The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-09-16
J. H0LCOMD, Editor & Publisher.


! A dozen sweeps were got out, and the YES
sci moved slowly through the water Mean
time the darkness having deepencd, Uoman
proceeded to carry out bis design.
The cable attached to the heaviest anchor
was taken outside of the hawse hole, and car
ried round the rail of the brig, extending
round the bow. aft round the stern, and then
forward on the other side The hatchcS were
then taken oil, and the negroes passed up,
each securely ironod by the wrists. AS the
miserable wretches came from the hot hold
into the fresh air, they expressed by their
looks a gratitude that would have soitened the
heart ofany but the fend in whose power
they were. Without a word they were led
to the side, made 10 bend over the rail, out
side ofwhch the chain ran. Tho irons which
claspcd their wrists were chen fastened to tde
links Of the cable. 1t was slow work, bat at
the end four hours Sic Amd}Jed Ajrieans
malc and .JGaaa7e loere de2djag ocar The rail Of
| tie brig, in q pai4JHl position, h0idj0g by
their chajaed 6alsGS 10 q auge cable, ,gbich ocas
to be aHacaed q heary anchor suspended Jya
single sling from Ike J0w.
Romans himself examined the fastenings 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 filed with
shot, and thrown overheard. The work was
completed an hour before day break, and now
the only witnesses Of Homau's guilt were at
tached TO that fatal chain. Romans turned to
his mate, and with a smile full of meaning,
said, in Spanish
'Harro, take an axe and go forward. The
wind will come off to US soon. Listen for the
word, and when you hear it, cut the sling
The man went forward, and Romans
turned and in vain endeayorcd toperetratc
the darkness. i don't want to lose the Mig
Igers,' he said, speaking aloud-'and yet |
dare not wait until daylight. | wish knew
where the hounds were
At that instant the report Of a gun reac h.
ed his ear, then another and another, and an
other in different directions. The cruisers
were firing signals.
That's enough exclaimed Romans, 4
know where you are Then raising his voice
he cried, 'Haryo, are you ready the wind
will reach US soon.
'Ay, ay, SIR was the response.
In few minutes the sa! Is began tofll, and
the vessel moved slowly through the water.
How much water doyou suppose We have
here p asked Romans, turning 10 the man at
the wheel
Fifty fathoms, at least was the reply.
THAT will do, the SLAYER muttcrcd, and he
walked forward, and examined carefully the
chain gang as he brutally termed his diabol-
zeal invention.
The negroes sent up piteous groans, For
many hours they had been bent over in this
unnatural position, by which they were sut-
fprinU the FppnpSt fortune
The breeze strengthened, the BrIliante
dashed like a racer over the deep. Romans
hailed from the quarter deck, while his men,
collected in groups, witnessed unmoyed the
consummation Of the plan
Are you ready, Harro ?
'Ay, ay, sir
Romans looked around, and out into the
darkness, which was fast giving way to the
morn. Then he Numbered out
'Strikep
There was the sound ola single blow, a
heavy plunge, and as the cable fell oil the
side, crash, above which arose one terrible
'shriek-it was the last cry Of the murdered
Africans.
One moment moro, and all was still. Six
hundred human beings had gone down with
that anchor and chain, into the depths Of the
ocean
Two hours after daybreak, the Brijiaate
was ovciEaulcd. There was no evidence that
she was SLAYER, and her captors were obliged
to let her pass The instructions TO cruisers
at that time did not allow vessel to be cap
tured unless negroes were found on board.