Rock Island Argus., 1898-05-25


volunteers. There was only room for four,
and was one q them. The other three
were Americans.
"The wind was just right, and in less
than five minutes we had our sail up and
were skimming along TO meet the slavers.
This sail kept the slayers from seeing our
uniforms, and they most likely took US for
q party Of explorers or detectives
''When within hailing distance, Lieu.
tenant Whiting ordered tho slayers to lay
to, but no attention was paid to his COM
mand. He repeated 1t and was answered
by pistol ball that fortunately flew wide
of the mark.
'Firer he called to US, and the fight
commenced.
"There were ten Spaniards in the other
boat. and they were as bard looking set
OF men as ever breatbed. Murderer was
written on every one of their faces, but
they couldn't shoot.
Their first volley went by as harmless
ly as II 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.
''This scared the others, and they start
cd to make an effort to escape. But our
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 air
was full of bullets. But our opponents
could shoot no better at close range than
they could at long. Only one of our men
was hurt, but not badly, while we rapidly
thinned them out. \ young fellow in our
boat shot villainous looking fiend who
was just in the act of striking Lieutenant
Whiting with % saber. His shot had the
effect Of causing the man to fall over
board, where he struggled for a moment
and then sank from sight.
~ don't know how long the fight last
cd. II seemed like an hour, but guess it
was not over five minutes got crack
over tho 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.
''Onc 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 heap in their boat.
AT this stage of the game the SLAYER in
charge threw up his hands and begged for
mercy. The other man who was left did
the same.
Just then happened to look up the
river and was Mortified to see three big
ships boats loaded with men armed to tho
teeth coming toward us. 1t looked as if
it was all up with us now
Tic those men, cried Lieutenant
Whiting quick as wink, and in mo-
ment both of our prisoners were where
they could do no mischief
NOW firen ordered the lieutenant,
and we were fighting again. Bullets flew
like hail. but most of them either went by
harmicssly or struck the boat, which was
soon full of holes and began to fill with
water. Wo dropped one or two of the
| slavers, but they would soon have got the
| best OF us if it had not been for the unex.
| pectcd.
Just as the slavers were within hun
| dred yards of us CONSERVATION suddenly
seized them. They dropped their pistol.
and sprang to their oars They had for
| gotten all about fighting and turned al
attention to escape.
| Looking down tho river, saw tht
/
and stripes at her gaff
| "a moment later saw puff of whit,
smoke at her side, and instantly one o
the escaping slave boats rose out of th'
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. Smal
boats came out from the Antelope ant
picked up the men who had been knocked
out of the boat that was struck by th
shot. The Others were taken prisoners ant
were soon in irons, carefully locke'
tween decks
"By this time wo had reached the tw,
slave ships anchored in the river, but ha'
no trouble about boarding them. The.
were deserted by all but the slaves betweel
decks. These were liberated and the cap
tured ships put in charge of prize crew
and sont to headquarters, where they wer
broken up.
Although there was the best of eyi
dence of piracy against the slavers, it wa