Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-01-06
The Drowning Of Six Hundred
Slaves.

was an Eng lishman by birth. and was
known along the whole coast and in
Cuba, as the most successful SLAYER OF
his day. The brig was owned by two
men residing in Havana, one an Eng
lishman, the other IA Spaniard was
built To carry six hundred negroes, aud
in heI IIoman had made ten successful
voyages, actually landing in Cuba five
thousand negroes The brig carried
ten guns, had thirty sweeps and "A crew
of sixty Spaniards, most Of them old
pirates, as desperate as their commander.
An English brig ot war which attacked
her was so cut up in hull and rigging,
that she was abandoned and soon sunk /;
an Engl lish sloop of war attempted to
carry the Brlllante with boats, which
were beaten off with great slaughter.-
Now it was known that llomans WAS
again on the coast, and IT was resolved
Ia make another attempt 60 take bIm.
with the evidence Of his guilt on board.
The arrangements for this purpose were
well made. He was allowed To Ia ke in
his cargo of negroes and set sail.
The BrllaDte had moi lost sight Of
the coast when the quick eye ot her
commander discovered that he waa en-
trapped. Four cruisers, three OF them
English and one American, had been
lying in wait for hun, and escape was
hopeless In running away from one
h. would come wilhin reach of another
Night was coming on, and Homans was
silently regarding hIs pursuers, when
suddenly the huge sails OF the brig
napped Idly-the wind died away, and
the SLAYER was motionless on the waters.
"rhls will not do" Homans multered,
Knocking away, the ashes from his Sc
gar" their boats viii be down upon
me before am ready for the VISIT" and
as he sand tins, his stern face lit up with
n smile, the expression OF which was
d,abolIcal. Ii was evlaent enough that
he mednated some desperate plan.
A dozen sweeps were got out, and
the vessel moved slowly through the
water. Meahtlme the darkness having
dccpened, Homans Proceeded to carry
out his design.
The cable attached 10 the heaviest
anchor was taken outside of the hawse
hole, and carried round the rail OF the
brig, extending from the bow, al; round
the stern, and then forward on the other
side. The ha,ches were then taken of,
and the negroes passed up, each secure
ly ironed by the wrists. As the misera
ble wretches came up from the hot hold,
into the fresh air, they expressed by
their looks a gratitude which would have
soitened the heart Of any bat the 6end
IN whose power they were Wnhou. n
word they were led To the side, pnd made
to bend over the rail, outside OF which
the chain ran. The irons which clasp
ed their wrists were then fastened by
smaller chains to the links OF the cable.
1t was slow work but at the end Of four
hours, six hundred Africans, male and
female, were bending over the rail Of
The big, IN painful position, holding by
their chained hands the huge cable,
which was attached to a heavy anchor
suspended by single sling from the bow.
Humans himself examined the fasten-
ngs 10 see that every negro was strongly
bound To the chain. This done, he
ordered the pen work Of the hold TO be
,roken up, brought on deck, bound up in
mating, aud well filled with shot, and
brown ,verboard. The work was com
,leted an hour before day break, and
low the only witnesses of Homan's guilt
we're attached TO that fatal chain. Ho-
mans turned To the mate, and with a n
smile full of meaning, said in Spanish -
" iiarro, take an axe and 60 forward. I
The wind will come ofto US soon Lis !
en- TO the word, and when you hear It
ut the sling" II
The man went forward, and IIomans
urncd and IN vain endeavored to pene-
rate the darkness 81 don't wan, To lose
he niggers," he said, speaking aloud
and yet ! dare not wait until day light.
wish knew where the hounds were"
Al that instant the report OF a gun
eached his ear, then another, and
mother, in different directions. The
ruisers were firing signals.
"Thai's enough" exclaimed TTomans,
know where you are" Then raising
is voice, he crried, d" Harro, are you
eady The wind will reach US soon. "
Ay. ay, sir, was the response.
In few minutes the sails began 10
II, and the vessel moved slowly through
he water.
How much water do you suppose
'e have here :" asked Homans, turn
1g To the man at The wheel.
Fifty ialhoms at least" was the
'ply.
" That will do" the SLAYER muttered,
nd he walked forward, and examined :
irefulIy the "chain gang" as he
rutally termed his dIaboIicaI invention.
The negroes sent up piteous groans
or many hours they had been bent
'er in this unnatural position, by which y
ey were suffering the keenest torture
The breeze streng ihrned, and the
rillanie dashed like "A racer over the I
,ep. Homans hailed from the quarter :
'ck, while his men, collected IN groups. y
Nv unmoyed the contamination of the !
Ian. I'
" Are you ready, iIarro 20
Ay, ay, sir" =
Homans looked round, and into the u
'rkness, which was fast glazing way to