Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-08-11

danger The safety oil our Vessel-to engage
with the schooner, and get crippled, would
throw US into the net ef the sloop of wall
We held our course until within about three
leagues Of the schooner, and cleared the sloop
Of war; but the schooner ranged down upon
us, and when within musket shot poured In
a broadsiIe.
"Luff a %litle," cried our captain; now,
boys, let her have it," and our shot took ef-
feet beautifully-down came her foreyards,
and the head Of her foremost was all shot
away.
keep her rap FULL" said our captain; and
we soon run out of range Of her shot. She
was completely crippled while very little
damage had been done TO us. was wound
ed on the shin by a splinter from the bull
warks, and one man got his arm broke. A
good deal of daylight was knocked through
our bulwarks, and one stanchion was cousi-
derably shivered.
A little after meridian we had run the sloop
of war hull down, and the schooner was no
where TO be seen. The morning breeze had
gone by, and il was nearly calm, with a dry,
hot atmosphere. Hardly a breath Of air pass
ed into the hold, and the parched and ievered
tongues of the negroes rolled out OF their
mouths, and the muttered curses aud grating
of teeth from the Congoes, and the rattllng
Of chains and piercing groans of the Mondon-
goes were enough to bring down the wrath
of the Almighty upon us. There was no in
dicatlon of d storm, and yet the air was dry,
and parched the skin. Those who have new
er felt the dry winds of Africa can have no
conception of their influence upon the human
system. The SiroccO of the Mediterranean
will lay PROSTATE the stoutest mantle crews
of vessels at sea ale forced to lay by until
these baneful winds pass over, and a more
genial current of air takes their place.
Little curling eddies of wind passed by US
occasionally, and the air seemed to be filled
with electricity something unusual seemed
to be at work in the atmosphere. Our cap
tain paced the deck in feverish excitement,
while most of the watch lay l~istlessly round,
gaining the shade of the sails as they lay
Tapping against the masts. A small white
cloud rose up from the southwest, TO which
| called the attention of the captain, when he
ordered all hands on deck. The whistle Of
the boatswain brought every man to his feet
orders flew rapidly clew up the fore and
main topsails-lay aloft there, and take in ev-
cry rag Of sail-up helm, and let her come
round TO the enthusiastically there, keep
her steady-send down the fore and main
royal yards-stand by here, TO brazil up the
tl-Sdll-lOW6I away Tic UOOul lIlO Tic CIOlCIy
and lash it fast"
The men flew TO their duty, and the orders
were executed about as soon as given.
The white cloud rose rapidly, and under
it could be seen the foam flying from the cap
of one sea to another; at length the fearful
storm overlook US. / had experienced many
heavy gales in the Atlantic, and the fierce
winds Of the Mediterranean, but that was the
first genuine hurricane | had fallen in with,
One small storm ~stay-sail was still set, in or
der 10 give our vessel motion, but at the first
blast it blew out of the bolt ropes like a rot
l ten rag. Our first plunge was frightful in
: deed we shipped a heavy sea that carried
= away the bulwarks between the fore and maiT
: chains on both sides, moved the long boat
. from her moorings, and carried off some loos'
d spars-the BOBBY hatch floated off, and a few
e hogsheads of cool sea water went down among
the captives, which by the by, was a grea
relief TO them. The forward aud main hatch
es had both been fastened down, and. ii tn
storm had lasted one hour, there would no
e have been fifty slaves alive out OF them all.
Some of the crew were badly bruised, Blu
none of them were washed overheard. TIT
G cook house was carried away, and some o
e cooks stew pans went blooming overheard
d | have heard old tars, in their mess room
yarns, tell of hard blows, and how they hat
seen it blow so hard that it took two men t
hold one mans hair on and how they hal
10 take a reef in the marlinspike to keep
from blowing out the lanyard, and, after thi
storm, | could have believed any thing. Tn
n wind had a fair rake at the cook-he clench
ed the rigging round the main mast, and hel
n fast with a death grip; from a deep black h
d turned TO a copper color-he was so badl,
frightened.
The hurricane was all over in about TWEEN
ty minutes, and we had passed through
y without being crippled in spars or rigging
l. and as soon as it was over we again mad
sail for the Brazils. When the storm frs
reached us, | fell fiat upon the deck, and row
% a gisgit through a r~ingbolt, and then took
turn under my arms. When we first pitche
into the sea | thought | was a gone sucker
lie | had been under great excitement in gettin,
the brigantine in proper trim TO meet tn
g storm, and when it was all over | found my
self Frustrated in every limb. My leg, whic
a. had been wounded when the schooner fire,
ut into US, was now wet with salt water, an
a began to pain me. My mind was fevered
p, and my body was parched with the dry wind
is from the African coast. That night | fell in
to a violent fever, and all | recolIect that hap
l. pened for many days after, was giving m
pocket knife to the captain, and begging hin
to bleed me.
id The suflerings of the slaves below decks
i were horrible beyond measure. Over on
o. hundred and fifty of them died on the pas
10 sage, and two of our crew went with then
I'd We made a quick run to the Bra2ils, and
T. was taken to the hospital st. Ursula, wher
lg | eventually recovered my health, so that
as was enabled to take passage back TO the I'm
IN ted States.
In my delirium | lived my whole life owe
S, | visited the home of my childhood, and wa
y. caressed by a fond mother and sisters.
a again saw the old stone house where | wa
lie born-my last voyage, when ! left my fatf