The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1846-09-16
From the Ne,c York Spirit ofMe Times.
A scene on Board q SLAYER.
BY Correspondent in S. Carolina.

few years since, l was attacked by that
malignant disease, coast fever, in its
most virulcnt form, and was sent ashore
by the Captain Of the vessel to which |
was attached: to enjoy more comfortable
and airy quarters than the cabin of our
little brig afforded: for being on n tra-
ding voyage, there was but little spare
room in cabin, or galley, or hold. Upon
awakening as thought, from rather
long sleep, was informed by my sable
nurse that had been delirious for about
three wceks,-that the vessel, having
waited as long as it could for me to re-
cover, had sailed, and left me to navigate
my own way back as best I might.
This was rather dull prospect, as
was on part of the coast very seldom
visited by merchantmen but having
been always accustomed to "takc the
world as it camc," and trust to Provi-
dence, did not let my tight fix trouble
me much.
About the time was strong enough
to travel, was setting early one NOR
ming under the shade Of cocoanut tree,
blowing cloud of smoke from prin-
cipe, and ruminating on my dull and
unpleasant situation; when ! was ac-
| costed by negro trader-himsclf Il
swarthy Ethiopian who had just como
ln-and told that there was a vessel
some miles lower down the coast going
to sail in a few days for Cuba he
knew nothing about her, but believed
she was an ebony trader, ri est a SLAYER.
did not much like being passenger
in such craft, but as any thing was pre-
ferable to remaining longer in limbo
where was, hudd ed up my traps and
was off to find her. After travelling all
day, made her just before sundown, at
anchor in river about six miles from
its mouth, and could but stop before 60
lug on board to admire this beautiful Gre
alton of mans ingenuity, as she swan
gracefully upon the placid bosom of the
water; large sized foretopsal Balti-
more Clipper, painted jet black, with
narrow gold ribbon round her,-the
Spanish ensign floating laziy at her
mast head, and s.La Doradilla" 1.-THE
Gold Fish) on her stern She was the
most symmetrical and perfect vessel
ever clapped an eye on. But like pain
ted sepulchre though fair TO look pom,
she was all dcpravity and moral rotten
ness within.
l boarded her, and was surprised TO
find in her commander, Captain Ten
nent, an American, with whom I had
had some slight acquaintance in Havan-
Ma; and though knew him then to be
very successful and daring SLAYER, |
did not find out until afterwards the de-
speratc hardness and wickcdncss of his
character His appearance was prepos-
sessing, and in his manners he was gen
tlemanly and urbane Upon recogni-
zing me, and learning my business, he
very politely granted my request for
passage, and apologized for the limited
accommodations at his disposal in consc-
quence of the very crowded state of his
schooner-having on board, besides
crew Of some forty men, three hundred
head OF Negroes I felt like backing
out and returning TO my old quarters,
to wait for better chancc,-but the old
adage of "any port in storm" came
into my mind, and [ hung on. The
next morning we got under weigh, and
after working down the river, went to
sea with a fresh breeze about three
points free, and were bowling merrily
over the water at the rate of thirteen
knots an hour. At sundown the wind
hauled dead ahead, and when we turned
IN at night we were pitching through
pretty rough sea, which stirred up one
OF the most nauseating odours in our
vessel that it has ever been nv bad for
tune to know, and my olfactories, had
long been accustomed to the smell of
bilge water, tar, and other marine per-
fumes usually found in a ship; but this,
combined as it was with the groans and
screenings Of the poor devils in the
mold, and the oppressive heat, was near
ly insufterable. Sleep, however, soon
made mo 0hl1v,ono ~ IL,