The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1861-07-26
sariki.g for Freedom.

i Sf1tkt0g Tor Freedom.
i On our FIRST page. we give an account Of
the re-taking of one Of the vessels captured
BY the pirate ship JEFF. Davis. by Negro
/ and German.
| Mr.. AcKinnon. the passenger. gives the
following thrilling account OF how the
"work" w.s done:
II could not have been more THAI ten
minutes later when was awakened from .
light sleep by peculiar sound in the cap
tain's room, which knew instinctively
could only have been produced by an az
cleaving Amiel's skull. No sooner did the
''thash" strike upon my ear than leaped
out OF bed. and leaned against the door
casing in the partition. saw the steward
dart through the twilight-fo. he had ex.
tinguished the Gght-noiselsss as q cat,
across the cabin toward the second mates
room. / also saw. at the same glance.
Capt. Amiel rise from bis berth, and attempt
TO follow him, but the blood blinded him.
and he fell to the floor with a horrid gurg-
ling sound in his throat. All this was but
the work OF second. The cleaving Of the
skull like the fash from a gun preceding
the report. was followed by weak, faint
cry. like that OF a sick child, and the purg.
ling in the throat knew then that his wound
was mortal. STOPPING sideways the stew
ard entered the second mates cabin, and
once more swung his Ak but not SO effect
iyely
The mate started up with a"G-d d-n
you. don't strike me again." and clutched
at the stewards breast, but eluding the
wounded man he ran on deck, to where the
man lay near the wheelhouse, and keeping
his ak behind him, demanded what all
this noise was about? The mate who had
been aroused by the outcries of the captain
and mate. had raised himself up on his ell.
bow, and stared At the teward in half
stupid. half fascinated way, not seeing the
pistol which Shedding. the man at the helm
had pointed at him for use in case of ne
cessity. As he turned his face toward the
steward. the latter drove his weapon home
INTO the base of his skull. Shedding and
he toward then tumbled him overheard
de rose on the wave. with a hoarse cry.
when about two lengths astern, the water
'aving raised him: but he must have soon
zone down to his long account.
Then the steward came down to the ca
lin. where l stood. while Shedding stood.
'istol in hand. to guard the deck. The
aptain cried family twice to me by name.
Help me-help me" but he was past help. 1
Another swishing blow Of the az, and he
i'd not repeat the cry. Then the steward
to the second mates cabin, where,
Gated on . pile of starch boxes, his legs
rawn up. and his head between his knees.
'as the halfstupifed man. Again and
gain the ak fell, and again and again the
~ "don't do that" fell on my ear, each
me fainter than the last. Seeding now
ams down. and the steward and he took the
orpse Of the captain by the feet, and drag
ing it up The compar ION way, tossed it
Meantime | had got some irons
ut. hoping to intercede to save bloodshed,
tedding and the steward once more came
own. and each taking the second mate by
le shoulder led him out from the place
hers he had crouched on the starch boxes !
e seemed to walk, with their assistance, {
they went up the companion way. but S
IS head lay PUPPY mass upon his should :
;. and a moment after loud splash along
Dc told the fate of another Of the priva- :
ers.
There were three persons on board who 1
lew nothing of all this. The two priva- A
or sailors, and Donald Mcleod. one of
IF sailors. whom l subsequently learned ,
ould not join the Steward and Shedding
the attempt to recapture the vessel !,
anding me his pistol, Shedding went for
ard and reused Minor and Dorsey, who V
'on learning the condition Of affairs begged ii
r their lives. which was promised if they Il t,
ould assist in working the ship and be !,
ue and faithful, to all of which they
reed.
The steward took command and headed o
: the North with a fair wind None OF a
knew anything OF navigation. but we 4
listed to good fortune and the land to en-
lie us to make out our course. On Fri
y, the l9th. at o'clock 10 the morning. n
: made the land. which became quite dis. (,
let BY noon. and we kept on our way with ]
rod weather. sounding we went. OF 5
urse we had to be vigilant II
Two of our hands mi ght turn upon US at h
~ moment. and Mcleod was not faithful; :;
r three days before we got in he went To-
ard and slept with them in the forecastle.
edding. Tillman and managed it so that p"
70 Of US were on deck all the while, and .
ways aft Of the other three. The men on c
atch carried the two pistols. and the one
at slept always kept one eye open, lest
Q might b. attacked. On SUNDAY morn 4
e. at O'Clock, we got pilot. oil Sandy
COX. and soon after hired tug for 800
tow US up TO New York, where we ar q
we'd abou, P. NJ, truly thankful for our n
reat deiiverancc. s
Buying - Fort.
Quite An original method Of taking a fort