Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1861-08-03
Exploit Of a Negro.

Our readers will probably recollect
that the Schooner S. j. Warning which
was taken by the Privatecr JEFF. Davis.
on the eth inst, was subsequently, re-
possessed by the Warnings crew and
brought to New York. 1t seems that
the commander of the privateer sent
the schooner southwark In charge of
five ofhis own men, leaving three of
the Warnings crew on board. The
daring conduct of Tillman, the negro
steward of the schooner, in taking po-
session of the prize, is thus given by a
correspondent of the N. Y. Herald:
The crew put on board the S. J.
W arlng consisted of u captain, two
mates and two men. I'he steward
William Iillman, the hero of the pres
ent courageous action, two seamen,
and a passenger remained with the pri
vateer crew on the schooner, and in
that condition they started for the
South. On their voyage southwark
the schooner was kept we'll into the
ocean, IN order to keep clear of any
war vessels that might be lowering
around. AS soon as the vessel was
fairly Iii the hands of the secessionists,
the Stars and Stripes which fluttered
from the mast was taken down and cut
up into pieces, in order to make re-
bel flag out Of it. This it was. Ti,irnan
AYERS, which first inspired him with a
hatred and an incentive of revenge, as
he saw the flag of the Uuion trampled
upon SO shametully by those cowardlv
traitors to the cause of freedom.-
Things went on smoothly enough until
the seventh day after the capture, the
/ 4th July. Tillman meanwhile plan
ming in his mind the best method to
adopt il order to retakc the vessel
The crew of the S. J. Warning were
working the vessel at the time, and
consequently, not kept in irons. One
OF the men composing the crew, nam
ed Donald Mcleod, it appears, refused
taking the vessel, and Notwithstanding
this, the brave TillmaE, did not hest
tate in carrying out the heroic work
which he had been planning out in his
mind for several days previous.
Three days past in this manner, un-
til the night of the 10th, when shortly
before the hour Of midnight, Tillman
determined freeing the vessels from the
pirates. It was halfpast eleven o'clock
precisely, according to his own state
ment. The captain, Montague Amiel,
was asleep in his cabin, together with
Stevens, the mate, in the berth next to
him. The second mate, Malcon Sid
ing, was also asleep OH the poop deck,
and the other two seamen composing
the pirate prize crews, were lounging
lelsurely at the forehead part of the
shir.
Tillman stole up from between decks.
with Ratchet in hand, and first went
down into the captains cabin, who was
sound asleep in bed. He then raised
his axe and gave him vigorous blow
on his skull, from which he seemed to
be launched into eternity, for he mov-
ed not an inch. The negro next pro-
cccded to deal with the mate, who was
also reclining near his captain fast
asleep and dealt with him in the same
summary and terrible manner. After
leaving both these men dead below.
Illlman came on the poop deck and
struck the second mate fearful blow
over the temple. The unfortunate man
was just rising from his reclining posi-
ton with little expectation that he was
about being launched into eternitv.-
He then went below once more, took
hold OF the captains body and flung
him overheard, doing the same with
that OF the mate and second mate
The coast being now clear he called
out to the two remaining of the crew
att, telling them that they must obey
him as cantain OF the vessel, or he
would throw them overheard Also
The men yielded up without amurmur,
when he had them at once ironed, but
subsequently released them on their
consenting to assist in bringing the YES
sci to a Northern port. The names Of
these men are James Molineau and
James Dorset, one 10 years old and
the other %.
The coast was now clear of danger,
and the hero Tiilman proceeded to use
the best means in his power for the
navigation of his vessel into a North
ern port. 1t was at this time, finding
that the S. j. Warning was too heavy
for short crew, that he offered Dor
set and Molineau their liberty if they
would assist him in the working of the
ship. On this occasion he (Tillman)
graphically expressed himself as fol-
lows: eff you cut up any dldos, over
board you go, recollect that am cap
tain of this ship now.'