The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-07-05
Drowning ofsix Hundred slaves.

wv ShiiNeh Noeob a. NiiBDN' tNilNN
Briliantinc, commanded by desperate
named Ilomans. Homans was an English
man 10y birth, and was known along the
whole coast and in Cuba as the most sue
C ssful SLAYER Of his day. The brig wa,
owned by to men residing Iii Havana, ono
an Englshman, the other Spahiard. She
was built TO carry six hundred negroes, and
in her Homans had made ten successful voy
ages, actually landing in Cuba five thous
and negroes. The brig had ten guns, and
thirty sweeps, and crew of sixty Span
iar,'s, the most Of them old pirates, and as
desperate as their commander. An Eng
lish brig OF. war which had attacked her was
so cut up in the hull and rigging that she
was abandoned and suon sunk; an English
sloop of war attempted 10 carry the Brill
ante with boats, which were beat off with
great slaughter. Aow-it was known that
Homans was again on the coast and it was
resolved to make nnothcr attempt TO take
i'm with the evidence of his guilt on hoard
The arrangements for tins purpose were
made. He was allowed to take his cargo
of negroes and set sail.
The Brilliante had not lost sight Of the
coast when the quickcncd eye of the com.
mandcr discovered that he was entrappcd.
-Four cruisers, three of them English and
ono American, had been lying in wait OF
him, and escape was useless. In running
away from one he would get within reach
of another, Night was coming on, and Ho-
II ans was silent regarding his pursucrs,
when suddenly the huge sails of the brig
tapped idly-the wind died away, and the
SLAYER was mo,onless on the water.
'This will net do Homans muttcred,
knc ckng away the ashes form his cigar
"thcr boats will be down upon me before
am ready for the visit" and as he sal |
this his stem face lii up with smile, the
expression was diabolical. 1t was evident
enough that h, mcditated some desperate
plan.
A dozen sweeps were got out, and the
vessel moved slowly through the water -
Meantime the darkness having dcepcned,
Homans proceeded to carry out his de.
signs.
The cable attached to the heaviest anch
or was taken outside the haws hole, and
carried around the rail Of the brig, extend
ed from the buoy aft, round the stern and
then forward on the other side. The hatch
eS were then taken off and the negroes pss
sed up, each securely ironed by tho wrists.
As the miserable wrctches came up from
the bot hole into fresh air, the expression
Of gratitude would have suftcncd the heart
of any but the fiend in whose power they
were. Without word they were led to
the side, and made to bend over the rail,
outside of which the chain ran. The iron
which clasped their wrist was fastened by
smaller chains to the links in the CABLE
1t WAS slow work, but at the end Of four
hours six hundred Africans male and fc.
male were bending over the rail of tho brig
in painful position, holding by their chain
cd han the huge cable, which was attach
to heavy anchor, suspended ly single
sling from the bow.
Homans himself examined the tastcnings
10 see that every negro was strongly bound
to the chain. This douc he ordered the
pen.work Of the hole to be broken up, bound
up with mating well loaded with shot, and
thrown overheard. The work was finished
an hourbefore day break, and now the only
witnesses of Iiomans gait were attached
to that fatal chain. Homans turnef to the
mate and with n smile full of meaning, said
in Spanish:
"4arro, take the axe and 20 forward
The wind will come of to us soon. Li,ten
to the worl anl when you hear it, cut the
sling The man went forward and lio'
mans.tuncd and in vain tried 10 penetrate
the darkness. II doat want 10 loose the
niggcrs," he said, speaking aloud, 'and Yet
| dare not wait till daylight. wish | knew
where the holnls were"
At that instant the report of gun reach
ed his ear, and another, aud another, and
another, in different direction. The cruis
crs were firing signals.
That's enough" exclaimed llomans,f
know were you are; aud then raised his
voice, he erlcd' "ilorro, are you ready =
The wind will reach us soon.
"Ay, ay, SIR was the response.
In u few minutes the sails began to MI,
and the vessel moved slowly through the
water.
"llow much water do you suppose we
have here !: asked Homans, turning TO The
man a The wheel.