Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-09-30


that nothing short of some stampede
would save the brig and the lives Of all
her crew, aud that something had to be
done at once and done quickly.
'Just to show those on deck that l
was not afraid, backed the head yards,
for l had the brig under full control,
aud told them all that merely wanted
to keep the briggs head of shore. Hav-
ing dore this, ordered up some cases
of rum, and no sooner we're the heads
Knocked in than l saw that paudemo-
ninm was about to reign supreme. I'm
mediately they went at the rum, pouring
it down their throats like water, and, in
scSnc instances, one man pouring the en-
tire contents of a demijohn down the
throat of one of his fellows. Once they
got hold of rum they refused to talk
trade of any kind, aud their game be-
came apparent if it had not been before
cat this stage one of my crew came
aft with the word that the boats coming
up we're loaded with spears, and that it
looked as if the spears were about to be
passed on board. Without further ado,
myself took the wheel, telling the
steward, who was close by, to stand by
to relieve me, and gave the word to my
men to fill away the head yards. The
crowd on deck was by this time too much
engrossed in getting drunk to notice my
movement. In twinkle had the head
sails drawing. In another moment the
brig was keeling over under her canvas
to the tune OF an eight-knot breeze, and
the boats alongside were at the same
time cut adrift. l ordered every man in
the crew to be prepared to jump in with
hi. pistol and cutlass. For by this time
the yells of the inmates of the canoes we
were leaving behind had attracted tbs
attention of those on deck, and the latter
were Just beginning to realize their stu.
alton.
~ now turned the wheel over to the
steward in order to have my hands free,
for, as they felt and saw the brig fairly
skimming over the water, fear and anger
was at once depicted on their faces.
Some drew knives, others vaguely
looked about for the arms they expected,
all of which latter had been capsized by
the brig as she bore down on the canoe
containing them.
81 saw that the time to act had come,
and, giving the word, one of the men
forward turned loose the bulldog. With
one leap Bull seized the nearest native,
who, as he felt the dogs teeth, gave
one of the most urearthlY, piercing yelIs
1 had ever heard. Go in, menp 1
shouted to the crew, and my brave fell
lows, a mere handful, flung themselves,
cutlass and pistol in hand, into the native
mass. The yells Of the man first seized
by the dog started the entire crowd, and,
as native after native went down before
the cutlass strokes of my men, the yells,
the slashing, the terrible blood-curdling
scene was something horrible.
cat almost the first assault of the
crew the natives made a rush for me as
| stood aft. AS they came along | fired
into the mass, and then cleared myself
for the use Of the blade. AS | did so
the frenzy of the brutes seemed to reach
its height, for man after man OF them
who was unhurt sprang upon the rail
and leaped into the sea. In the distance
far behind could be seen the outlines Of
tho canoes still pulling toward the brig,
and toward these canoes those who
spraDg overheard struck out. With the
bulldog in the lead, we never stopped
the work of the blade until the last
brute had leaped over the side, and then
we cleaned up the decks by helping
what remained of the affair with sea-
toss over the side.
Gas the last remnants Of our visitors
were cleared of the decks l let the big
come up into the wind, lust to see what
they proposed doing now that VIC had
shown fight, but there had evidently
been too much scare too much drown
ing and too many missing Ito give them
an appetite for further fight, for as the
big canoes approached the scene, with
the evident intention Of picking up
whom they could, the canoemen gave
great shout, aud then, holding up for
moment their paddles and crossing them
in pairs in a figure X shape, they let fall
and slauted in for the beach.
son the briggs deck everybody, in
cluding the dog, was ready for further
tussel, the latter, in particular, being by
M means satisfied bv the punishment he
had Inflicted. think, though, that as
we began to cool down, all hands were
Glad of the end. We doubtless failed
to afford thoseDahomeyans the feast they
had fully expected in having of us that
day, for, as was afterward told by an
English Captain at Widdah, when relat"
ing to him our experience, we had q
most lucky escape. As IL was, good