Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-08-27

as though he would be sure I was alone.
"What's wanted?" said 7. :
"Captain Morbuck," he answered, at tn
same time taking seat close to me. "
want to tell you something. 1t is for m
good as we'll as for yours. Will you listen p
I assured him I would.
"Then listen," he resumed, and he wen
on and told me as near as can remember
as follows:
"My name is John Myers. am a nativ
of Philadelphia, and have followed the Sc,
several years. Two years ago I shipped OIL
board one of Uncle Sans men-of:war at tn,
navy-yard in Philadelphia, and went on t,
the Brazil station. After while 1 got sicl
of the service and deserted at Rio. I ship
ped on board schooner there and made m,
way to Havana, where remained nearly tw,
months. I had got nearly out of money
and was one day in drinking house there
when some men asked nae If I wanted gooc
paying birth, I was half drunk at the time
and should have embraced any opportunity
that might have turned up. I followed those
men down to the pier, and was pulled off t.
a brig that lay at anchor just outside thu
Moro More liquor was given me, and
shipped for q voyage In SLAYER. We went
to sea that very night, and on the following
day I was too sick to care for anything.
had touch of the delirium tremens, but go,
Iover it at length, and then went about my
duty. But the first day spent on deck !
would have given all I ever owned could
have been olear of the brig, Not only did
the work We were engaged in sioken me,
but the company of the Grew was disgusting.
I only hoped that I might find some means
of escape before We went at work on heslave
coast. But l came mig Oh being delivered with
all the rest. Our brig caught fire at night
from some fire in the galley dropping into
the hold. We could not put out the fire,
and we got out our river boat and put off,
You picked US up-and then l thanked God,
because I thought Iwas clear of the aooursed
work I had shipped to do. But I soon found
that had given thanks too soon, for the viii
lians had concocted a work more fearful,
even than the one had,so much dreaded
Captain Morbuck, they have planned to take
your snip, murder you apd your Grew, and
then steer for the slave coast and get their
cargo"
You may believe I was thunder.struck
and yet had feared something of this kind.
I questioned Myers closely, and was soon
satisfied of the truth of his whole story. l
asked him when the Williams meant to put
their bloody work into execution, and he
told me he thought on the next night, but he
was not sure that they might not do it before
another sun rose! He told me be had not
known until that day what they had deter
mined upon, or he should have warned me
before. He begged of me to save him if !
could; and then he asked me what / msaut
to do. But could not tell him. I only
bade him, let come what might, to seek my
side, and do as I said. He promised that
he would, and then left me.
AS soon as he was gone, I awoke my mate,
and told him the story. He was frightened
half out of his wits at first, but gradually he
became calm. We talked the matter over,
but We could think of nothing that could
help US. The Williams were bunked in the
forecastle and fore-peak, some in hammocks,
and some on the floor. Before we could kill
half a dozen, the rest would be up. And
then they were mixed with my own men,
One thing was spre~-I knew / had not
man who could be hired to join them.
"By Heaven" uttered Allen, let US risk
ourselves in our boat rather than surely die !.
I know they mean to murder us--there can
be no mistake about it. And now, rather
than have our old brig turned into SLAYER
why not set her on fire, and let the Williams
have their own boat, and we take ours"
I thought of my mates proposition mo-
ment, and then | leaped to my feet. A new
idea had entered my mind. I pondered up
on it while, and I felt sure I had hit an
expedient.
"I'll smudge 'em out !' I cried. And
then l sat down and told my plan to the mate.
He started up with hope; and when he
thoroughly understood it we went on deck
to explain to the men. We found none of
the Williams on deck, and in a few minutes
every man of the watch had his cue. But
of course we could do nothing until after
midnight, for it would not answer to rout
out the other watch lest we should excite the
suspicion of the slavers
1t was now past eleven. If the Williams
meant to make an attack before we were
ready then We had to fght-that was all. 1t
was not quite midnight when we called the
watch, but of course no one below knew of
that. The first watch went down as usual
aud turned in without undressing. Two of
the slavers came on deck when the mid watch
was set, but they only remained few mo-
ments, and then went below again. At one
o'clock all was still. I had made the second
watch acquainted with the whole affair, and
was now ready for work. One of the men
was sent down into the fore castle to see how
matters were there, and he returned with the
information that all was quiet, the Williams
being all asleep and the others all awake
As soon as I heard this I went at work.
The main hatch was taken carefully off
and laid one side, then two very large thick
tarpaulins spread over the open hatch-ways
and openly secured to the combings. We