The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1847-10-28
THE DROWNING OF SIX HUNDRED
SLAVES.


Englishman by birth, and was known along
the whole coast in Cuba, as tho most sue
cessfu SLAYER Of his day. The brig was
owned by two men residing in Havana, one
an Englishman, the other Spaniard. She
vas built 10 carry six hundred negroes,
and had made Ten successful voyages, &C.
tually landing in Cuba five thousand nc.
groes! The brig carried ten guns, had
thirty sweeps and crew Of sixty Span
iards, the most Of them pirates, as dcspe-
rate as their commander. An English brig
Of war which attacked her was so cut up
in hull and rigging that she was abandon
ed and soon after sunk; on English sloop
Of war attempted 10 carry the Brilliante
with boats, which were beaten oil with
rrcat slaughter. Now il was known that
tIomans was again on tho coast, aud il WINS
resolved to make another attempt to take
him, with the evidence of his guilt on
board. Tho arrangements for this purpose
were well made. lie was allowed 10 take
in his cargo Of negroes and set sail.
The Brilliantc had not lost sight Of the
coast when the quick eye Of her commander
discovered that he was cntrnppcd. Four
cruisers, three ofthem English and one A.
merican, had been lying in wait Cor him,
and escape was hopeless. In running
away from ono, he would como thin the
reach of another. Night was coming on,
and Romans was silently regarding his
pursuers, when suddenly the huge sails OF
the brig tapped idly--,he wind died away,
and the SLAYER was molionlcss on the water.
"This will not do" IIomans mut,ered,
knocking away the ashes from his cigar
"thcir boats will be down upon me before
am ready for the visit" and us he said this,
his stern face lit up with smile, the cx-
preston Of which was diaboiical. Il was
evident enough that no facilitated some des-
pernte plan.
A dozen sweeps were got out, and the
vessel moved slowly through tho water
Meantime, the darkness having dccpened,
Romans proceeded to carry out his design.
The cable attached to the heaviest m.
Choir was taken outside of the hawsc hole,
and carried round the rail Of the brig, ex-
tending from the bow, nii round the stern.
and then forward on the other side. The
matches were then taken of. and tho ne
groes passed up, each securely ironed by
the wrists. As the miserable wrciches
came up from the hot hole, into the fresh
air, they Expressed by their looks graft
tude which would have soficned the heart
Of any hat the iiend in whose power they
were. Without n word they were led to
the side, md made to bend over the rail,
outside which the chain ran. The irons
which clasped their wrists were then fas-
tened by smaller chains to tho links Of the
cable. II was slow work. but ut the end Of
four hours, six hundred Africans, malc and
female, wcro bending over the rail Of the
brig, in painful position, holding by their
chained hands the huge cable, which WINS
attached to heavy nnchor, suspended By
single sling from the bow.
Ilomans himself examined the fastenings
to see that every negro was strongly bound
to the chain. This done, he ordered the
pen work Of the hold 10 DO broken up,
brought on deck, bound up in mating, and
well filled with shot, md thrown overheard.
The work was completed nm hour before
day, and the only witnesses Of floman's
guilt wcrc attached to that fatal chnin.
Homnns turned to his mate, and with n
smile full Of meaning, said, in Spanish
"Harro, take an axe and 60 forward
The wind will come off 10 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 cndcnvored to penetrate
the darkness. 81 don't wnnt 10 lose the
niggers," he said, speaking aloud" and
vet dare not wait until day light. ! wish
knew where the hounds wcre."
At that instant the report Of a gun
reached his car. then another, and another
~ different directions. The cruisers were
firing signals.
"1hat's enough" exclaimed Homnns--
81 know where YOU nre. Then raising
his voice he cried, "Harro, nre you ready ?
tho wind will reach us soon."
"Ay, ~, sir" was the response.
In few minutes the sails begun 10 fill
and tho vessel moved slowly through The
wate..
elbow much water do you suppose we
have here?" asked Romans, turning 10 the
man nj the wheel.
Fifty fathoms at lcnsi," was the reply.
"Thnt will do" the SLAYER mutlcrcd, and
he walked forward, and examined carefully
the "chnin gang" as he brutality termed bis
dinhnlical invention.
The negroes sent up piteous groans.--
For many hours they had been hen. over
in this unnatural position, BY which they
were suffering the keenes, torture.
The hrecze strengthened, and the Bril-
liaatc dashed like 4 racer over the deep.
Romans hailed from the quarter deck,