Weekly Trinity journal., 1867-12-28
WEEKLY TRINITY JOURNAL
An Adventure with a SLAYER.


an the west coast of Africa for the suppression
of the slave trade. In the course OF Two years
thus engaged we had, as usual, oone very littie
rood and lost great NUMBER OF men ny coas.
fever and sickness generally rev 'esseis had
been caDtured but many more had slipped
.nro,,rh onr fingers by reason of the treachery
of the informers on shore, most of whom event
ually proved to be in the pay and interests of
the slave dealers The slave captains, too, had
become very knowing they were mostly old
hands at the business, and contrived to give US
the slip in many different ways
For instance, in chasing them on dark night,
they would show a bright light over the stern
and after we had followed this course for some
time would drop large cask with lighted
lantern fitted to it, at the same instant putting
out their own light 1t was easy for them then
TO alter their course, so as to double back and
sail away iE the darkness, leaving US intent on
watching their false light. This stratagem pen-
orally succeeded when the nights were very dark
Or, when hotly pursued in the day time they
frequently practised most inhuman trick to in
crease their distance. When we were close upon
them, they used to throw slave overheard with
plank for him to cling to or very often with
out even that They well knew that the British
man-of-war would not pass the poor wretch
struggling in the water and leave him to drown
Thus, whilst sail was being shortened the ship
hove to- boats lowered, the picked up, and
the vessel got on her course again, they con-
trived to get fine start ahead for these manGu-
vers, in the smartest ship, will take some
considerable time and in this way as much
ground was lost as would take many hours to
recover, for a stern chase is long one.
The luck had been against US for long time,
and after many false informations and fruitless
chascs, We succeeded in capturing SLAYER in a
most singular manner, without any chase at all.
1t happened in this way. One fine morning
when cruising off the coast of Loango and Con-
go, the officer of the watch reported strange
sail in sight. went on deck, took my glass,
and there, surely enough, was a very suspicious
looking craft right ahead. 1t was dead calm
and we steamed up to her.
She was clipper barque of about four hun
dred tons From her taut spars great clouds of
snowy tapped heavily against the rig
gng, as her long, low hull rolled slowly from
side to side on the CLASSY surface of the heaving
ground swell. Judging by her rakish appear
ance, and by her being great deal out of the
track of homeward or outward bound vessels,
in fact being in a very suspicious locality, one
naturally came to the conclusion that she must
be a SLAYER. | hoped very to have the
pleasure of lifting her matches to ascertain
whether this assumption was correct or not. As
preliminary step, the demand to show her col
was made. To my great annoyance she
hoisted the stars and stripes of America This
precluded the right of search. However, re-
solved to board her, and try to detect some signs
OF her having black cargo. With that object
in view, had the gig manned and in a few min
utes was alongside the doubtful craft.
The captain, a tall, gaunt Yankee, received
me at the gangway, and without waiting to be
asked, produced his papers, which seemed to be
all regular enough. The barque the Inde-
pendence, of Boston, Massachusetts, Robert
Storment master, from New York to the Cape of
Good Hope and back on trading voyage. She
was now homeward bound, and was twenty
formed me. Having taxed him with being out
of the usual route he explained that this was
new notion of his-he kept well over to the
eastward so as to make fair wind of the north
east trades, when he should meet them. Whilst
pointing out to him the fallacy of this idea, |
took few turns up and down the deck with
him, and succeeded in drawing him into a long
argument. Whilst thus engaged, | noticed that
all the matches indeed battened tightly
down, but that there things slowed on
the top OF them, as is usually the case in mer-
chant vessels whose matches are never required
TO be open during the voyage. This strengthen
ed my suspicious, and from the captain extreme
eagerness in satisfying all my inquiries had
very little doubt as the nature of his cargo.
1t was certain that if had slaves on board
those hatchways could not remain closed for an
hour without suIocating them. If they were
opened during that time, the presence of the
slaves would be easily perceptible, and in that
case the vessel would De a lawful prize.
Considering these things, sat on the taffrail,
AID taking out bundle of choice Havanas pro-
posed smoke. This the Yankee agreed to, and
we smoked away and got tolerably social, al
though at the time it was amusing to see
how very fdgety he was getting.
We continued spinning yarns and smoking for
some time longer, when breeze sprang up, and
the Yankee, thinking to shake me off, said
" Wa'al, stranger, guess we've got the WIND
at last I'm sorry you must say good bye, but
| reckon | must fill away and 60 on my course,
for can't afford to be stopping here all day
talking"
Don't mention it. my dear friend" | replied.
4" You see there is no necessity for that. | may
just as well go your way any other, for I'm
only cruising. Here, take another cigar and set
tie down again"
then shouted to the first lieutenant to keep
within hail, on the same course as the barque
Upon this the Yankees long, sallow face length
ened and grew longer he was evidently much
put out
He certainly did not appear to appreciate this
act of courtesy on my part. | kept talking,
and tried to involve him in another argument
anything for an excuse to pass the time. But
he was trying equally hard to put an end to the
conversation by sulleny replying eyes" and
s'no' to everything, and never Volunteering
remark or comment of his own. But, in no
wise put out by his broad hints, commenced a
series OF lOnG-winded stores, Keeping HIM at the
same time well supplied with cigars.
1t was delightful to see how excessively nerv-
ous and idgety he He well knew that if
this lasted much longer his whole cargo would
not be worth much so he kept giving me
the strongest hints to go, all of which pretend
ed not to understand. AT length he appeared
to be losing his temper, and the more cross he
got the more obtusely good natured and urbane
| became.
1 Inow very quickly brought matters to an is
sue BY hailng gig that was towing astern-
s'Gig there y
s'Sir," replied the coxwain.
Go on board and get your dinners, and tell
the first lieutenant to send the boat back with
some more cigars in an hours time, and say that
| have found the captain such remarkably
agreeable man that intend to spend the after
noon with him. D'you understand.
SAY, ay, sir"
When our friend the Yankee heard this he let
fly volley of oaths, and then said, resignedly :
"Guess it's no use, captain. I'm fairly
smoked out this time the ships yours, rec
kon' Aud then, turning to the mate, he said /: