Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-19

from men-O1-War, and wounded bot n
by knife and bullet. As for fear, he had
| none. and was therefore just the man to
engage In such an expedition as this; If
MS piraticai notions did not impel him to
| run his cargo into Havana and sell it. L
| did not think he would do that, albeit,
conscience would not struggle very hard
| to prevent him; yet he had logged sense
of honor toward his employers although 4
| SLAYER. and perhaps pirate, he would al
| ways be true to his trust.
Mr. Bradley, this is difficult place for
man to be in he said. Il can't tight
! neither can 1 run. Them planters will
make short work of me if l am caught. In
this little stream. flight is impossible. A
| mistake on my part will cost us our vessel
| and cargo besides the lives of all hands.
| But. sir. l shall fight if found out and
mark my words--the Fillmore will make
those Frenchmen howl before the captain
| and crew go aloft on any these live oaks
! Captain l replied. this affair calls for
| strategy. and l have sufficient confidence
In your tact to believe that you will sue
i ceed. II the worst comes take to the bush
and make for my place. l can hide you so
all the detectives south of Washington
would not find you.'
| Captain Harris assented, as ne replied
Trust me. and tomorrow morning retdrn
| to your store. l will sign the bills of lad
| 'rg in blank. leave them at the store ami
trust you to fill them out correctly. and
| forward mine"
| l thought this excellent advice. and did
| leave for home. Two days after 1 went to
| Franklin on other business. The brig was
| gene. heard nothing from the negroes,
| and as there was no excitement about he
| sailing of the vessel came to believe that
| she was all right The search and patrol
| continued a few days longer and then dwin-
] died down to the particular planters iEtcr-
| ested. Wesner and myself concluded that
| for a few months we would give the EMAIL
| ciIation business a rest
Our supply of goods was running quite
| low, and as we could purchase to better adj
| vantage in New York than New Orleans,
| thought / could do better than to visit
| the former place.
When the brig had been gone couple of
weeks, l started north, via New Orleans
and Cincinnati, thence by rail to New York,
| a journey of about two weeks duration.
Upon locking over the shipping news in
| the daily papers l learned that the Fill
| more had not arrived, SO l employed my
time in purchasing goods. On the street
| met Mr.. EntwiSsle. He did not know me
| at first, but recognized me as l spoke. He
was expecting the Fillmore every Gay, as
| she had been passed off Hatteras by q Sa-
| vannah steamer and reported all well. The
| captain had instructions that the vessel
| must be anchored in the stream and her
live cargo landed at night, might as
well be discovered in Attakapas as IN New
| York.
One Sunday afternoon the telegraph re-
ported Brig Fillmore inside Sandy Hook,
and Mr. Entwissle and myself took the tug
ard went down to meet her. This tug
| manned by three men, all belonging to the
L. G.. r. r. E,ntwissle man of few
WoruS ana maze no DlunCofS. we ran
alongside of the brig, as she was he
Gained, and had anchored near the Jersey
shore. Capt. Harris was on the quarter
deck-not- tan African in sight! 'All well?"
The captain nodded and climbed
aboard. l pretty well disguised by
full beard and eyeglasses, even the cap
tain. shrewd observer as he was, did not
recognize me.
so captain, you don't know your old
frends?''
Your voice sounds familiar. but really I
don't recognize your countenance,' re-
piled he.
l had to tell him who 1 was, and raise my
false whiskers before he was convinced.
81 owe you one SAID he.
We went below and took a look at our
cargo. They were closely slowed, but We're
a.! there, and we'll
Entwissle looked grave as he came on
deck.
1T will never do to land all that crowd In
jersey" said he. THE whole country
would be in arms. No, sir, When these lads
land. Johnnie Bulls soil must hold them
inquired of the captain, in the afternoon,
for the prisoner, and learned that he was
still on board. a state room in the cabin
had been assigned him, and he had never
been allowed to leave 1t, so did not even
know the name of the vessel. That night
the captain filed him fun of WHISKY, put
$50 in his pocket, and left him senseless on
board St"ninst"n steamer. We heard no
more of him until Wesner ma: him. long
afterward, at a landing on he Nississippi
The most difficult problem was how to
land our cargo without the knowledge of
the authorities; did not know but we
We're watched at this end of the route, and
the idea of landing 100 plantation negroes
and turning them loose in New York was
| not entitled to moments consideration.
At Philadelphia arrangements could be
made for their reception, there was the
principal depot for escaped slaves, and the
officers of the underground railroad had a
building for that purpose. That night tug
boat dropped alongside the Fillmore. the
| trl y rod 70 bnr a tl,o
next night but one were landed in PhiIade-
pha. My connection with the negroes ceas-
ed when the Anti-Slavery Society took pos
session.
l had examined the registers at the hotels
to find. If possible, the name of some ac-
quaintance from Teche county that knew
of the Fillmore being at Franklin.
l found two young fellows, brothers. by
| the name of Lacroix. told them that the
brig was expected at the wharf that morn
ing and had a lot of cotton in her belong
ing to us. AS anything from Attakapas
good in their eyes. they went down with me
to see her; We three stood on the pier as
she was hauled in.
The captain gave me greeting as though
he had not me for years, wanted to
know when l left, how Wesner was, etc.
Shortly after hauling in her matches were
removed and the longshoremen commenced
unloading the cargo. l introduced the La
croiX boys to Captain Harris who seemed
much pleased with them and took us about
the vessel. The boys We're we'll pleased
| also, and left after promising to call at
my hotel that evening.
There" said Captain Harris, there go
two men who will swear that the Fillmore
brought no negroes to New York. Bradley,
you have couple of ibis"
"Captain,' l asked. why did You change
your plans SO suddenly from Grand lake
to the Teche, and how did you get the ne
groes on this vessel SO silently and quick
Typ
Mr.. Bradley" he replied, 'tke thing was
easy; the captain of the tug was an old
shipmate of mine and a friend as well. l
bought him. Five hundred dollars was the
price. You and your partner We're in a bad
box, and only a fools luck saved you from
the moose You are getting almost too bold
Look out. young men,
CHAPTER XVIII.
One bright autumn day I walked into
Bradley & WeSner's store.
Back again, ah!' cried George. "Wel-
come to Attakapas! 1 am right glad to see
you. How are our friends in New York?'
My story was short. We had realized
about $1,000 on the Fillmore cargo. includ-
ing the negroes.
Time logged along and the big stampede
was almost forgotten, except by the own
erS OF the stolen negroes and the negroes