Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-09-15
The Drowning of Six Hundred
z M 5i{ lbE Slaves.

perado named Romans. Romans was al
Englishman by birth, and was know
along the whole coast in Cuba, as the mos
successful slaver Of his day. The bri,
was owned by two men residing in Hava
ma, one an Englishman. the other SPIN
lard. She was built to carry six hundred
negroes, and had made ten successful voy
ages, actually landing in Cuba FIVE thou
sand negroes! The brig carried ten guns
had thirty sweeps and crew Of sixty
Spaniards, the most Of them pirates, q.
desperate as their commander. An Eng.
lish brig Of war which attacked her wa.
SO cut up in hull and rigging, thatshe wa.
abandoned and soon after sunk; an Eng
fish sloop Of war attempted to carry the
Brilliante with boats, which were beaten
off with great slaughter. Now il wa.
known that Romans was again on the
coast, and it was resolved to make another
attempt to take him, with the evidence Of
his guilt on board. The arrangements for
this purpose were well made. He was
allowed to take in his cargo Of negroes and
set sail.
The BriHianie had not lost sight Of the
coast when the quick eye Of her command
er discovered that he was entrapped-
Four cruisers, three Of them English and
one American, had been lying in wait for
him, and escape was hopeless. In run
ming away from one, he would come with
in the reach Of another. Night was CON-
ing on, and Romans was silently regard
ing his pursuers, when suddenly the huge
sails Of the brig tapped idly the wind
died away, and the SLAYER was motionless
on the water. This will not do,n Ho.
mans muttered, knocking away The ashes
from his cigar-"t.,eir boats will be down
upon me before | am ready for the VISIT
and as he said this, his stern face lit up
with smile, the expression Of which was
diabolical. 1t was evident enough that he
meditated some desperate plan.
A dozen sweeps were got out, and the
vessel moved slowly through the water
Meantime, the darkness having deepened,
Romans proceeded to carry out his de-
sign.
The cable attached to the heaviest anchor
was taken outside Of the haw Sc hole, and
carried round the rail Of the brig, extend
ing from the bow, aft round the stern. and
then forward on the other side. The matches
were then taken of, and the negroes pass
ed up, each securely ironed by the wrists.
As the miserable wretches came I'D from
the hot hole, into the fresh air, they ex-
pressed by their looks a gratitude which
would have soltened the heart Of any but
the fiend in whose power they WERE
Without word they were led to the side,
and made to bend over the rail, outside OF
which the chain ran. The irons which
clasped their wrists were then fastened by
smaller chains to the links of the cable
1t was slow work, but at the end of four
hours, six hundred Africans, male and fe-
male, were bending over the rail of the
brig, in painful position, holding by their
chained hand the huge cable, which was
attached to a heavy anchor, suspended by
single sling from the bow.
Romans himself examined the fasten-
ings TO see that every negro was strongly
bound to the chain. THIS done, he order
ed the pen work Of the hold to be broken
up, brought on deck, bound up in mating,
and well filled with shot, and thrown over
board. The work was completed an hour
before day, and the only witnesses of Ho.
mans guilt were attached to that fatal
chain. Romans turned to his mate, and
with smile full Of meaning, said, in
Spanish
"Harro, take an axe and go forward
The wind will come of to us soon. Lis
ten for the word, and when you hear it,
cut the sling"
The man went forward, and Romans
turned and in vain endeavored to pene
trate the darkness. 81 don't want to lose
the niggers'' he said, speaking aloud
''and yet ! dare not wait until daylight
l wish knew where the hounds we're"
AT that instant the report of gun
reached his ear, then another, and another
IN different directions. The cruisers were
firing signals.
That's enough" exclaimed Romans =
y know where you are. Then raising
his voice ne cried, "Harro, are you ready !?
the wind will reach us soon.''
cay, sy, sir" was the response.
In few minutes the sails began to fiji
and the vessel moved slowly through the
water.
"How much water do you suppose
we have here?" asked Romans, turning to
the man at the wheel
"FIfty fathoms at least" was the reply,
That will do" the SLAYER muttered,
and he walked forward, and examined
carefully the "chain gang as he brutally
termed his diabolical in, ention.
The negroes sent up piteous groans. =
For many hours they had been bent over
IN this unnatural position, by which they
were suffering the keenest torture.
The breeze strengthened, and the Bril-
linnte dasked like racer over the deep.
Humans hailed from the quarter deck,
while his men, collected in groups, wit
messed unmoved the consultation Of the
plan.
"Are you ready Harro?"
Gay, ay, sir"
Romans looked around, and out into the
darkness, which was fast giving away "a
the morn. Then Numbered out
"Strik.!"
| There was the snu,I of , s;pnlo hlow