The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-21

EVERY NAN o HIMSELF.
" allowed two ships flying the American
flag to go past US and sail inland. We were
almost positive they were %slavers. but
managed to control ourselves until the
proper time.
ssThe fact that the Marion had sailed
away from the coast and that my vessel.
the Antelope, had not molested them,
made the slavers bold, and they took little
pains to conceal their identity.
.When the Marion returned, the two
slave ships had reached the height of navi-
CATION on the Kongo river and were
caught like rats in a trap. We had re-
ceiyed information that at least 1000
slaves were OIL hand ready to be loaded on
tho two vessels, and we We're all sure OF
capturing big prize money.
ssBefore making the attack on the slay-
ers the Marion aud Antelope camezto an
Choir OF sharks point just at the entrance
to the river, whore the captains OF both
ysssels decided upon a plan of operation.
s.It was eventually agreed that the Ma
rion, being a sailing vessel, should remain
where she was and guard the entrance to
the river, while the Antelope. being a
steamer of good speed, should assume as
much as possible the appearance OF an
American vessel, proceed up the river and
capture the slayers.
"Whon all was ready the stars and
stripes were hoist | over the Antelope and
Second Lieutenant Whiting of tho Marion
was put in command. This brave officer
was the Rear Admiral Whiting who died
a short time ago. a fully equipped cutter
and crew from the Marion were detailed for
service on our vessel. OF course there was
a good deal of growing on the part of the
boys who bad to remain behind, but this
was all made up later on.
tAs we had been up the river many
times before, cur captain knew every part
of it. Consequently we made the best part
of the journey OF night with lights out,
and fortunately had the wind against us,
so the dumping Of our paddles did not
alarm the slavers. When we reached a
point where we could see their lights. we
came to a standstill and then sent lines
ashore and laid up for the night behind
the shelter of a point of land thickly COW
cred with palms and tropical vegetation.
This spot was known as punta de Lima.
sFrom where we were tied up we could
walk along the shore for q short distance
and get a plain view of tho slavers. Both
were big three masted ships of at least
LOCO tons each, which in those days was
a monster craft. They made a beautiful
picture as they lay on the placid water in
the silence of tho sultry tropic night. But
whom We had listened a few moments we
found it was not all silence. The sound of
a guitar and dancing feet reached our
ears, mingled with ribald songs and the
blinking of glasses. Slavers always had
plenty of money and their sideEoards were
loaded down with the best to be had.
Whom ali was looking well with them,
wine flowed like water.
ssOf course nothing could be done that
night, but what we had seen had satisfied
us that. tho slayers had not the least idea
of our presence.
at was decided not to make the attack
until vo d seen something that would
be discriminating. We had not long to
wnit. Before tho sun was an hour high
next morning the slayers had begun the
work of loading.
ssOne part Of the crow was sent ashore
to get the slaves u of the c~orrHls, another
took them ont to the ships in boats and o
third remained on board to stow them
away.
"From tho first the air was filled with
tho cries and lamentations Of the poor ne
groes. The Save drivers were rot Infected,
however, for they used the whip on the
slightest prosocation, and many a poor
wretch was carried aboard with his back
dripping with blood. Hero bic was thrust
Town into tho sitting bold, and II he
showed the slightest characterization was
put in chains.
aAl this we could plainly see through
a glass from our sheltered position on the
opposite shore. Nothing moro was reces-
sary. The atfack would DO made at once.
1T 60 hraDened, however, that the
SLAYER 5 capta4n became suspicious OF some
thing down Cur way. Possibly a wreath
II smoke attracted Iii sattention, or il may
be that some one ashore Easa seen us and
carried the news TO him. At any rate the
first thing VIC knew a boat put out from
one Of the ships and began puiling GOWN
aLicutenant Whiting made up bis MIND
Is an instant and without waiting e
launch the Gutter jumped into q dlngey
that was tied np n~carssnose ala efs, ~. fo,'r