Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-17

first thing we knew boat put out from
ono of tho ships and began pulling down
to us.
"LieutenaDt Whiting made up his mind
in an instant and without waiting to
launch the cutter jumped into dingey
that was tied up near shore and called for
volunteers. There was only room for four,
and was one of them. The other three
were Americans.
1.-The wind was just right, and in less
than five minutes wo had our sail up and
were Swimming along to meet the slavcrs.
This sail kept tho slavors from seeing our
uniforms, and they most likely took us for
party of explorers or detectives.
"When within hailing distance, Lieu,
tenant Whiting ordered tho slavers to lay
to, but no attention was paid to his com
mand He repeated it and was answered
by pistol ball that fortunately flew wide
of the mark.
FIRE. he called to us, and the fight
commenced.
There were ten Spaniards in the other
boat, and they were as hard looking set
of men as ever brcathed. Murderer was
written on every one OF their faces, but
they couldn't shoot.
Their first volley went by as harmless
" as if it had never been fired at all, while
ours stretched two of their men out in the
bottom of the boat. Two others were
wounded.
"Ihs scared the others, and they start
cd to make an effort to escape But oul
| sail was still full Of wind. and we hove
down on them until the two boats bumped
| together
| at was every man for himself now.
Pistols cracked every moment, and the all
was full of bullets. But our opponents
could shoot no better at close range than
they could at long. Only one Of our mel
was hurt, but not badly, while we rapidly
thinned them ont. \ young fellow III oul
boat shot villainous looking fiend WIG
was just in tho act of striking Lieutenant
Whiting with II saber. His shot had The
effect Of causing the man to fall over
| board, where he struggled for moment
and then sank from sight.
81 don't know how long the fight last
ed 1t seemed like an hour, but guess i,
was not over five minutes. | got IL crack
over the head with an oar that nearly
stunned me, but soon recovered and con
tinued to shoot. The air was full of pow
der smoke, and our boats were slippery
with blood.
lone SLAYER after being killed fell over
into our boat and nearly capsized it. We
did not stop to throw him overheard, but
kept at the other fellows until six of them
were piled in a heap in their boat.
AT this stage of the game the SLAYER in
charge threw up his hands and begged foi
mercy. The other man who was left did
the same.
Just then happened to look up ths
river and was Mortified to sec three big
ships boats loaded with men armed to the
| teeth coming toward us. 1t looked as il
| it was all up with Us now.
"'Tie those men. cried Lieutenan!
Whiting quick as a wink. and in mo
ment both of our prisoners were where
they could do no mischief
Now fret ordered the lieutenant
and we were fighting again. Bullets flew
like hail. but most of them either went b.
harmlessly or struck the boat, which wa:
soon full Of holes and began to fill witt
water We dropped one or two of The
slavcrs, but they would soon have got tn,
best of Us If it had not been for the unex
pectcd
Just as the slavers were within a hun
| dred yards of us CONSERVATION suddenly
seized them. They dropped their pistoi
and sprang to their oars They had for
gotten ali about fighting and turned al
attention to escape.
Hooking down the river, ! saw tt,
Antelope coming toward US, with the star
and stripes at her gaff.
| "A moment later l saw puff of whit
smoke at her side, and instantly one o
the escaping slave boats rose out Of thu
water, broke in two and fell with u splash
The men in the other two boats dropped
their oars and held up their hands
"Of course that ended the fight. Sinai
boats came cut from the Antelope ant
picked up the men who had been knocked
out of the boat that was struck by tn,
shot. The others were taken prisoners ant
were soon in irons, carefully Locked
tween decks.
''By this time we had reached tho tw,
slave ships anchored in the river, but hat
no trouble about boarding them. The,
were deserted by all but the slaves between
decks. These were liberated and the cap
turod ships put in charge of prize crew.
and sent to headquarters, where they wer'
broken up.
Although there was tho best of evi
dence of piracy against the slavers, it wa