Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1888-09-22

canoes were allowed TO lie alongside at
the same time | also had sea watches
Kept al night, with half The crew
well armed on deck, and did not allow
the customary port watch of two men
only, for | was confident that l was
dealing with men who would take ad-
vantage of any opportunity presented by
relaxed discipline. The result proved
the wisdom Of my course.
After trading for several davs,
Amekama the brother of Maauina. the
principal chief-camc on board one day.
and, TO my surprise, addressed me in
j.ngliSh- His vocabulary, however, COM
prised but few words, but Of these he
was extremely proud
i took him into the cabin, and treated
him so we'll that he bee anne almost a daily
visitor, brought many valuable furs for
barter, declared himself my good friend
and assured me | should have all the
furs secured BY his trlbe
Meanwhile, | was making every eff
tort to learn something about the two
white men. whom | believed to be the
prisoners Of this tribe, but, of course,
without arousng the suspicious Of fhe
natives. At last, one day, young girl
came of, with a number of squaws, who
had birds and other game they wished to
trade for beads.
"Whilc the bargain was being made.
thc girl secretly slipped soled piece of
paper apparently blank leaf torn from
/ book Into the hand of one of my
officers, putting her finger on her lips in
| 10 on Of silence This was brought to
nc. and, upon examination, found this
message written upon the paper:
SIR. -Tpe writer Is one OF the only two
survivors OF the crew of the ship Boston
john Slater, master. All the rest of our
were cruelty ma sacred by the Indians
of this tribe nearly three years ago, and we
are kept as slaves.
II advise YOU to keep the dead lights of
! rnur ship closed in, and guard against sur
! prise. for | believe the Indians intend to at
/ tack you this very night. Therefore be on
i your guard JOHN +. JEWETT,
L JOHN THOMPSON
81 read this note to my chief mate,
and, as hight came on, had the charges
drawn from the broadside gun and re-
loaded them with heavy charges of grape
shot, ana the swivels with langrage.
The muskcts We're loaded afresh, and
their tlints carefully looked to; the
boarding pixies were taken from the
racks, and placed where they could be
at hand, and every man was ordered to
put on his belt with cutlass and pistol,
and not to lay them Off for a moment.
81 doubled the usual lookouts, and as
the night was dark with no moon. | had
tub with port-ti prepared amldships,
to give us light if needed. | ordered
all hands kept on deck, merely permit
ting the watch below to lie down on
deck, ready to 80 to quarters at a
| moments notice.
''It was an anxious night, and very
little sleep was INDUCED in on board
the Lydia, fore or aft, for the men thor
ouohly understood what would be theil
fate in the event Of a surprise.
But at last daylight began to break
in the east, and we felt that our alarm.
for that nj ght at least had been unCalIeC
for. That dav Amekama came off, enc
| made him understand that | was about
TO leave the bay and 90 down the coast
To this the chief offered every objection
saying that much skins would bs
brought down next moon from TaShce
an interior village, and begged me t
wait for them.
AT last | feigned to consent. but sale
| should exnect. in that case, visi
from Maquina This formal visit from
the head chief was part of the etiquette
of the coast trade, and was always ex
pectcd.
.Amekama demurred. Dut finding
placed great stress on this visit, said b.
would induce his brother to come OF
board but if he did so he must come a
/, BIG 'Tyce' or chief and with mucl
people, not two canoe only To thl
agreed, and the chief went on shore.
THAT night and the three followin:
nights kept up the same vigilant guard
but as there We're no signs OF any host1l
movement among the Indians. and ou
relations seemed to continue on the san
friendly footing. with furs coming OF
daily, came to the conclusion that NJ
informant had been mistaken in regar
u a contemplated attack. Still di
not rcia> my precautions, except IN 8
far as allowing one watch TO 90 below a
night. as indeed the poor fellows by thi
time sadly needed proper rest.
..On the fourth night, remained o
deck myself until long after midnigh,
and then. calling the chief ma'e to TAX
charge. warned him to keep a shar
lookout. and going below, threw myselt
all dressed, upon the transom and 500
fell into an unqmet sleep.
L had slept about an hour when wa
aroused Dg noise on deck as Of the fal
ing Of a heavy body, followed bv n
mates voice shouting 'All hands o
deck
',Cu,Iass in hand, l sprang to II
CO npanion- way and was on deck in a
instant At first | could distinguis
nothing in the darkness but just the
some one ~if lignt TO the port fire. an
as the flame shot up terrible sight pr
!, senttd itself. -warmlng over the boy
wcre crowds Of Yelling natives. while i
small knot bv the main-mast ".
gathered handful Of my men. esidentl
only the port watch or what rename
o. them
y .raspe,l the situation At a glase
and shouted TO them 10 joln me thei
Swinging II the after carronade, vii