYER had gone, the ircbraud riding
the ocean alone. The band struck up Il livery air,
and the SLAYER and the occurrences of that night
were soon forgotten, by all but me. c. B. l..