The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-03
WITH THE AID OF A DOG.
HOW A SHIPS DECK WAS CLEARED
OF A LOT OF DAHOMEYANs.

CHARLESTON, S. c., Aug. 27.-A Paris
dispatoh to the Times Of Aug 10 announc-
ing the bombardment Of the entire coast Of
Dahomsy by French naval forces, and the
invasion and destruction OF interior Da-
homeyan towns by French naval brigades.
had an interested reader in Capt. Frank G.
Bonneau Of Charleston, the famous confed-
erate blockade runner of the last war who.
in 1858. on the Dahomeyan coast, escaped
ca pture by the merest accident.
In 1858 Bonneau, having completed q
cruise in the United States navy as secre-
tary to Commodore lngraham, and being
desirous of some active work, obtained the
command Of u handsome brig, the Jehosse
Of Charleston, 8. c., and under lnstruc-
tons from the briggs owners made a run for
the African coast. Trade was brisk on the
African coast in those days-so brisk, in
fact, that ell the principal powers kept war
shlps on the station looking out for just
such craft as Bonneau commanded. Bon
means account of his experience on the
Dshomeyan coast is best given as told by
him TO the Times correspondent.
ut was in 1882 said Boaneau, "while
living With the Jehosse at Cape Coast
Castle, that formed the idea OF running
down for a look az the southwest coast, as
that part Of Africa known as Dahomey is
STYLED. was worried about approaching
Porto Novo, the place the French have lust
bombarded, because of the warlike tribes
that infested the whole country in and
around that port. / was told that repeated
efforts had been made TO establish palm oil
station at Porto Novo, but that Iuaco
Qua, the head tribesman OF the country,
had prohibited all nations from even max
ing landing. This Iuaco Qua, was in
formed, was the most bloodthirsty savage
on she coast. 1t had long been his practice
annually to celebrate his "yam FEAST by
an Inauguration of the most horrible and
bloody tragedies in honor of the occasion.
His throne was built upon the skulls of
hundreds of prisoners, all murdered In his
presence and dispatched In a cruel and
6endish manner known so we'll to the brute
Despite the stories heard of the Daho-
meyans | determined to run down their
coast, and 80 on one hot morning at about
10 o'clock was standing in on the starboard
tack, with Porto Novo close aboard. The
coast in the vicinity was rough and high,
broken here and there by deep ravines and
marked along its entire stretch by high
crags. In the interior high mountain
ranges could be seen stretching far away TO
the southwark and eastward. The wind at
the time | was standing IN was extremely
light. l made grave mistake in approach
ing suspicious coast under such conditions.
1t would have been wiser had l waited for
the slrong sea breeze which regularly sprang
up later in the day, coming always from
the southwest
las continued to head in on the star
board tack shortly made out ahead three
canoes putting out from the land, each
canoe containing twelve to thirteen men.
Fearing nothing from these few craft, /
allowed them to approach the briggs side
and began to question them about the coun-
try. had an interpreter aboard whom |
secured before making the present cruise.
while engaged in questioning the canoes
alongside, my attention was called by my
people to several larger canoes seen to be
approaching from the shore, each one con-
tanning no less than twenty-five men. and
IN one boat in particular appeared to be
some officer Of rank.
THE first boats that had approached
made no signs Of q desire to board the brig.
che fellows in the canoes apparently con
tented TO keep close up to me for q look
only. But now on the approach of the
larger canoes just observed the boats near
BY pulled right alongside, and without any
further ado every man that could climbed
up over my rail and jumped on deck. The
manner in which these fellows landed them
selves looked suspicious did not fancy it
at all. No sooner had they planted their
feet upon deck than they bagan asking as
to what we had to sell and what we wished
70 buy, and then soon followed up their in
qulries by demands for rum, and this they
did without any attempt at asking for 1t.
The sudden, suspicious actions of these
black fellows caused me quietly to pass
word among my crew, and at the same
time | saw to it that each man had his piss
tol and cutlass ready at hand. at once or
dered the briggs wheel put down, and passed
the word TO take stations for lacking ship.
To my great relief the former light breeze
was now freshening. No sooner, though,
had given the order to tack than there
was peculiar movement observable on
the part Of those who had boarded me. aud
at the same time every canoe about the
brig commenced pulling in alongside, their
inmates catching hold Of every available
rope hanging over the side and swinging
themselves up and on board.
The brig at this time was under top
gallantsails. gave the order to loose and
set the royals, and to hoist tho lower stay
sails, for | found l had now no less than
sixty blacks on my decks, and
nearly every one of the brutes had man
aged to get on board Will the brig was in
stays.
"As glanced forward at this assemblage
my eye suddenly espied our bull dog, one of
the most ferocious brutes of his species,
chained under the forecsstle deck, and now
Juggling WIN all MS might az the chain
which held him. II there was any one
thing that bulldog hated it was a black.
The sight of one drove him into rage
little short Of frenzy. The blacks, no.
hced, cast every now and then q quick look
at the dog, and observed that they kept
well clear of him. took all this in in a
flash, as also saw that nothing short of
some stampede would save the brig and
iives OF all her crew, and that some
tnlnR 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
mad the brig under full control, and told
them all that merely wanted to keep the
orig's bead R.shore. Having done this,
ordered up some cases of rum, and no
sooner were the heads knocked in than saw
mat pandemonium was about to reign su-
preme Immediately they went at the rum.
pouring it down their threats like water
and in some instances one man pouring the
sntlre contents of a demijohn down the
tnroat OF one OF his fellows. Once they got
mold OF rum they refused 90 talk trade of
any Kind, and their game became apparent
II 1t had not been before.
AT 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 II the spears were about TO be passed on
ooard. Without further ado myself took
tne wheel, telling the steward who was
ulose py, to stand by to relieve me, and
kaVe the word to my meL. to fill away the