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

:: - E--a--,-!t
ly allowed two SHIPS flying che 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.
1.-The 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 We're
caught like rats in trap. We had re-
ceived information that at least 2,00C
slaves were on hand ready to be loaded on
tho two vessels, and we We're all sure OF
capturing big prize money.
Before making the attack on the slav-
ers the Marion and Antelope came to an
Choir off Shark point just at the entrance
to the river, where the captains of both
VESSELS decided upon Il plan of operation.
cit was eventually agreed that the Ma
ron, 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
American vessel, proceed up the river and
capture the slayers.
"When all was ready the stars and
stripes wero hoisted over the Antelope and
Second Lieutenant Whiting of the 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
good deal of growing on the part of the
boys who had to remain behind, but this
was all made up later on.
LAS we had been up the river many
times before, our captain knew every part
of it. Consequently we made the best part
of the journey at night with lights out,
and fortunately had the wind against US,
so the humping of our paddles did not
alarm the siavers. When we reached q
point where we could see their lights, we
came to a standstll and then sent lines
ashore and laid up for the night behind
the shelter of a point of land thickly GOV.
cred with palms and tropical vegetation.
This spot was known as Punta de Lima.
From where we were tied up we could
walk along the shore for short distance
and get plain view of the slavers. Both
were big three masted ships of at least
1000 tons each, which in those days was
monster craft. They made beautiful
picture as they lay on the placid water in
the silence Of the sultry tropic night. But
when we had listened a few moments we
found it was not all silence The sound OF
guitar and dancing feet reached our
ears, mingled with ribald songs and the
clinking of glasses. Slavers always had
plenty of money and their sdeboards were
loaded down with the best to be had.
When all was looking we'll with them,
wine flowed like water.
"Of course nothing could be done that
night, but what we had seen had satisfied
us that the slavers had not the least idea
of our presence.
ut was decided not to mako the attack
until we had seen something that would
be discriminating. We had not long to
watt Before the sun was az hour high
next morning the slavers had Begun the
work of loading.
lone part of the crew was sent ashore
to get the slaves out of the corrals, another
took them out to the ships in boats and q
third remained on board to stow them
away.
From the first the air was filled with
the cries and lamentations of the poor ne
grees The slave drivers were not affected
however, for they used the whip on the
slightest provocation, and many poor
wretch was carried aboard with his back
dripping with blood. Here he was thrust
down into the sitting held, and if he
showed the slightest INSTRUMENTATION was
put in chains.
"AIl this we could plainly see through
glass from our sheltered position on the
opposite shore. Nothing more was neces-
sary. The attack would be made at once.
1T SO happened, however, that the
slayer's captain became suspicious of some-
thing down our way. Possibly wreath
of smoke attracted his attention, or it may
be that some one ashore had seen us and