The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-30

the vessel. 1t was what the captain
called a private venture. He would
account to the owners for all profits
of the voyage to Africa, but this lucky
stroke was his own
Many and strange were brakes ad-
ventures thereafter. For instance, at
the end of seven years Drake sailed
from the Gambia river in the brig Mi
randa, carrying a cargo of $40 slaves
under matches, the whole of which be-
longed to himself and Spaniard nam
ed Diego Ramos. But during the first
night at sea, y~eile Drake slept com
fortably in small shack built on the
quarterback, he was reused by wild
cries in the forecastle, and turned out
to find that the brig was on fire and
the fire was beyond control.
Fire on a SLAYER.
Smothering down the flames as we'll
as they could. the white men built a
raft of such spars as could be thrown
into the water, let it drift we'll clear of
the vessel, got their boats loaded with
provisions and water and then, when
all was ready. one of the crew threw
open the matches to let the negroes on
deck.
AS the blacks came yelling from the
hold, the crew laid to their oars. and
soon had the raft several lengths from
the hulk, which was by this time well
illuminated by the flames that had
burst out of the forepeak. BY the
light of the fire the negroes could see
the boats towing the vacant raft, and
they instantly plunged over and went
swimming in chase. OF course, many of
them drowned, but the strongest and
most daring reached the raft
and were safe for the time.
The crafty slavers were towing
the raft as far from the hulk as posi-
BILE in order to sift out the hardest of
the slaves-the ones that would endure
privation and then sell for most mon
ey. After the raft was we'll loaded, the
crew knocked in the head such other
negroes as reached it, and so managed
to save alive lis, all of whom were
picked up by British transport that
came along in the nick of time.
Because of his skill as a doctor.
Drake was eventually er Dloyed in
curious slave depot built by the trad
ers near Rio Janeiro-a slave hospital
in short, where the unfortunate vic
Tins of the middle passage, who were
landed barely alive, were recuperated
before they were placed on the mar
ket.
Some time near 1850 he entered the
service of a similar institution on an
island off the north coast of Honduras.
Some of the owners were citizens of
New York city. The slaves were not
only restored to health on
this island, but they were taught
the English language and how to do
plantation work "a Then they were
struggled, in small companies, into the
| United States, and sold at OF near the
market price, of domestic slaves. On
| this island Drake lived such a sober
! life, and withal made himself so use
| full, that he was eventually entrusted
with large sum of money, which he
was to carry to New York city house
interested in the business. He got on
very well with his errand until he
reached Baltimore There he began To
! drink, and at the end of a week found
| himself in a sailors lodging house al
| Fells Point. with not a dollar left.
From that time on he lived the life
of a tramp-a veritable "hobo''-until
at least he lay down in leaky garnet
over a disreputable saloon in the sail
ors' quarter of New York, to die OF
consumption. There in 1856 the Rev
Henry Byrd West, mission preacher
found him and made him as comfort
able as possible, and there he died.