Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-03-13
The STORY Tetler.
CAPTURING A SLAYER.
BY LIEUTENANT MURRAY.

BY LIEUTENANT MURRAY.
1t is not many years since the slave
trade was boldly carried on between
the coast of Africa and various part:
of the world. Though the English
French and American governments
Joined in their efforts to suppress the
illegal and wicked traffic id black men
it was yet carried on by adventurous
and daring spirits for years, in spite o.
all the cruisers that sailed the ocean.
The great profit to be realized ir
gold from the successful landing of 6
cargo of slaves, say in Cuba, was 6
temptation which lured all sorts o.
desperadoes to engage in the refariou:
business. The secret traffic was pur
sued in the most systematic manner
and with a skill and persistency
worthy of a better cause. Small yes
sells only were suitable to the trade
clipper crafts that would sail we'll, anG
which drew but little water.
The slave vessels were obliged, in
the prosecution of their trade, to an
chor within the mouths of rivers or
the coast, and to run in and hide them
selves in shallow creeks consequent
ly only such as drew light draughts O.
water were available. They were U.s.
ually schooner or brig-rigged, and
spread mountain of canvas in order
to drive them rapidly through the wa
ter if they chanced to be pursued al
sea.
The clippers were almost universally
built in America, and were specially
with the ship builders of Baltimore
They were rarely over $50 tons meas
urement, 200 being the maximum size
When not upon the African coast
they were so arranged, with false decks
and other appliances, as to present
the aspect of craft engaged in legit'
innate commerce, 80 that, except when
taken in the act, it was difficult to con-
yict their owners of illicit traffic.
The American sloop-of-war Peacock
had been cruising between Fernando
Po and the continent for nearly three
months without having 80 much as got
glimpse of SLAYER, in the summer
of 18-. Now and then the captain
dropped her anchor near the shore to
water the ship or make inquiries, and
once in while French or English
cruiser was spoken. There was little
variety, however, and the heat was
intense.
One day the Peacock dropped an
chor in Clarance bay, in the island oi
Fernando Po, and learned that clip
per craft had sailed from the coast ot
the mainland the previous day, and
little doubt was felt ass to her true
character she seemed to have plenty
of casks on board, which she had filed
with water, and no other cargo except
rice in tierces.
This was just slaver's outfit. Be.
sides it was also learned that she had
a crew of 40 men, number out of all
proportion to her tonnage.
The anchor of the Peacock bad hard.
ly got fair hold on the bottom before
the boatswain's whistle sounded to up
anchor and make all sail. The wind
was light and it was "a hours before the
ship sighted the mainland at a point
where several mouths of the Bonny
river empty themselves into the open
sea.
This was favorite point with the
slavers, and the fact that the mouths
of the Bonny always afforded several
channels of escape for the light draught
guilty vessels when discovered, made
it especially adapted to the trade.
The Peacock was hove to and an ex'
pedition in boats was sent out to ex,
anime the river.
Night came on, however, without
any discovery being made, and the
boats returned to the ship, which was
brought to anchor as near the shore as
possible, and in a position to command
the most available entries of the river
Orders were given to keep an extra
sharp lookout during the night, lest
the SLAYER should come down the river
and given the ship the slip under COW
er of the darkness.
These clipper craft do not approach
the coast until their cargo of human
beings is all ready, and the Negroes
are shipped in few hours time, all
made secure, and the vessels sail with.
out having been delayed in all over IL
or IL hours.
1t was just before daylight on the
morning after the day when the Pea
cock dropped anchor off the Bonny
river, that the officer of the watch
thought he heard the creaking oi
blocks aboard some vessel, and strain
ed his eyes through the darkness to
try to discover the cause of the noise
He finally made out the figure of q
brigantine as she was gliding out OF
the most distant entrance of the river.
AS had been ordered, the captain OF
the Peacock was called at once. The
anchor which had been shove short
was soon up, sail after sail was drop
ped from the yards and sheeted home,
so that with the slight wind which
swept over the water, the ship began
70 nooyo hor howc haaded for tho dim