Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-02-23
Murder viii Out.
A TEsUE sTGsxY.

bay or inlet on the west coast Of Africa,
a vessel Of small size aud of English
build. She was trader, and her rur.
pose in visiting the African coast was to
open traffic with he natives, for any
produce ,ha. could be obtained ia ,he
way Of barter for various and ex,en-
sive assorsmeh, of European goods vita
which she was provided.
The little vesse! had been AT 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 il. Two
seamen KEEP, watch on deck. A, leas,
Two were on deck for tba, purpose; but
one OF them orerpowered by the op-
pressive heat and clOsenes' OF The Ct.
mosphere. had fallen asleep on coil of
cable that lay in the forepart OF The ves-
sci, near the windiass. The other man
was leaning listlessly over the stern,
hummlng song, and gazing on the bril-
liant phosphorescent streams of light
that were ever aud anon shooting thro'
the Clark abyss OF waters beneath. All
at once the mans ear caught the dull
cautious sound of a mufled oar. He
sprang up in alarm from his recumben;
position; Tor neither he, nor any one in
the vessel, was aware Of any ship being
near them from which boa, could have
come. Agsin he listened, AID AFR an
interval. again he heard The Aa,, stealthy
sound Of tie mLfilel DER. which now
appeared 70 be close a, hand.
His alarm increasing. the man, af,er
s.raiang his eyes for a second or :wo, in
vain endeavor to penetrate the profound
darkness around, aud obtain glimpse of
The object Of his suspecion, # not his
iears, rushed to the companion way,
and called down 10 the plain to come
quickly on deck, as there was a strange
boa, approaching. Ere the sentence was
out of his mouth, however, the boat he
alluded to was along side, aud in the next
instan, twelve or sixteen armed men,
each carry log naked cu!lass in his
hand. had thrown themselves on the
deck, and rushing afs with loud shouts
and yells. attacked and instantly dis
patched both he unfortunate seamen
who had iicsi given the alarm, aud the
captain OF the vessel. who. in his shirt
aud trowsefs, had just gained the deck
as his nurdefers reac he'd the con panion
way. This done, the rul!ians, leaving
a strong party to keep watch on deck,
hurried down below, and pu, every one
they found there to death. They then
assembled in the cabin and having forced
some lockers, took put a number Of bot
les ccE.-i.ing various kinds Of liquor,
and began rcgalipg themselves with their
contents, which chiefly consisted of
wines and spirits, which they quatfed
largely, aud with many ribald jes. aud
bo,s,erous laugh.
We may here pause moment to de-
scribe the ruilian crew who now crowd
ed the cabin of the little trader. They
we're all reckless and desperate looking
men; bare lhroaled. large WHISPERED,
and deeply Drowned by the burning sun
Of the tropics. They we're all armed
to the tech; each having brace Of pis.
tolls and a large knife or dagger stuck in
his belt, hesldes a sheaihess cu.lass,
which. ulien not iD action. he carried
tucked under his arm, ,Eo bare blade
projecting iar behind while the hill, just
appeared 10 front.
Amongs, these ruffians was one OF
somewhat milder aspec. and more refin-
ed manner than the rest. He was a
young man. extremely handsome in per.
son, and OF very prepossessing counten,
ancP.
As is often the case. however. this
persons character sadly belied his looks
For Notwithstanding these external signs
or promises of better nature he was in
no respec, less wicked. in no degree less
nhuman, than the most ferocious OF
those by whom he was surrounded.-
Indeed b, Gone Of them had his deeGs
of blood Oh that dreadful night been
equallsd. Two thirds Of all those killed
in the vessel, including her unfortunate
master, having perished b. his lndiyid-
ual hand. This young man was the
captain or leader Of this baud Of mur-
derers, who. il need scarcely be added,
were all pirates. and OF the worst and
most desperate character.
Having refreshed themselves, the ruf
fans proct eded 10 rifle the cabin Of The
little trader. in which they found good
deal Of money aud valuables of various
kinds. Thus employing themselves, the
night wore away, and when morning
dawned its ligh. revealed low. black.
mischievods- looking schooner, with her
masts Iaking knowingly abaft. rounding
the bluff poin. in which the land on the
southern side terminated. II was the
pirate vessel TO which the boa, belonged
iha, had boarded and captured the little
trader.
Aware Of the success Of her boats
crew, she was now coming up TO take
on board the plundes the latter had Sc
cured.
In less than half an hour she was be-
side the ill-fa,ed vessel, when The pirates
commenced removing the cargo from the
prize into the schooner. together with
every thing useful or valuable on which
they could lay hands.
Nigh, closed this busy and guilty day
with the pirates, and when new sun
i A q L.