The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-31

| lampliBht was to the following effect:
| you have my orders, Immediately after
the receipt OF the present to run into the
/ river with all the boats. About five miles
up you will find slave brig, which you
must capture. quite near, on the bank
! is a barracoon erected, full of negroes
| must prevent their being driven further
! inland. The traders are numerous and
may offer a desperate resistance have
however, sufficient confidence in your
courage to believe you'll lead the attack
! CALAMITY and overpower them"
Lieut. King read these lines greatly agi-
tated. lie seized hold of his pistols and
leapt into the pinnace. The next moment
we were rowing, about one hundred strong
toward the river. With smothered oars
we entered the river, observing every pre-
caution to avoid giving alarm. Thus we
rowed four miles, when the shouts on
shore let,us know that we had been dis
covered, and soon after shots were fired
at us from both banks. We kept IN mid
stream, as il would have been foolishness
to enter into an engagement before we had
reached our goal The wild shouts and
shooting increased as we neared the brig
Suddenly, in the distance, a huge flame
shot up intoethe heavens, at first flicker
ing and uncertain. then, as we rounded a
corner of the river. so high and bright
that the red, binding light illuminated the
had, however, no time to gaze at the
grand sight, for the brig lay there with
her graphing irons ready, and received us
with a sharp cannonade, which however,
did us very little damage.
We rowed alongside, and in a jimy the
brig was In our possession, as the lubbers
soon took to their heels. Lieut. King left
some Of his men on board, and with the
rest sprang into the boats and rowed to the
bank, which was swarming with bandits
cursing, yelling, and shouting like mad
men.
The aforementioned confagratlon rose
out Of an extensive wooden building Gov
cred with canvas, which stood enveoped
in flames ! was In the last boat; never
theless I detected on the top of the burn
ing roof the straight and motionless figure
of a man.
A gust of wind drove the flames and
smoke In front OF him, 80 that all was lost
to view.
Then heard Lieut.. Kings voice Of thun-
der.
Forward. menr' shouted he, excitedly
Forward The devils have captured the
captain, and are burning him alivel For
ward, my lads forward! Hurrahl'
The boats grounded on the bank and we
leapt out, Lieut.. King ahead OF all. They
made desperate resistance but nothing
could Withstand our onslaught. In less
than no time the bandits were overcome
annihIlated; but then we saw a spectacle
which made the blood run cold in our
veins
High up on the slave tent stood our cap
tain tied to a post, bareheaded, pale ana
silent, but no sign Of fear In his calm, pale
face. our efforts to rescue him were SUI
pernatural. but IN vain Three OF our
sailors, on board ship the most reckless OF
fellows, found their death In The flames In
their heroic efforts TO save their captain
In vain; the fire was inextinglHshable; the
building at length fell in. and Capt. Robert
Hurst disappeared in a storm Of cracking
sparks IN the midst Of the ruins As we
drew him out Of tho still burning timber
he hreathed his last, and on his distorted
features rested an expression OF calm
resignation. Lieut.. King fell on his knees
before the corpse, and with tears In hts
eyes begged forgiveness for his unjust
charge Of cowardice. In the captains
pocket-book were found the words, writ
ten IN pencil.
Whoever continually follows the
prompungs Of his conscience need fear
neither the judsmeat Of men or DEATH"