Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-01-13

thousand negroes! The brig carried ten guns,
mad thirty sweeps, and crew of sixty Spaniards,
the most of them old pirates, as desperate as
tneir Commander. An English brig of war
whlch attacked her. was so cut up in hull and
rigging, that she was abandoned and soon sunk ;
an English sloop Of war attempted to carry the
Brlllian'e with boats, but was bealen off with
great slaughter.
Now It was known that Homans was again
OF the coast, and it was resolved to make anoth
er desperate effort to take him with the evidence
OF his guilt on board. The arrangements were
we'll made. He was allowed to take his cargo of
negroes and set SAIL
The Brilliante had lost sight of the coast
when the quick eye ofthe commander discovered
that he was entrapped. -Four cruisers, three
English and one American, had been laying i u
~ah tor hin.. and sseapa pas hopeless, for in
turning away from one he would come in reach of
another. Night was coming on, and Homans
was silently regarding the pursuers, when sud-
denly the sails OF the brig tapped idly. the wind
died away. and the SLAYER was moeness on the
waters. This will not do Homans muttered,
knocking away the ashes from his cigar, 'iheir
boats will be down upon me before am ready
for the visit and as he said this his stern face
lit up with smile, the expression of which was
diabolical. 1t was evident he medtated SEINE
desperate plan.
dozen sweeps were got out and the vessel
moved slowly through the water. Meantime the
darkness having deepened, Homans proceeded
to carry out his design.
Thv cable attached to the heaviest anchor.
was taken out side the hawser hole, and carried
round the bow, all round the stern, and then for
ward on the other side. The matches were then
taken off, and the negroes passed up, each Sc
cuIrely ironed by the wrists. As the miserable
came rom the hot hole into the fresh air, they
expressed by their looks a gratitude that would
have sotened the heart of any but the fend in
whose power they were Without word they
were led to the side, made to bend over the rail,
outside of which the chain ran. 1t was slow
work, but at the end of four hours, six hunred
Africans, male and female, were bending over
the rail in painful position, holding by their
chained hands to a huge cable. which was to be
attached to heavy anchor, suspended by single
sling from the bow.
Homans himself examined the fas:enings to
see that every negro was strongly bound to the
chain. This done, he ordered the pen work of
the hold to be broken upbrought on deck, bound
up in mating well filled with shot, and thrown
overheard. The work was completed an hour
before day break and now, the only witaess of
Homans' guilt was attached to the fatal chain.
Homars turned to his rate, and with a smile fall
~ e,ee ,ss1 in Spanish, fIarro, take an axe
'Tand' go fof""%ec,.,'S wind will come off to us
soon Listen TO the word, and when you hear
it, cut the sling The man went forward, and
Homans turned and in vain endeayored to pene-
trate the darkness. Il don't want to loose the
nggers,' he said speaking aloud and yet
dare not wait until daylight. | wish knew
where the houds were' At that instant the re-
port OF gun reached his ear then another, and
another, and another in different directions. The
cruisers were firing signals. That's enough,
exclaimed Homans. Il know where your are.
Then raising his voice, he cried. Harro, are you
ready? The wind will reach us soon.' 'Ay,
ay, sir was the response. In few minutes the
sails began to fill, and the vessel moved slowly
through the water How much water do you
suppose we have here " asked Homans, turning
10 the Wheel Fifty lathoms at least was the
reply. That will do, the SLAYER muttered, as he
walked forward, and examined the chain gang,
as he brutaly termed his dabocal invention
The negroes sent up peous groans. For many
hours they had bent over in this unnatural posi-
ton, by which they we're suffering the keenest
torture.
: The breeze strengthened, the Brilliante dash.
ed like racer over The deep. Homans hailed
from the quarter deck, while the men, collected
in groups, witnessed unmoved. the consumatior
of the plan. Are you ready, Hano?' Ay
ay, sir Homans looked out into the darkness
which was fast giving to the morn. Then he
, thundered out, Strike!' There was the sount
of single blow, heavy plunge, and as the ca
bic fell off the side, crash, above which aros,
one terrible shrlek-i, was the last cry of tht
murdered Africans.
One moment more, and all was still. 81,
/ hundred human beings had gone down with thu
anchor and chain into the depths of the ocean
Two hours after day-break the BrilIiante wa
overhaued. There was no evidence that sh,
, was SLAYER, and her captors were obliged to lie
her pass, The instructions of cruisers at tha
time did NOT allow vessel to be captured unles
negroes were actually found on board"
, What punishement would ask, could be en-
= acted by human laws, sufficient for such iend
: like, cold-blooded, and alrocious deed as this ??
Carnes on africa.
Mr. CALHOUN ON CUBA, The New Yor