The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-12-19
A Scene at Sea.

In tno year looV, thoro WotV ho'SAAh6 "A
tho African coast largo clipper brig, called
the Brilllante, commanded bya desperado
named Homan. Homan was On Englishman
by birth, and was known along the whole
coast, and in Cuba, as the most successful
shaver of his day. Tho brig was owned by
two mon residing in Havana-onc On Eng
lishman, and the other spaniard. Shewas
built to carry six hundred negroes, and in
her, ,Homan had made ten successful voyages,
actually landing in Cuba Eve thousand no
grocs The brig carried ten guns, had thir-
ty sweeps, and q crew Of sixty Spaniards,
most Of them old pirates, as desperate as
their commander. An English brig Of war
which attacked her, was 30 cut up in hull
and rigging that she was abandoned, and soon
sunk. An English sloop Of war attempted
to carry the Brillianto with boats, which
were beaten of with great slaughter. Now,
II was known that Homan was again on the
African coast for another cargo, and 1t was
resolved to mako another attempt to take
him, with the evidence .ofhis guilt on board.
The arrangements for that purpose were we'll
made. He was allowed to take in his cargo
of Negroes and set sail.
The Brillianto had not lost sight Of tho
coast when the quick eye Of her commander
discovered that ho was entrapped. Four cruis-
ers, thrco of them English, and ono Ameri-
can, had been lying in wait for him, and cs-
cape was hopeless. In running away from
one, be would como within reach ofanother.
Night was coming on, and Homan was ST.
lcntly regarding his pursucr when suddenly
the hugo sails Of tho brig tapped idly, the
wind died away, and tho SLAYER was notion
loss on the water. "This will not do" Ho-
man muttercd, knocking away the ashes
from his cigar, "thcir boats will DO down
upon me before am ready for tho visit : as
ho said this his stern face lit up with smile,
the expression of which was diabolical. 1t
was evident enough that ho moditatod some
Desperate plan.
A dozen sweeps wero got out, and the
vessel moved silently through the water
Meantime the darkness having deepened,
Homan proceeded to carry out his design.
Tho cable attached TO tho heaviest anchor
was taken outside Of the hawser hole, and
carried around the brig, extending from the
bow and around the stern, and then forward
on the other side. Tho matches were then
taken Of, and tho negroes passed up, and
securely ironed by tho wrists. As tho mis-.
erable wrctchcs camo up from the hold into
tho fresh air, they expressed by their looks
gratitude which would have softcncd the
heart Of any but the fend in whose power
they wero. Without word they wero led
to the side, and to bend over tho rail, out.
side OF which tho chain ran. The irons
that claspcd their wrists were then fastened
| by smaller chains to the links Of tho cable.
| Il was slow work, bat at tho end Of four
hours, coo Africans, malo and female, were
bending over the rail Of tho brig, In q pain.
full position, holding by their chained hand'
had received the money found upon his per-
son at his house. from the doccased's own
hands, in order TO pay the dsbs and cost,
in tho suit, wherein execution was about 70
be levied ON his furniture, and that the rcs-
iduo was about TO DO applied 70 his, tho
prisoners own uso that tho expressions do
posed to BY Ammo Moody, and his own and
Mn. Drysdalc's emotion after his return
home, which had told 90 heavily against
him in the examinations before the magis.
trats, were perfectly rOooncilabls with hi
the hugo cable which was attached to q
heavy anchor suspended by . single sling
from the bow.
Homan himself p1amined tho .fastenins'
10 sec that every negro was strongly bound
| 70 tho chain. This done, hs ordered the
pen-work Of the hold 70 bo broken up,
brought on deck, bound In mating, and
we'll filed with shot, and thrown Overheard.
! Tho work was completed m hour before