The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-09-28
The Drowning of Six Hundred
Slaves.

In the year 1880, there was lowering on
the African coast large clipper-brig called
The BTlllante, commanded by a desperate
named Homans. Romans was an English
man by birth, and was known along the
whole coast and IN Cuba as the most sue
cesslul SLAYER of his day, The brig was
owned by two men residing in Havana. one
an Eng llshman, the other Spaniard. She
was built TO carry 600 negroes, and in her
Homars had made Ten successful voyages,
actually landing in Cuba 5000 negroes!-
The brig carried 10 guns, had 80 sweeps
and crew OF 90 Spaniards, most of them
old pirates, as desperate as their commander
An English brig of war which attncked her
was so cut up in her hull and rigging, that
she was abandoned and soon alter sunk; an
English sioop ofw attempted to carry the
Brillante with boats, which were beaten of
with great slaughter. Now it was known
that Homans was again on the coast, and il
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 Brlllante had not lost sight of the
coast when the quick eye of her commander
discovered that he was entrapped. -Four
cruisers three Of them English and one
American, had been lying in wal. for him,
and escape was HOPELESS. In running away
from one he would come within reach of an
other. Night was coming on, and Romans
was silently regarding lis pursuers, when
suddenly The huge sails OF the brig tapped
idly-the wind died away, and the SLAYER
was motionless on The waters. This viii
not do Romans muuered, knocking away
the ashes from his segnr-'their boats vii
be down upon me before | am ready for the
visit ard as he said this his stern face Ii
up with smile, the expression of which wa:
diabolicaL II was evident enough that he
meditated some desperate plan.
4 dozen sweeps were got out, and the
vessel moved sIswly through the water
Meantime the darkness having deepenec
Homaus proceeded 10 carry out his design
The cable attached TO the heaviest anchor
was taken outside of The hawse hole anc
carried round the rail of The brig, extending
from the bow. aft round the stern, and Their
forward on the other side. The matches
were then taken off, and the negroes pass
ed up. each securely irond by the wrists
As the miserable wretches came up from the
hot hold into The fresh air, they expressed
by their looks gratitude which would have
soitened the heart OF any but the fiend il
whose power they were, Without a word
they were led TO the side,and made to benz
over the rail- outside of which the chair
ran. The irons which clasped their wris
were then fastened by smaller chains 10 tn,
links OF the cable. 1t was slow work, but a
the end of four hours, six hundred Africans
male and female, were bending over the raj
OF the brig, in painful position, holding b,
their chained hands the huge cable, whicl
was attached TO heavy anchor, suspende,
by single sling from the bow.
Romans himself examined The fastening
10 see mat every negro was strongly bount
10 the chain. This done he ordered the Del
work oil the no lie TO be broken up. brough
on deck, bound up in mating, and well file,
with shot, and thrown overheard. The worI
vas completed an hour before daybrake, anC
now the only witnesses of Homans' gull
were attached TO that fatal chain. Homan
turned 10 the mate, and with smile full O
meaning, said in Spanish
'Harro. take an ak and go forward TIL,
wind will come off 10 US soon. Listen Il
he word, and when you hear il, cut tn,
sling
The man went frrward. and Hcman
turned and 10 vain endeavored TO penetrate
the darkness. don't want to loose the mig
gers, he said speaking aIoud-'and vet
dare not wait until daylight. wish / knew
where the hounds were
A. that instant the report oea Gun reacbe,
MS ear. then another, and another, and anoth
er, in different directions. The cruisers wer,
firing signals
Know where you are Then raising his vote,
ne crled, 'Harro, are you ready? The wine
will reach Us soon'
Jay, ay. SIR was the respose.
In lew minutes the sails began to FL
and the vessel moved slowly through tn,
water.
How much water do you suppose ",
nave here 2 asked Romans, turning TO TIT
man at the wheel.
Fifty iathoms al least was the reply.
That will do the SLAYER muttered, and b,
walked forward, and examined carefully tn
chain gang as he brutally termed his diabol
ical invention.
The negroes sent up piteous groans. Fo
many hours they had been bent over 10 thi
unnatural position, by which they were sufi
ering the keenest torture.
The breeze strengthened and the Brilliant
dashed like racer over the deep. Homan
hailed from the quarter deck, while his mel
collected in groups. saw unmoved the con
summation OF the plan.
Are you ready, Harrol'
'Ay, ay SIR
'Homans looked round, and into the dar
ness, which was fast giving way 10 III
morn. Then he Numbered out
'Sirikep
There was the sound OF single blow,
heavy plunge, and as the cable fell of tn
side, a crash, above which arose one terrbl
shriek-it was the last cry of the murders
Africans. One moment more. and all wa
still. Six hundred human beings had gon
down with that anchor and chain into In
depths Of the ocean!
Two hours before daybreake the Brilliant
was overhauled. There was no evidenc
that she was SLAYER, and her captors wer
obliged TO let her pass. The instructions
cruisers at that time did not allow a vesse
to be captured unless negroes were found o