New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-10-21
THE ALLEGED SLAYER.

The Sierra Leone, of Gambia alias the Lyra
And alias the Gambia, a brigantine which cleared
for the wet coast Of Africa Wednesday last, and
do not sail, az purposed, yesterday account Of
certain suspicious entertained by the authorities with
regardto her character, cargo and consignment, is
Low ying in the stream of Go yernors Island, await
ing the result of the investigation of the charges
preferred again her.
Our reporter having paid her a visit yesterday
morning. enabled to lay before our readers q
description Of the vessel and her cargo. She is q
black rsksh looking brigantn Of some 200 tuns or
theresbouts OF a clipper mould high at the bows and
sweeping gracefully down to ward the The only
noticeable features the outside of her hall
eral movable iron brackets, just below her gang.
Weys apparently designed for stagDgs and two ports
Oh each side, so obscure however only to be
en- cose observatioD-which may be intended for
guns and may not Rowing under Der stern we find
that n e has been recently renamed Sierra Leone,
&" the i is left out Of Gambia" in rudely formei,
white capitals newly painted upon black ground.
Through The black paint, however the eft-hand
side. was distinctly perceivable her former name,
Gambia" while Der name is painted considera-
bly, out Of the c4ner. Clamberng board, the only
persons visible were four ubleoded Africans an
Irishuen and Portuguese. These were busy dis
cussiDg the merits of biscuit, coffee and Goldfish for
ward while eft the deck was guarded by snsriing
dog. TIE deck was strewn with water-casks, Spas
and lumber, while the space between her mass was
occupied by two boats, of them a very large,
deep and square built boat of oak Of extraordinary
thickness capable Of slowing about sixty persons or
more; the other was not quite so large Forward Of
the boats was the galley, with cooking facilities for
considerably more than siI persons. Entering
into COL versstion with one Of the negroes,
an African of the darkest type, but by no
means so thick skulled he looked, he informed
that the mate and captain were ashore that he was
native of Gambia, about to work bis passage home,
az COOK Of the brig He said the vessel was loaded
with lumber, powder, tobacco and eases" but OF
what he could not say When told that the brig had
been seized he sat down pile OF lumber, AMI
with peculiar grin said, Den spose dey brake up
de voy age 'sept dc cap'n git her clar agin." He
said that unless the mate captain was on board no
one would be allowed to go below. Soon afterward
the mae came on board, and with his consent and
under the surveillance of himself and athletic
black, with large knife in sheath, by his side,
whom be called Lawrence Cordeler' we were
enabled to look below.
The cabin was nearly a level with, and
its windows overlooked, the deck. The Wheel
instead of being upon it, was just in front
of the cabin. The interior presented no very at
tractive feature and beyond few stout articles Of
furniture az old flag or two, and some coils Of new
rope nothing was visible. On lifting small trapdoor
in the deck numerous coils Of small rope, and several
kegs and barrels all that could be seen. Going
for ward, after smart bite on the leg from the dog
we managed to reach the fOrecaste. This was below
the deck reached by of notches cut in one Of
the siapchions, and dirty as could well be con-
ceiyed Between the forecastle and the hold, there
being 10 bulShead portion of the cargo was visible
II appeared to consist of pine plank, fre-wood, hogs
heads and kegs. The mate said the hogsheads con-
tanned tobacco-the kegs, of which there were 400 or
sO0-powder, and some barrels of bread. The
contents of the cases he did not know.
He further said he had just the captain ashore
who said he intended to sail Immediately. On being
asked what port the vessel was bound for, he replied
that he bad hipped for Gambia and port or ports
and that the vessel what she was charged to be-
he should leave her Immediately.
The brig looks like fast sailer, and her crew by
no means the most conscientious or delicate fellows in
the world,