The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-06-24

other within a mile there was cause
for excitement. They had helped
themselves to our spare clot0ing and
thrown away Their own suits, but
there were to many men on our decks
for small brig. All but three Were
sent below, and the leader OF the
gang said to me, as he surveyed the
approaching craft:
dYou will chow our colors and sa-
lutte her. II she should hail US you
know what to answer. You can pe
trav us. but will kill you if you do!'
The man-of-War crossed our course
q mile away, and dipped the ems: gD
to her. We were only peaceful
trader in her eyes, and no one aboard
gave us the second look or thought
"You did WE'LL" said the convict,
who was called Moran by his compan-
ions. "Deal honestly by us and we
will by you"
we might retake the brig, but the
convicts would only trust US so far.
The watches were so divided by order
of Moran that our men were divided,
and two of the convicts were kept un-
der arms to act as sentries. Moran
and the second mate had quarters ait
with me, while all others berthed for
ward. ALI of us were under constant
surveillance, though decently treated.
and no two of US were ever lett alone
together. II l had planned to run the
brig into the port of Parnahyla, down
the coast, or headed up for Cayenne,
they would have been too sharp Tor
me, While none of them could take
the wheel, they kept constant watch
on the compass. They knew the
course was south by west, and If the
orig broke off point they were quick
to detect it.
The winds were light and variable,
and it was the sixth day after our cap
ture before we drew in with the coast.
Moran's orders were to avoid Para by
entering the north mouth, and when
we were fairly IN the river he told
me his plans. / was to take them IN
the brig up as far as the mouth OF the
Xingu river and they would then
pull up the stream in the yawl and
make for the diamond direction. we
were not above 30 miles into the river
when we were obliged 20 come to an
Choir for the want of a breeze. /
knew nothing whatever of the navl-
| CATION of the stream, and had no chart
Of it, but Moran insisted that we
should not take pilot. About the
| time we anchored, the demeanor OF
the convicts seemed to change for the
]
giving orders, and staggered around
! in a fashion entirely new to them. 1t
| appealed also as if three or four OF
them were anxious to pick quarrel
with our men. That evening the
second mate found opportunity to say
to me:
Depend upon it, Mr.. LenOX, they
never meant to stand to the bargain.
[ shouldn't be surprised if they were
planning to cut our Threats and scut-
tie the brig"
/ strongly suspected them or some
evil intention, but nothing came OF II
that night. Next morning we had
wind and tide III our favor, and at
noon, when we anchored again, we
had made twenty five miles. An
other twenty-five would take us tC
the mouth OF the Xingu. Right away
after dinner the yawl was lowered AND
Moran began to outfit her. His man
ner to me was very brusque and quar-
raI.ome, and avoided him as much al
possible. Whatever they though
C. ulI be made useful was placed IL
he boat, and they were rummaglhg
about the whole afternoon. At aoou
6 O'Clock Moran ordered all the ole
crew of the brig into the cabin
Every man of us at once realiZeC
that the climax was at hand, AND
aching in c0uCert we made sudden
and furious attack We got possess
ION of two of the muskets aud were
making a good fight of it, thougl
bound to be beaten in the end, whel
a Brazilian gunbOat which was Oh
her way up the river sheered along
side of us, and had grappled on before
some of us saw her. Her presence
put an end to the fight OF course
We had two men wounded, while W.
had killed one convict and wounded
a second.
Our captors were neatly trapped
but thew no sooner realized it thar
thew claimed to be the real crew OF thu
vessel, and denounced us as conVlcts
They were so earnest and emphatic
in their declarations that the com
mander of the gunbOat was almos
convinced. I destroyed their case
however, when l asked them Tor th'
captains name, our port OF hail, tn
names of the different ropes and sails
etc. They were irOned and takei
aboard the gunboat to be conveyed t
CAYENNE, while the brig was roweC
down to PEI to be put through the
legal forms necessary in such cases
The last time saw Moran he said t
me:
"Do you think we would have beef
such fools as to let you sail away
with the brig? 1 meant to lock al
of YOU in the cabin and then Gu
away her masts and scuttle her" -
Detroit Free Press.