Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-08-02
Tragedy CT the Schooner Waring.
NEGRO STRIKES FOR FREEDOM.
THRILLING NARRATIVE.
From the n Y. Tribune, 22d- !

third dav out from port, the 7th July,
when 100 miles from Sandy Hook, in lat
36 min, and long, 50 deg, she was bro't
to by the privateer brig Jeff. Davis, which
sent boat full Of meu along side, and or
dered the captain of the schooner to haul
down the United States flag, and declared
her prize. They took from her guam
tity Of provisions, and then put on board
prize crew of FIVE men, taking away
Capt Francis Smith, the two mates, and
two seamen, leaving the steward, two
seamen, and Mr.. Bryce Mackinnon, pas
genger, on board. The prize crew were
Montague Amiel, a charleston pilot in
command, one named Stevens as mate,
Malcolm Sidney as second mate, and three
men.
They made a southerIy course, and on
the 10th of July, when fifty miles to the
south Of Charleston, the prize captain aud
the second mate being asleep IN their
berths, the first mate doing on deck, and
the others asleep, VIM. T.lman, the stew
ard (colored, carried out the preconcert-
ed plan Of killing the captain and the two
mates with a hatchet and throwing the
bodies overheard The job was all done
in five minutes TilIman taking command
and steering the schooner northward. One
Of the remaining men was tied up till the
next morning, when he was released upon
promise to help work the vessel. Not
one on board understood navigation, but
once got hold Of the laad, Tilman bro't
the schooner safely up to pilot ground,
when CEas f. Warner Of the pllot-boat
jams, took charge Of her.
THE STORY OF wM TILLHAN, TIE STEWARD
VIM Tillman. colored man, is the one
hero in this chapter Of history, He says
that he was born of free colored parentsin
Milford, Delaware and is 27 years Of age.
His parents moved TO Providence, r. l.,
when lie was "A years old, and he has
since called that place his home He has
followed the sea for ten years. and has
been in the employ of Jones, Smith & Co.,
No. 227 Front street, By whom the schoOn-
er was owned, for the lass three years
He is of medium height, rather strongly
built, crisp lair, of ueraly unmixed negro
blood, aud bears in his countenance an ex-
preston of honesty, strypg common sense,
with some touches of humor.
The schooner s. J. Warning had started
on voyage to Buencs Ayres and Monte
viedo, with an assorted cargo, which, with
the vessel, was valued at 100000 There
were on board, the captain and mates; w.
TilIman, steward; Wm. Stodding, sea-
man, born III Germany, % years Of age,
has been sailing four years out of New
York Donald Mcleod, seaman, Of Cape
Breton, Nova Scotia, 80 years Of age, has
been sailing out Of New York for seven or
eight years, and Bryce Nackinnon, a pas
senger.
On the 7tb Of July they fell in with the
jeff Davis, and prize crew of five were
put on board, who were unarmea. To
use the language Of Dir. Tillman, they run
ten days and didn't find Charleston; we
were, however, only fifty miles south OF
Charleston and one hundred to the east
ward On the voyage they treated me
the best kind Of way, and talked the best
kind Of talk.
One day the First Lieutenant Of the pi-
rates was sitting in the cabin, cross legged,
sinking, and he said to me, 'sWEen you &c
down to Savannah | want you to go to
my house, and | will take care of you"
thought. continued the negro, yes, you will
take care Of me when you get me tEere.
| raised my hat and said, ''Yes, sir, thank
YOU. But afterwards said to Billy (tbe
Gernan,) } I an not going to Charleston a
live man they nay take nc there dead
He had been told by the prize master that
he would get rewerd>d d IL Charleston, fol
performing his duty 50 well in bringing
the schooner in he had also heard con
versation not intended for his ears, in re
gard to the price ne would probably bring
and be had heard one Of the prize master!
say to one of his men: You talk to tha
steward, and keep bim in good heart. b.
Cd" said tie prize master, "he vii
never see the North again. i"
Tillman conferred with two Of the sea
men about taking possession of the schoon
er; but they declined adopting any plan
saying that none of them knew how tt
navigate her back, should they succeed il
getting control. Tillman thought the mat
ter over for three days and then made al
appeal to the German, aud said, 'if yor
are a man to stick to your word, we cal
take this vessel easy" Then be made
plan that I should 90 to my berth, ant
when most Of them were asleep he was t
give me some sign, or wake me. We triet
this for two nights, but no good chance Of
fered. But last Tuesday night we caugh
them asleep, and we then went to work
The mate comes to my berth and be touch
es me. He says, now is your time.
went into my room and got my hatohet.-
The first man struck was the captain
He was living in a state-room on the star
board side. l aimed for his temple as nea
as | could. and bit him just belew the ca
with the edge of the hatchet. With tha
he made very loud shrek. The passen
ger jumped up very much in fright.
told him, s.Do you be still shall no
hurt a hair Of your head. = The passen
ger knew what I was up to; he never sait
word more. I walks right across tn
cabin to the second mates room, and
gave him one severe blow in the mole 0
the head-that is, right across the middl
Of his head. / didn't stop to see whethe
he was dead or no, but jumped on deck
and as | did so, the mate who had beel