Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-09-25
TIE Browning of SIX huis-
dred Slaves.

In the year 1880, there was hover
ing on the African coast large clip
per-brig called the Brilante. command
ed by desperate named Homans.-
/ Romans was an Englishman, by birth,
and was known along the Whole coast
and in Cuba as the most successful
SLAYER OF his day The brig was own
ed by two men residing in Havana,
one an Englishman the other Span
lard. She was built to carry GOO me-
groes, and IN her, Romans had made
ten successful voyages, actually land
ling in Cuba 5000 negroes! The
brig carried 10 guns, had 80 sweeps
and crew Of sixty Spaniards, most
of them old pirates, as desperate as
their commander. An English brig
of.war which attacked her was SO cut
up in hull and rigging. that she was a.
bandoned and soon after sunk; an Eng
i fish sloop of war attempted to carry
the Br ilante with boats. viii ch were
beaten off with great slaughter. Now
! it wis 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 all made. He was al
lowed to take in his cargo Of negroes
and set sail.
The Brilante had not lost sight Of
the coast when the quick eye of her
commander discovered that he was
entrspped. -Four cruisers. three of
them English and one American, had
been lying in wait for him, and es-
cape was hopeless. In running away
/ from one be would come within reach
of another. Night was coming on.
and Romans was silently regarding
his pursuers, when suddenly the huge
sails Of the brig fapped idly the
wind died away, and the SLAYER was
motionless on the waters. This will
not do Romans muttered, knocking
away the ashes from his cigar-'their
boats will I've down upon me before |
am ready for the visit and as he said
this. his stern face lit up with a smile,
the expression Of which was diabolit al.
II was evident enough that he medita-
ted some desperate plan.
A dozen sweeps were got out, and
the vessel moved slowly through the
water. Meantime the darkness hav-
ing deepcned. Romans proceeded to
carry out his plans.
The cable attached 10 his heaviest
anchor was taken outside Of the hawse
hole and carried round the rail of the
brig, extending from the bow. aft
round the stern, and then forward on
the other side. The matches were
then taken of, and the negroes passed
up. each securely ironed by the wrists.
As the miserable wretches came up
from the hot hold into the fresh air,
they expressed by their looks graft
tude which would have softened the
heart Of any but the fiend whose pow
err they were in. 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 fssten-
ed by smaller chains to the links of
the cable. 1t was slow work, but at
the end of four or six hours, six. hun
dred Africans, male and female, were
bending over the rail of the brig. in a
painful position, holding by their chain.
ed hands the huge cable, which was
attached to heavy anchor suspended
by single sling from the bow.
Homans himself examined the fast.
enings to see that every negro was
strongly bound to the chain. This
done, he ordered the pen work of the
hold 10 be broken up, brought on deck,
bound up in mating. and were well
filled with shot, and thrown overheard.
The work was completed an hour be
fore day-break, and now the only wit
nesses OF Homan's guilt were attached
to that fatal chain Homans turned
TO the mate. and v it'll smile foil Of
meaning, said in Spanish,
"Hsrro, take an axe and 60 for
ward. The wind will come oil to us
soon. Listen 10 The word. and when
Gou hear it, cut the sling
The man went forward. and Ho-
mans turned and 10 vain cndeavored
10 penetrate the darkness. ! con