Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1854-10-12
MISC ELLAN EO is.
SCENES IN THE LIFE OF A SLAYER.
QCELLlNG A MUNlTY.

QCELLING MCNITY.
In looking over Brantz Mayors popular
work, entitled "Cap,. Canot, or Twenty
Years of an African Slsver," 10 which alIu-
sion was made last week, we learn that the
adventurous Italian ssiied from Havana on
his frs, VOYAGE to The coast on the I'd Of
September, 1926. The schooner was com
msnded by Minorcau, and the crew was
composed OF lwenty-one scamps-lhe re-
fuse Of the press gang and jsil-birds-Spsn-
isrds, Portuguese, Frenchmen, aud N ongrels.
OF this motley crowd Canot was third off
Ger. After various fortunes they reached
the mouth Of the Rio Pongo, and the captain
and four hands went ashore for pilot, but
did no. return. IN the evening, Canot learn
ed that an attempt had been made 10 shoot
the captain by those who accompanied him,
and sha. conspiracy had been formed a
mong the crew to seize the schooner.-
Having sscer,ained lha, the armory had been
forced, end several pistols and cu.lasses ab-
stracted, he took measures to couniersct
their plans. The following exsrac. will
show how he succeeded:
"Prepars,ions had undoubtedly been made
to asssssina,e US. As night drew on, my
judgment, as we'll as nervousness, convinced
me .ha. the darkness would not pass wi,h-
out merderous attempt. There was an
unusual silence. On reaching port, there
is commonly fun and merIment among
crews; bu. the usual song and invariable
guitar were omitted from the evenings en-
ter,anment. searched the deck carefully.
yet but two mariners were found above the
hatches apparently asleep. lnasmuch as
! was only a subordinate officer. could
not command, nor had any confidence in
the nerve or judgment of the chief mate if ]
trusted my information to him. S,ill
deemed j. duty to tell him the story, es
we'll as my discovery about the missing
arms. Accordingly, called the first officer.
bosiswsin and cook, as quietly as possible,
into the cabin ; leaving our English cabin
boy to watch in the companion way. Here
impaired our danger, and asked their as
sislance in striking The first bloao My plan
was to secure the crew, and give them bat
tie. The mate, as expected, shrank like
girl, decli ing any step tit! the captain re-
turned. The cook and boatswsin, howev-
er, silently approved my movement so ,ha,
we counsellcd our cowardly comrade to re-
main below, while We assumed the respon.
sibii,y and risk Of the enterprise.
81, may have been rather rash, bul~l re.
solved to begin the rescue by shooting dowr
like dog, and without a word, the notori
Gus Cuban convict who attempted the cap
tain's life. This thought, would strike
panic into the mu,neers-and end tn,
mu'iny in the most bloodless way. Draw
ing pair Of large horse pistols from be
meath the captains pillow, and examining ,h'
load, ! ordered the cook end boa,swain te
follow me TO the deck. But the craven Of
ficer would not qui. his hold on my per
son. He besought me no, to commit mur
der. He clung TO me with the painting fea
and grasp Of woman. He begged me
with every term Of epdearmen,, to desis,
and, in the midst of my scufle to throw
him off, one of The pistols acciden'ly explo
ded. A moment after, my vigilans watch