Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-07


them on board the gunboat and let the
authorities of the Racer decide their fate.
now had no doubt at all that Torres and
CASTILLO had intended to sell them into
slavery. and | felt highly elated at my cap
ture of these Portuguese slave hunters.
At nv command, Tuba and his dusky
friends took up their burdens of ivory,
and we started back along the rough trail,
Torres and CASTILLO marching sullenly be-
tween two marines.
/ noticed that they turned their heads
aside from time to time in a strange man.
ner, and my suspicious were aroused.
Zuba was watchful and uneasy, and
crept along some distance ahead of the
column closely inspecting the jungle on
all sides We had retraced half the dis
lance back when he hurried towards US,
waving his arm frantically, while the
leopard skin tapped about his loins.
ARABS, heap Arabs he gasped, and
his face showed the deadly terror he felt.
He tried to talk, but could only utter
/ inarticulate sounds and point with his
trembling hands
The negroes, with a wall of terror,
dashed down their ivory and prepared to
fee
''Shoot the first man that runs, > I cried
Now into the bushes quick. all of you!"
The jungle was heavy at this point, and
in a moment our party was hidden beneath
I its cover. and none too soon, for we could
already hear voices in front.
NV force was small. as | have said. and
| preferred, if possible, to escape a conflict
with the Arabs, whose number was uncer-
tain. and gain the gunboat with my pris-
oners. The negroes were unarmed, with
! the exception of Zuba, who carried a great
/ knife, so | put them in the rear of the
marines and left the Portuguese in Zuba S
! care.
We scarcely ventured to breathe, but
! crouched down to the ground holding our
arms in readiness for an attack. The
/ dreadful sounds came nearer, and soon,
| peering out through the bushes we saw a
formidable body Of Arabs passing along
the path. Their leader was powerful
fellow with huge scar across his face.
stuck in their belts. while every man car
ried a bunch of chains that clanked harshly
as they hurried past
The party was a large one, comprising
/ forty Or fifty men, and their presence here
made the guilt Of the Portuguese as plain
as day. They were fastening to an APP
pointed rendezvous.
All would have probably gone WELL and
| the negroes would have reached the gun
| boat in safety, but as the rear guard of the
| loud shout Before he could repeat it Zuba
felled him to the ground, but it was too
late; the mischief was already done,
The Arabs grouped together for mo-
ment in CONSERVATION, and as they hesitated
J Of l15c Cn5
his body. His uniform betrayed our char
acter and the Arabs. spurred on by their
fierce hatred of the English, poured a ran
dom Of fire into the Jungle.
One of the marines fell and terrible
cries of agony arose from the poor blacks.
Then we gave them an answering volley,
and with deadly effect But. reckless of
danger, they closed up and swept down
upon us in adense mass.
Our fire raked down the foremost row,
! but their onslaught was so fierce that we
| fell back towards the river and gained the
| shelter of heay timber, where from behind
! trees we picked off the reckless Arabs that
| exposed themselves to our fire. Encum-
bered with helpless negroes, our. situation
was desperate.
| concluded to retreat still nearer the
creek, for the firing must shortly bring as
sistance from the gunboat The Portu-
guese were dragged resistingly along, and
soon we reached a comparatively open
space where already the forest began to
slope towards the water
But the crafty Arabs had stolen march
on us, for as we started to cross the open,
a Struggling fire was poured In ON us from
all sides, and the poor negroes began to
fall thicllly: It was more than they could
stand, and in frantic terror they scattered
and fled directly into the midst OF
their foes. They were lost [ saw at a
glance.
Every second was precious, and we were
about to make dash for the creek, when
a hearty cheer arose above the din. and UP
the slope came a file of marines, led by
Lieut. Osborne, and driving the Arabs to
right and left. We joined forces and
charged the enemy. who fed in confusion.
but, sad to say, bore off with them half of
the negroes.
We found CASTILLO lying dead with a
bullet through his head fired by his own
friends; but Torres and Zubar were both
missing. The Arabs still greatly outnum-
bered us, and their knowledge of the
ground gave them decided advantage
/ We started to march toward the creek,
|
along the bodies of our men, and picking
up on the way half dozen of the terrified
natives who had been in hiding.
A few struggling shots were fired at US
but we pressed on unheeding.
Osborne and | were in advance, vher
suddenly he lifted his hand
Listen" he said. "What is that?'
i Off to our right, bushes were cracking
and we could hear voices raised In anger
| was sure recognized the sound o.
Torres struggling In deadly combat. Be
fore we could reach the spot the enrageC
negro wrested himself from the grasp O.
the Portuguese, and drawing his knife
buried it in the unhappy wretch's breast
''See. said he springlng to his feet
at is right he die, when my people he be
trayI'
| We tried to seize him but with CRY
he sprang into the forest and disappear
ed.
Torres was stone dead: and, leaving hin
where he lay at the foot of a tree. we hur
ried on to the creek and reached the boat;
in safety.
The Arabs must have been in close pur
suit, for a heavy fire greeted us from shore
as we rowed out to the gunboa+s. A few
rounds of cannon, however, soon drove the
enemy back.
| Before night we were gliding under full
stream down the creek, for my orders were
imperative and admitted of no delays
much as l would have liked to punish The
Arabs.
The Racer at once organized an expedi
ton to start inland from the coast. for
was satisfied that a slave station existed IL
the vicinity. While the preparations fol