The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-03

mays instructions, our carronade had
been loaded with grape, and Tom. taking
steady aim, applied the match 10 his
piece.
flash. roar, a volume Of smoke and
away went the grape lashlng up the sur
face OF the water fair In line with a thick
cluster or canoes. through which the iron
shower next moment tore with disastrous
effect One canoe was literally rent to
pieces. every one OF its occupants, so far
as we could see. being killed: two other
canoes. one on each side OF the first were
so seriously damaged that the immediate
ly swamped. leaving their occupants
souattering I'm the water like so many
lame ducks; and three or four others
were hit, with serious casualties TO their
crews. This effectually checked the ad-
vance Of the blacks for a few minutes
during which we made good use OF our
oars In urging the boat still stern fore
most in the direction OF the island to
which We were bound, and upon which
we were now able TO distinctly make out
the shape OF a huge wooden barrack like
structure.
AS we passed on toward the island we
became cognizant Of the fact that its
occupants were in a great state of confu-
sion, and a few minutes later we saw a
long procession OF blacks, who. from their
constrained movements were apparently
move off toward the opposite side OF the
island. We were enabled with the aid
OF our glasses to detect on the island the
presence OF some ten or dozen white
men. and these individuals. carrying each
n musket I'm one hand and a whip I'm the
other. seemed TO be very freely using the
latter TO expedite the movements OF the
unhappy blacks.
We were. however. allowed but scanty
In uybi oh To fak ka Of ma +
ters. for the native canoes soon began to
press forward upon us once more. evil
IDENTIFY with the fixed determination to
surround US IL possible. and thus prevent
our approach TO the island. We knew
that II this object were once accomplished
our doom was certain for In such case
fight as desperately as we might. We
must soon be overpowered by sheer force
Of numbers, and IL consequently soon be-
came. so far as we were concerned, an
absolute race for life.
on swept the boat. our men pulling
her through the water though still stern
foremost at a pace such as she had rare
ly travelled before. and on crowded the
canoes after us. spread out athwart the
stream In the form Of a crescent. Luckily
for us. the channel at this point was not
very wide, and by keeping In the middle
OF II we were able to throw a musket-
shot clear across to either side. other
wise We should soon have found ourselves
I'm a parlous case. The greater number
Of canoes obstinately maintained a po-
sition In mid stream ahead OF us. thus
presenting an insuperable barrier 10 our
retreat down stream, whilst those on the
outer wings TO port and starboard OF us
hugged the bank OF the stream. two or
three OF the larger craft making big
squirt ahead OF the others now and then
In an endeavor to outhank us which en-
deavor however a well-directed volley
OF musketry always sufficed 10 check for
the time being.
At length we reached a point where the
stream widened out considerably, en-
ablng the canoes on each side to spread
out sufficiently far to be beyond musket-
shot, and we saw that upon the question
whether we or the canoes passed this
point first. hinged our fate. The natives,
though evidently entertaining a whole
some dread OF our carronade, were by no
means so dismayed by the execution IL
wrought among them as we had hoped
they would be. and indeed exhibited
decidedly growing disposition TO close
upon us in spite OF our FIRE: in fact our
position was at every moment growing
more critical
Very fortunately for us we happened TO
have n few ro.inds OF canister In the boat
and Mildmay now resolved 90 try the ef-
feet OF these upon the pertlnacious ma
tives. charge OF grape with one OF
canister on top OF it, was accordingly
rammed home and sent flying into the
thickest OF a crowd OF canoes Immediate
ly ahead OF u.s. Immediately succeeded by
a like dose 10 the right and left wings
OF the fotilla. The canoes were just at
about the tight distance 10 give these
murderous discharges their utmost possi-
BILE effect, and the carnage among the
'thickly-crowded craft was simply lnde-
scribable. The effect was not only 90
check their advance effectually but 30
actually put them TO flight. and whilst a
similar charge was again rammed home
by those In charge OF the gun the rest
OF the men slued the boat round on her
center, and with a loud cheer gave way
at top speed for the island.
(To be continued tomorrow.)