The Portland daily press., 1896-04-04

and loving subjects OF his Majesty, who
had, through no fault of their own, in
CURED his displeasure, and had in cense'
quenoe been swept from their homes, and
were held for sale. Others were the visi-
bic fruits of raids on his unpreparsd
neighbors. Where both parties were
eager to trade there was but little cheap
ening or haggling over prices. The own
er wished to dispose of his stock, which
must be fed, even if but lightly. and to
get possession of the equivalent, and the
American wished to procure bis load with
the least possible delay and leave place
where danger lurked in every passing
breeze, not only from the dread coast
fever. but also in the shape of the armed
cruisers.
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY
FIVE SLAVES
were contracted for, all able bodied men.
and women, in the proportion of about
two of the former to one of the latter, to
be delivered 'free on board" (if the lam
guage of legitimate trade can be applied
to the transaction), and the risk of land
ing the stores, paid from the vessel, to be
assumed by the shore parties. Every
thing to go on shore had to be enclosed
in tight Gases and landed through
the surf, and nearly half day was at
times required to Eget barrel safely on
the beach. For the number of slaves
stated the price paid was ninety casks of
rum, eight CASES of cotton cloths. and 49,.
$40 in gold. the latter for the Portuguese
middleman.
The new cargo was brought off in the
long, narrow dug-outs of the coast, clad
in natures full Dress and slowed away
between decks, the sexes separated, and
all ironed at the ankles. A lookout was
kept at the masthead to watch for cruis-
ers. one Of which, carrying English
colors, was known to be on the coast not
far distant, and had once paid the Clotilde
a visit, but had respected the flag and
had not searched her. Loading proceeded
with all possible haste, and all but one
| canoe load were on board. and that had
left the shore when, early one March
morning. the lookout gave the warning,
'Sail hon Springing into the rigging
the supercargo was soon at his side and
saw not one only, but two vsssels slowly
creeping out from bohind point not
moro than six miles distant. He knew
them at once to be cruisers. His infor-
nation caused a furry below.
Most of the crew wanted to abandon the
in, md frxyt 10 nh, lo IL,
proceeding IT, get into tho boats when the
supercargo reached the deck. He at once
assumed command, order the cable cut,
and, pistol in hand, drove the crew to
the work of making SAIL confident as
he had the wind in his favor. of outsail-
ing the patrolling vessels. In a very
short time the schooner had steerage way
on her, and in ten minutes more was
pulling off the coast at an eleven-knot
rate, and in less than three hours had
passed out of view of the pursuers. Not
another sail was sighted during the pas
sage. AS soon as she was fairly off the
coast the
CARGO WAS DIVIDED INTO GANGS,
one of which was allowed to go on deck
at time for an hour each afternoon,
when the water allowance, about one and
one-half pirts each was issued, and the
portion of vessel occupied by that COM
pany was washed, the work being done
by mem bers of the gang. Food was is.
sued twice each day, and judging from
the accounts of tie survivors, more than
usual care seems to have been taken to
keep them in condition.
OF course, nothing had been heard on
this side from the schooner since her de-
parture, and her return as scarcely ex-
pected, when one fine Sabbath morning
early in April, four months and nine days
from the date Of her departure, foen-
decked horse was pulled up at the gate of
Capt. Meaher's house, three miles north
of Mobile, and his rider announced her
arrival in the lower bay. Though unex-
pected at SO early date, her return had
been provided for. OF course. her cargo
could not be publicly landed, but must
be hidden until other evidences Of the
voyage could be disposed of. The Captain
OF a fast tug was hastily called from his
pew in church, and told that the services
of his boat were required to land a per-
ishable cargo waiting for him down the
bay. The Czar, a steamer owned by
Capt. Meaher, was fired up and ordered
to proceed to point below the mouth of
the Tombigbee. keep steam up, and wait
for orders. The regular Montgomery
packet, the Tansy. which Capt. Meaber
commanded in person, was ordered to
leave at her regular evening hour under
charge of her mate, but not to have sup
per served until Capt. Meaher came on
board.
The Clotilde was towed past the city,
presumably to a fresh-water anchorage
above, but as soon as the tug left her she
was taken in tow by the Gar and hauled
over into Spanish River, an arm of the
Mobile emptying into the bay on it's east
ern side. Her living freight was trans
ferred, and she was then fired and scut-
tied. A guard was left to watch the spot
and see that no wreckage foated down
the channel. The Czar made all possible