The Yale expositor., 1904-12-02
A TITAN
fOriginal.l


from Virginia to kentucky. Their usu-
means OF flatboats. Ht7
Among the emigrants of that day
was Colonel Alan MacMinn OF scotch
Irish descent. His 1atboat load con-
sisted, besides stores of his wife and
daughter and three men and two NO
men negro slaves. The coloners right
hand man was an enormously strong
negro whose strength had won him the
name of Titan, though he was familiar
ly called lite. t,
The Ohio and Mississippi rivers were
infested in those days by some very
rough people. Piracy was not uncom-
mon, and there were no government
officers to check il. One, day when the
emigrant party were nearing Il settle
ment which is now the city of Louis
vile they saw a boat put off from
the shore and head directly for them.
AS soou as it drew near 1t was plain
its occupants were bent on no good.
They We're a hard featured lot, dressed
in coon skin caps and buckskin clothes,
and were all armed with rifles and pis-
tolls. However, the settlers were often
thus dressed, and Colonel MacMlnn was
not sure of these men until they had
! boarded his boat. Then they NJ once
| took possession and ordered him and
his family below, where they were
placed under guard. The negro men
3 they required to work the boat.
Tlte made ii appear that he was de-
~. al - eli, kxr
serving the pirates he might earn his
freedom. This surprised his fellow
slaves, but as soon as he was able he
told them that this was to prevent
suspicion, and he would watch for an
opportunity to recapture the boat.
The pirates, seven in number, soon
after taking their prize found them-
selves In what are called the falls of
the Ohio, part OF the river where the
current is very rapid. 1t was night
and a very dark night. Their captain
was somewhat anxious as to the safety
of the property he had become possess
ed OF, though he cared nothing for hui
man life. Among the stores on the
boat WAS barrel of rum, which his
men appropriated. lite watched them.
hoping that they would get stupid,
! but they stood an enormous quantity
OF liquor and were rather inclined to
dance and sing on deck Their cap
tain cursed them for idiots, then ignor-
ed them, trusting to lite and the two
negroes to navigate the boat. lite
stood at the big steering oar secured to
the boat by wooden pin, while his
fellow slaves were lodging the drunk
en- pirates, who were amusing thcm-
selves hurting whatever they could
find at them. The captain was at. the
front of the boat peering down the
river.
lite passed the word to his fellow
slaves that ne was about t. attack
the pirates. and they promised to help
him. Since tLc blacks were without
y any arms whatever the attempt was
hazardous and if unsuccessful would
result in Lheii death and possibly that
Of the family. When Tlte spoke the
.bpirates were separated, but before be
could act two of them had joined the
captain. However, lite made up his
mind TO proceed. lie left the three
pirates to his three men and went for
ward.
Approaching the captain as If 10
make a suggestion, he seized him
around the body. The other two men,
quickly taking warning, sprang for
lite and endeavored to pub him of.
One Of them drew pistol, but dropped
it on the deck. While he was Iosking
for lit lite succeeded in kichins his
comrade in the stomach. which para
lyzed his efforts, ana tAe negro, putting
forth all his gigantic strength, raised
the captain, in his arms and threw him
into the river. Then, taking up the man
he had kicked, he served him. like
wise. BY this time tine man looking
for his pistol found 1t, but Tite seized
il and shot nina dead. 800 -, ..-.....
!. Meanwhile. the other two negroes,
whose enemies We're separated, ran TO
The neaTst pirate, seized him and
threw him overheard. The other two,
seeing danger. got together and were
attacked by the two blacks one OF the
blacks was wounded by a shot, aud
the other was getting tie worst OF it
| when lite came up and Selling first
one pirate, then the other, threw both
overheard. At the moment man on
guard below, having heard the scuf-
fling, came out and was served in the
sane matner. 100 .--'''i 70
All this had scarcely been accom-.
plishcd VIXEN the captain was discoy-
cred climbing over the stern. but lite
pushed him back into the river. Two
others Of the pirates attempted to
climb aboard, but they were SERVED in
the same manner, and at last the boat
was free.
The colonel, being left unguarded,
pow came up from below, expecting
that the pirates had concluded to muir
der the party and had commenced with
the negroes. When he found that the
boat was in possession Of his faithful
slaves, that the lives of himself and
his family had been saved. bis graft
tude knew no bounds. He gave every
one OF them his freedom on the spot