Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1853-12-22
MURDER Will OUT.

at anchor in q lonely, unfrequented bay
or inlet on the west coast of Africa,
vessel Of small size. and OF British build.
She was a trader. and her purpose In Wis
itipg the African coast was to open a
traffic with the natives. for Whatever pro-
duce could be obtained in the way of
barter fer various and extensive assort-
ment of European 3 1ods with which she
was provided.
The little vssse. hal been al anchor in
the bay alluded to for three days. and the
deep darkness of an African night had
gathered around her for the third time
since she had entered it. Tive seamen
kept watch on deck. At least two were
on deck Cor that purpose; but one of them
overpowered hy the oppressive hea: AMI
closeness of the atmos sphere. had fallen
asleep en- a coil of able that lay in the
fore part Of the vessel. near the windlass.
The other man was leaning lis,lessly over
the sterL. humming song, and gazing
OIL the brilliant phosp sphoresccnt streams
of light that were, ever and anon. shoot
ing through the dark abyss Of waters be-
meath All at once the mans ear caught
the dull cautious sound of muflfed oar.
He sprang up in alarm from his recum-
ben. position: for neither he. nor any
one in the vessel. was aware of any ship
being near them from waich q boat could
have come. Again he listened. and. az
ter an interval. again he heard the fiat.
stealthy sound of the muffl ID oar. which
now appeared 10 be close at hand.
His alarm increasing. the man, after
s:raining his eyes for second or two. in
vain endeavor to pent tra;e the profound
darkness around. anil obtain glimpse of
the object of his suspicion. if not his
fears. rushed to the companion way. and
called down to the captain 20 come quick
ly on deck as therc-was strange boat
approaching. Ere the sentence out
OF his mouth however, the boa: he alu-
ded to was along side. and in the next
instant twelve or sixteen arm men,
each carrying a na ked cutlass in his hand.
had thrown themselves OIL the deck. and
rushing at with lou. shouts and yells,
attacked and instantly despatched both
the unfortunate seamcn who had first
given the alarm. and the captain of the
vessel, who. In his shirt ana trowsers,
had just reached the deck as his murder
erS reached the companion. This done.
the ruffiins leaving strong party 20
keep watch on deck hurried down below
and put every one whom they found there
to death. They then assembled in the
ca bin. and having forced some lockers.
took thence a number of bottles contain
ing various kinds of liquor. and began
RECALLING themselves with their contents
which chiefly consisted of wines and
spirits. while they quaffed largely. and
with many a ribald fest and boistrous
langh.
We may here pause moment TO de
scribe the rufian crew who now crowded
the cabin Of the little trader. They we're
all reckless aud desperate looking men;
bare throated. large whiskered. and dee p
iy Drowned by the burning suns of the
tropics. They were all armed TO the
teeth; each having brare of pistols and
large knife dagger stuck III his belt,
besides sheathless cutlass. which. when
not in action he carried tucked under his
arm the bare blade projecting far behind,
while the hilt just appeared in front.
Among these ruffiins was one of some
what milder aspect and more refined ma n
ners than the rest. He was a young man.
etremely handsome in person. and of a
very prepossessing countenance.
As is often the case, however, this per.
sons character sadly belied bis looks.
For Notwithstanding these external signs.
or promises of better nature. he was in
no respc, less wicked, in no degree less
inhuman. than the most ferocious of
those by whom he was surrounded. In
deed. by none of them had his deeds of
blood OF this dreadful night been equal
ed. Two-thircs of all those killed in the
vessel, including her unfortunate master.
having persisted b. his individual hand.