The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-01-28
"A SHARP YANKEE TRICK.
[cornbm Magazine for DecOmber.l

sea. For twelve weary days and nights
had we, the officers and men of II. NJ.
ship Petrol (six guns, Commander b. r.
Nevlle), been cooped mp in our iron
prison, patrolling one of the hottest sec
tions of the terrestrial globe, on the look
out for slavers. From latitude 4' north
10 latitude - south was our beat, and we
dared not venture beyond these limits.
Our instructions were to keep out of sight
OF land and try 20 intercept some OF the
larger vessels which. il was suspected, car
ried cargoes of slaves from the - coast.
The ship. the sea, the cloudless sky; there
was nothing else TO see, nothing else to
think OF. Work. study, play even, were
alike impossible in that fierce, scorching
heat. Ii you touched bit of iron on
deck it almost burned your hand. Ii you
Law down between decks covered with
sheet. you awoke in bath OF perspira-
ton.
"Sail hov"
The man, in his excitement, repeated
the shout before he could be hailed from
the deck
"Where away?" sang out the captain.
1.-TWO points on the weather bow, sir"
was the reply.
That phrase about the weather bow"
was nautical fiction, for there was no
wind TO speak of and what there was was
nearly dead astern.
Keep her away two points" said Com
mander Neville, and the order was
promptly obeyed.
In a few seconds the news had spread
through the ship; and the men clustered
on the bulwarks, straining their eyes TO
get a glimpse of the stranger. Even the
stOkers, poor fellows, showed their soOty
faces ut the engine room hatchway. OF
course the stranger might be, and proba-
bly was. an innocent trader; but then she
might be a SLAYER; and golden visions of
prize money hOated before the eyes OF
every man and boy on board the Petrol.
We did not steam very fast, as, OF
course. our supply of coal was limited;
and it was about two hours before sun
down when we fairly sighted the stranger.
She was a long three-mated schooner,
with tall raking masts, lying very low in
the water. All her canvas was set; and as
little wind had sprung up, she was slip
ping through the water at fair pace.
''She looks for all the world like SLAYER,
sir" remarked Mr.. BrabazOn, the first
lieutenant, to the commander.
Neville said nothing; but his lips were
firmly compressed, and gleam OF excite
ment was in his eyes.
Fire a blank cartridge, Mr.. O'Riley,"
said he to the second lieutenant: and
signal her to ask her nationality and her
code number"
This was done, and in answer to the
signal the schooner slowly hOisted the
American colors.
''She has eased away her sheets and
luGed a point or two, sir. said the quarter
master, touching his cap.
The captain merely answered this by a
nod.
"Put e shot in your gun, Mr.. Riley"
said he. Lower your hoist and make a
fresh hoist, demanding her name"
This WAS done, but the American took
no notice.
Fire shot, Mr.. O'Riey-wide, of
course said the commander.
Again the deaiening report of the big
gun sounded in our ears and we could
see the splash Of the shot as it struck the
water about fifty yards from the schooner
immediately a flag was. run up, then
another, and another, and we saw that she
was not giving Us her code number, but
was spelling out her name, letter by letter
The Black Swan.
Just look that M in the L. : merchant
registry" said the captain to the first
lieutenant. And In half minute be had
reported-"No such name, sir"
This was something more than suspi-
cious. And the wind was rising
"hOist the signal Tor her to heave tot"
cried Commander Neville. Take boat
and half dozen hands, Mr.. O'Riley,"
he continued: board her, inspect her
papers, and come back to report. If her
papers are not in order" added he, you
may search Tor slaves; but If they are you
had better do nothing further. You
know IL is clearly set down in the Protocol
that we are not entitled to search the hold
If the papers are in order; and there have
been complaints lately against some over
Jealous officers, who have got into trouble
in consequence. 50 be careful. But keep
your eyes open. Note any suspicious cir
cumstances, and come back as soon as
you can, to report"
Before Lieut.. O'Riley reached the ship
he saw that everything about her had been
sacrificed to speed. Her spars, especially
were unusually heavy for a craft OF her
size.
The British officer was received by a
little, thin, elderly man wearing Il Pana-
ma hat, and speaking with a strong
Yankee accent.
Produce your papers, il you please"
said O'Riley. They were handed out at
once, and seemed To be perfectly regular.
What have you got on board?' was the
| next question.
General cargo-dry goods, and so on"
"Why isn't your name on the register"
"Ain't it now? Well, l guess it must be
because this is new ship. We can't put
| our name on the register by telegraph,
mister"
Just tell your men to knock off the
matches. want to have look at your
cargo"
The skipper shook his head.
'I've been de ayed long enough" said
he, "and have lost a great part of the
only wind we've had in this darned lati-
tude Tor a week"
"I'll do it myself, then" cried O'Rilev.
"Not now, sir; not with six men, lille
/ have fifteen. You have no right 10
search tine hold of a respectable merchant
man and disturb her cargo. Do you take
me for a SLAYER, or what? FL YOU must
! have the matches up, send back to your
map-of-war for larger crew, so as to over
power me, you understand, and you may
do il with pleasure. But | guess there II
be complaint lodged at Washington. and
YOU folks in London will have TO paw for
it. That's all, mister. / only want things
fair and square. within my treaty rights. F"
And having delivered himself of this
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