Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-08-11
CONQUEST OF THE KETTLES
Tale Of Ferner Naval Officer Who Is
Lsrding 1t in the Com
ere Isles.

TIE reported volcanic eruption in the
Comors Islands, OF the coast OF NADIA
gasear, serves to recall the only occa-
sion when the government of the Unit
ed States took an interest in the group,
says the New York Sun.
About Is years ago small vessel OF
the navy was ordered to call at one OF
the Islands Of this group and TO take
possession of an American merchant
vessel which had been seized by its own
crew aAd was reported TO be engaged
In the slave tracs.
The expedition was one Of the oldest
that the navy ever underto3, and its
Developments were quite beyond any
thing save the stories Of romance.
When the little man-of-war reached
the island the commander discovered
that the supposed slave dealer was no
other than a 'fermer officer of the navy,
who had obtained q rich plantation and
enjoyed the good Wall Of the neighbor-
ing sultan, an extremely dark potentate
with slaves By the hundred and power
unlimited.
So serious seemed the errand that
scouting Aasty ives sent ashore, and
the house of the PLANTER was approached
with the utmost care. In the end, all
the precautions proved unnecessary, for
the vessel was not at the island. and
the former naval officer was delighted
to see his warlike fellow-countrymen.
What the officers found was aswarthy
gentleman In tropical garments, living
luxuriously in big, comfortable, one
story bungalow, win vast plantation
eefsfFatsd By saavsA over which he was
rsHNaaG TO exercise power Of Life and
dsakk Alo4g 80 Che luxuries of the
taapkf be szsots3- many of the eonven-
isseNs - sisilfsassSz
At1ns lie sva pOstman, for once a
neeA ~ e>at a little steamer some
huH6xtAs u maes ACROSS the sea to the
nearsGb pdM sfsss md brought back
many pouads OF mail matter. His
library table was stacked with American
magazines and European periodicals,
and be was acquainted with the news
Of the day, or rather Of the month be-
fore, in all parts of the world.
An ice machine enabled him to tenn
per tha tropic heats OF his island king
dom, and he served his naval guests
with excellent and very cold cocktails
of approved make.
He also gave them good meals so long
as they visited him, and convinced some
Of them that he was physically better
of than those who follow the sea for
living.
The planter discussed the case Of the
missing merchant vessel without re-
serve. She had been an old whaler. At
that moment she was in French port
Of neighhoring island and quite beyond
the rsah of our man-of-war. He de-
nisd that he had ever used the vessel in
the slave trade.
He was good enough to point out to
the captain Of our ship number Of the
whaleS's copper kettles which were used
on the Inland for boiling sugar, and It be-
came the unpleasant duty Of the cap
tain to seize these kettles as part or the
property which he had been ordered TO
rescue.
Accordingly, after having eaten the
planters dinners and drunk his cock
tails, the captain sent men ashore to
carry of the kettles by force. To all
this the amiable planter interposed no
serious objection, and the kettles were
brought back in triumph to the United
States. Doubtless they were duly re-
turned TO the owner.
Since that time the planter has been
at least once on a visit to New York.