The Shasta courier., 1868-01-04
SHASTA COURIER
An Adventure with a SLAYER.

Some years ago l commanded one of Her
Brittanic Majesty's dispatch gun vessels,
stationed on the west Coast of Africa for the
suppression of the slave trade In the
course OF two years thus engaged we had,
as usual, done very little good, and lost a
| great number of men by coast fever and
sickness generally. A few vessels had been
captured, but many more had slipped
through our fingers by reason of the treach-
cry of the informers on shore, most of whom
eventually proved to be in the pay and in
terest of the slave dealers. The slave cap.
tains, too, had become very knowing; they
were mostly old hands at the business, and
contriyed to give US the slip in many differ.
ent ways.
For instance, in chasing them on a 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
| in the darkness, leaving us intent on watch.
ing their false light This stratagem gen.
orally succeeded when the nights were very
dark. Or, when hotly pursued, in the day
time, they frequently practced most in
human trick to increase their distance
When We were close upon them, they used
to throw slave overheard with plank for
him to cling to- or very often without even
that. They well knew that the British
man-of war would not pass the poor wretch
struggling in the water AID leave him to
drown. Thus, whilst sail was being short
ened, the ship hove to, boats lowered, the
man picked up, and the vessel got on her
course again, they contrived to get fine
start ahead, for these n,anovers, even 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 a long one.
| The luck had been against us fer long
time, and asster many false informations and
! fruitless chases, we succeeded in capturing
SLAYER in most singular manner, without
any chase at all.
| 1t happened in this way. One fine morn
ing when cruising off the coast of Loango
and Congo, the officer of the watch reported
a strange sail in sight went on deck, took
my glass, and there, surely enough, was a
suspicious looking craft right ahead. 1t was
dead calm and we soon steamed up to
her.
She was a clipper barque OF about 400
tons. From her taut spars great clouds of
snowy canvass tapped heavily against the
rigging. as her long low hull rolled slowly
from side to side on the CLASSY surface OF the
heaving ground swell. Judging by her
rakish appearance, and by her being great
deal out of the track of homeward or out
ward bound vessels, in fact being in very
suspicious locality, one naturally came to
the conclusion that she must be SLAYER |
hoped very soon to have the pleasure of lift
| ing her matches to ascertain whether this
assumption was correct or not. As pre-.
! limii.ary step, the demand to show her colors
WIS made. TO my great annoyance she
hoistcd the stars and stripes of America
This precluded the right of search. How
ever, 1 resolved to board her, and try to
detect some signs Of her having n black
cargo. With that object in view, | had the
gig manned and in few minutes was along.
side the doubtful craft.
The captain, tall, gaunt Yankee, receiv-
ed me at the gangway and, without waiting
to be asked, produced his papers, which
seemed to be all regular enough The
barque was the Independence, of Boston,
Massachusetts, Robert Storment. master.
from New York to the Cape of Good Hope
and back on a trading voyage. She was
now homeward bound, and was p days out
from the Cape, so the Captain Informed me.
Having taxed him with being out of the
usual route, he explain d that this was q new
notion of his-he kept well over to the east
ward so as to make fair wind of the north
east trades, when he should meet theni.-
| Whilst pointing out to him the fallacy of
this idea, | took few turns up and down
the deck with him, and succeeded in draw.
ing him into a long argument. Whilst thus
engaged, / noticed that all the matches were
indeed battened tightly down, but that there
were no things slowed on the top of them, as
is usually the case in merchant vessels whose
matches are never required to be open during
the voyage. This strengthened my suspi-
cions, and from the captains extreme eager
ness in satisfying all my inquiries, / had
very little doubt as to the nature of his
cargo.
l was certain that if he had slaves on
board. those hatehways could not remain
closed tor an hour without suffocating them.
If they were opened during that time, the
presence of the slaves would be easily ner.
ceptible, aad in that case the vessel would
be lawful prize.
Considering these things, | sat on the
tatfrail, and taking out a bundle of choice
Havanas, proposed smoke This the Yan.
kee agreed to, and we smoked away and got
toleraoly social, although at the same time it
was amusing to see how idgety he was get
ting.
We continued spinning yarns and smok.
ing for some time longer, when a breeze
sprang up, and the Yankee thinking to
shake me of, said Wa'al, stranger, guess
we've got the wind at last. Pm 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. . You see there is no necessity for
that. may just as well go your way as any
other, for Pm only cruising Here, take
another cigar and settle down again."
l then shouted to the first lieutenant to
keep within hail, on the same course as the
barque. Upon this the Yankees long, sallow
face heightened and grew longer; he was
evidently much put out
| He certainly did not appear to appreciate
this act of courtesy on my part. kept on