Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-04-21
PLAQUEMINE. PARISH IBERVILLE LA, APRIL 2l 1856.
CATCHING A TARTAR.

CATCHING A TARTAR.
On bright sunny day, some years ago, when
the slavers carried on their infamous operations
with boldness only equal to their success
Notwithstanding the exertions used by our
cruisers to enforce the various treaties entered
into by this country with several of the Euro
pean powers for the abolition of the vile trade
Her Majesty's brig Tardo might have been
seen rolling at single anchor off the British fort
of Accra, most agreeable and comparatively
healthy little town on the Gold Coast.
The day in question was unusually hot, even
for that proverbially roasting climate. There
was not breath of air sufficient to ruffle the
surface of the sea, nor cloud to temper the
fierce rays Of the vertical sun, penetrating thro'
the snow white awnings with power almost
insupportable to the painting and exhausted
crew, who were assembled in listless groups
on the forecastle, longing for the slightest
breath Of air to re-invigorate their exhausted
frames. The only sign approaching to activi.
ty appeared in the person ofthe young officer,
second in command, who, ~ be slowly paced
the quarterback, occasionally paused to exam-
ime with glass the low sandy shore, glisten-
ing with peculiar brightness at the foot Of the
lofty range Of mountains which form the bold
background Of this part Of the coast.
The Tardy was one Of those old ten.gun
briggs that are now, happily, nearly extinct in
the service. She was . disgrace to the coun.
try that owned her. a. well ~ to the officer
who had the misfortune to command her; and
with all the bad qualities peculiar to that class
of vessels, had no redeeming points to recon.
mend her. She was perfect tub, and q re-
proach to the gallant fellows that belonged to
her, who for eighteen months had toiled in the
vain hope that prize would eventually reward
their exertions and sufferings on that pestilen.
tial coast. Hitherto, however, they had been
doomed to disappointment. The excitement
of the chase, usually 80 intense when the sail
ing qualities of the pursuer and pursued are
nearly on par, had but few charms for the
Tdrdys, whose Visions Of prizemoney and hon.
or grew more and more indistinct a. the re-
treating sails Of the chase slowly and too sure
u vanished on the horizon.
Such mortifying failures--the unfailing re-
sultof trial Of speed between Her Msjesty's
brig and the low rakisb clippers of the coast
were stiA more annoying, from the fact Of the
scale and the division Of the prize money hav-
ing been altered shortly before the Tardy ar-
rived on tho station. Formerly Flo per head
had been allowed for every slave captured,
which was shared by the entire squadron; but
at the time of Tardy's arrival at Accra, on her
way from Sierra Leone to her cruising ground
10 the Blight Of Biafia. f5 per head was allow
ed to be shared only by the officers and crow
of the vessel that made the capture. However
beneficial this arrangement might be to the
fast sailing cruiser, it was but bitter mockery
to the hapless Tardys. st2 80 aas isfs1
We left the officer-the senior mate already
alluded to-watching with his telescope the
low shores to British, Dutch and Danish Aecra;
with the evident determination Of allowing not
20 much q canoe TO break the blockade with.
out his cognizance. His vigilance was short
ly rewarded by the appeasaaes Of the COM
maadsr's gig leaving the shore, and, under the
vigorous strokes Of her lusty crew, she quickly
reached the side ofthe brig, bringing on board
the commander himself After the bustle in
cidentst to his arrival bad somewhat subsided,
the mate accompanied bis chief below, whithsr
we will follow. gaa o59 fa sa as.seq
swell, Mr.. Winton," commenced the COM
mander as soon as they reached the cabin, II
suppose you have hove short, and are al ready
for tripping % soon % the land breeze makes
its appearance. The canoe containing the cart
wheels and grass will be alongside 10 40 hour:"
he continued, without noticing his Juniors bow
Of assent; "and then the sooner we are Of the
better" sss ssa 73ae & as 14t5
aDid ron hear Of there being any vessels in
The rivera about 70 sail, sir!' inquired the mate
sWhy no, nothing for certain," replied the
sThe Consul was too intent on
Ending out what I could possibly want With
bio old cosce.whesls 10 pay 20 much attention
to my inquiries on that subject But ] rather
think, from what heard from another source,
that the vecus ID nearly ready fer sea; 30, pos
IDLY, ws shsll b Of the Bonny just IN time
% intercept her" = eHsf 5ss.5E.sg "a ssessg@
!. Il hope we shall. Dit. Il is rather vexatious
o b always returning into port empty hand
. Alter some farther coSversation relative 70
'hs hoped-for capture Of the Yscua--a we'll.
Known Spanish slavs schooner--the two OIL
.ers returned on deck, where they saw several
yfths expected canoes slowly approaching the
,fig, looking more Me moving haystaeks than
skitinats African sanosa i On thsif arrival
llongside. their strange freight cauasd good
leal Of wonder among the hands. L.,
"Wsli." said al old salt, II 'spects this b
bout the sfunmiess % u sver was seed oa
bin hare part Of tie eoask wonder what che
kipper's sgoing ode with this here duspags'"
ssWhy. turn the kooker into farm-yard for
fnll dus," snggssted surly topman, who felt
% som % their III suecess u b inany bamof
Or ioki0Qs ES sgea - s. gsss sgsssf III Isl as
sAnd make yeus Jenny DsekA shs Bill.
old the frt speaker, who wss the captain Of
Be forecastle. aWhafs The uss Of growing
10 ! bear With Z sore hesd when
aCome, como, shipmats,s cried ths fucenssd
opmsn; gather n the slssk Of yosrjaw. Tn
. ocroakee; but mind What ] says-"
The nest Ofthe sentenesswas lost through
10 interruption ofths oficsrof The dsck, Who,
aving overhead The remarks Of the men, sbar.
j ordered them b attsud 10 their duty; and
] sileses the rsunaiudes Of tho novel cargo
- hoisted On board nusA 10. tie annsen6ae