The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-08-11

ohu Woo uuIliuR b16m at GQ0 negro aa
he continued to fire.
At the fourth or fifth shot the sap
tain fell with q scream. The negro
ran up and gave the body o kick; II
did not move.
/ was so horror.stricken 1 could not
stir hard oy tooa.
Apparently the Negroes rifle was
empty. He laid 1t down at his feet
and drew his revolver, looking sharp.
~ forward. In q moment the other
Two sailors and the cook appeared out
OF the forecastle hatchway. The first
OF the sailors, seeing the negro with
revolver raised, leaped for tho bull,
warks as IL to jump overheard. The
negro fired and he fell. The second
sailor lodged behind the galley, but
the cook was shot dead at the hatch
way.
Then the negro ran around the gal
ley and shot the sailor hiding there.
No one capable of resistance was left
above deck. l heard the negro ohuokle
as he reloaded his rifle.
One of the prostrate sailors was
moving slightly and another was
grooming. MoField walked over tc
where they lay, cursed them horribly
spat In their faces and fired two OF
three shots into the head Of each.
When he walked Off he stopped
where the captain lay, kicked the mo.
tionless body, spat in the dead face,
and then did a horrible and unneces.
sary thing. The negro, laughing as
he did 1t, thrust the muzzle Of his re.
volyer between the teeth of the dead
captain and fired, bursting open the
dead skull.
PASSENGERS LINED UP AND SHOT.
At this awful sight 1 nearly fell
from the ladder. l was caught by
Mr.. Rose, my sisters husband. Both
OF them had come up behind me. Mr..
Rose got This head above the hatch
way. He said:
He's coming. Qlckl Help me
cover the hatchway."
My sister and l tried to help him
drag the heavy hatch over the open.
ing. There were bolts to fasten it
down. But the negro was too quick
for Us. Rushing up with rifle and re-
volver In his hands he kicked the
hatch far away. Then, as he covered
us with rifle, while his eyes cleaned
savagely, he shouted:
Get down there, and be quick
about It'll"
We tumbled down the ladder, fol-
lowed by the most horrible curses.
He came after us, drove us into an
empty cabin and locked the door.
We heard him ordering the Bodden
girl and little Annie Connors to stay
where they were, and a little later we
heard him in the captains quarters
MISUNDERSTANDING at the lock Of
the strong box containing the gold Ii.
was after.
This kept up for at least an hour.
We were frantic with fear. And my
sister, who had left her baby in her
cabin, didn't know whether 1t was
dead or alive.
At last the negro opened our door,
pointed his revolver at us and ordered,
Get out!"
Mr.. Rose sprang at bis throat, but
was knocked censeless by q single blow
Of the black mans fist. When he
came to the negro compelled us all tc
stand with Our backs to the wall.
had rushed to our cabin and had my
sisters baby in my arms. Adela
Bodden and Annie Connors stood there
with us.
Suddenly, without a word, the ne.
gro raised his revolver and fred twice
My sister and Adela Bodden dropped
to the floor. They were dead.
Screaming, / stopped over them
with the baby In my arms. The ne
gro seized me roughly by the shoulder
and Missed In my ear:
SHE BEGGED TO BE SHOT.
Just keep quiet and you will be al
right want you"
/ cGnnot repeat the few other word.
ic said. l begged him to shoot me,
But he would not.
He ordered us on deck-Mr. Rose
Miss COnnors and I. We went, [ Still
carrying the child, which was only si1
months old.
Then Mr.. Rose, at the negroes com
mand, lowered the dory, In which the
murderer had placed a bag of the golG
he had stolen from the captain's
chest. Keeping his rifle pointed at us
he ordered us into the boat. At his
command MIR. Rose chopped a hole In
the side Of the ship at the water line,
so that she began to fill and was sure
to sink.
While Mr.. Rose still held the axe
the negro shot him through the head
and threw his body overheard.
There were loft now only Annie
Connors, the baby and l. We crouch.
ed In the bottom Of the boat. The
negro rowed for a while toward the
shore. Suddenly he threw down the
oars, snatched the baby from my
arms, tore at its throat like a savage
animal, and then with a grinning
chuckle, threw the little creature far
out into the sea. The next minute he
had pressed the muzzle OF his gun
against Annie Connor's head and
Tired. She died at once.
Then the negro rowed again for
quite awhile toward the mainland. |
could see the shore growing nearer. l
am a good swimmer, and made up my
mind to Jump overheard and try to
escape. The first time 1 tried to dive
over the thwart l fell into the ne.
gro's arms, l was so weak with fear.
He thrust me back. After awhile l
tried again and found myself in the
water. out Of his reach.
Come backl" he shouted. "Sharksp'
Without stopping to think, l started
back toward the boat. Suddenly the
negro, who had one of the heavy oars
In bis hands, brought 1t down on my