Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-10-09
MISCELLANEOUS.
How SLAYER Escaped a British Man
of.War.

The following stratagem is related in Cap
tain CHAMBERS work, =" The Unfortunate
Man." 1t was resorted to on board SLAYER
on the African coast. 1t is a true incident,
and the vessel which was on chase for the
SLAYER was the British ship-of-war, Eden
sit is a chance, and the only chance said
the captain of the SLAYER, 60 and no one will
care pin about the business if we get
away"
''0h, yes, said the mate, if we could
only get away. Why to be sure, ! should
not be slack in stays myself, but that con-
founded vessel sails well, and we are evil
IDENTIFY losing ground fast"
"Wel,'' said Smith, let the worst be
the worst, that is our capture and the fore
yard arm, | will be responsible since you
fear, and seeing, as | do, that the taking of
the Rapid is at once the downfall of myself
and family, am resolved to have one more
chance of escape If we can go on until
night, the frequent squalls may allow us to
try another manRuvre, which may prove
more fortunate than our last; and if the bait
does not tempt sufficiently, why we are only
saving one or two human beings from life
of misery.'
"Well,' said the mate, 50 Pm agreed
Forward there," said he.
Sir" answered a rough looking fell
low.
Jump down. said the captain, g and
host up one or two empty casks, and send
the cooper aft with the Tools
Ay, ay, sir" responded a man with all
the Indifference of a sailor.
The cooper soon made his appearance;
IN hve minutes the empty casks were on
deck, the heads of both were taken out, and
the cooper set to work to cut oat a circle
large enough for mans neck The mate,
who was handy fellow of all work, began
at one cask, and the captain stood by, ur-
glng the workmen to use every despatch.-
The breeze had freshened, and we held our
own pretty well with the stranger; at any
rate was fearful that she did not gain upon
us very rapidly. In the mean time, both
cooper and assistant worked away with the
greatest indifference, and no human eve
could have detected the slightest variation
of countenance in the mate. although he
was fuliy aware of the desperate act about
to be committed. When the casks were
ready, the upper hoops were taken off. SO as
to allow the cooper to place the heads in
when required. A pig of iron ballast was
fastened in each cask, and then it was the
mate said in firm voice.
sc Now. sir, we are ready. If YOU are
still determined, d-n me If you shall ever
say that John Collins was afraid when death
was at hand.''
The captains son had been all along
watching the movements of the cooper but
was quite in ignorace of the intention of his
father. Once indeed, he asked what was
the hole cut in the head of the cask for; but
he was told to be silent, in tone of voice
which set me shaking like a monkey in fros-
~ weather.
Bring one of the slaves upon deck, . said
the captain; sand do you hear? pick out
lively and slim one"
The slave was brought unshackled upon
deck; he looked round him with surprise,
and yet with Indifference: his eve was sunk
enfrom care and from sickness, and his poor
emaclated form had qualified him to come
forward in the capacity alluded TO.
He's the liveliest we can find. sir" said
one Of the seamen; . for he was the ONLY
one who was talking, and ! fancy he is as
sim as any Of the res, bs.i for that matter
we shall have no trouble to find another"