Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-08

IT LOOKED AS IF WHOEVER GOT THAT
KNIFE WOULD LIVE.
climbin' the ratlin's. Tom, give US
that un about your adventure on the
coast O. Africy."
The end Of a plug of tobacco was
produced from the pocket of one pres
emit Tom bit Off chaw, tucked 1t
back In his mouth where it wouldn't
interfere with his narrative and be-
gan to humble, every listener swith
his hand to his ear.
Its only US old buffers that kin re-
alize that as late as 1855 the slave
trade was fourishin'. In 1852 | ship
ped in the Angel O. Mercy, brig rugged
and pertendin' to carry cargo O. BIZ
bles to the coast O. Africy. She fitted
at Boston. and the day we put out O.
| the harbor a number O. lean. long hair
ed, hungry lookin' men was walkin'
the deck They was supposed by them
that seen 'em to be missionaries.
~ thort 1t was all square till we got
out to sea, when the missionaries
throwed off their pious outfit and APP
peared as or'nary men. They was the
owners goin' out to Africy, true
enough. but for a cargo O slaves in
stead o. a cargo o souls, for by that
time there was some prejudice agin
the slave trade, and l dunno but that
the law didu't allow it,
Never mind the pious part of the
yarn. mate interrupted a grim old
ssE IaT tx-ith no HOh ~
WAL, we headed for the Kongo
| country. that's nigh on TO the equator,
and the sun stood right over our heads,
pourin' down heat like the fiery fur
mace that the prophet Daniel walked
! in
There was a perceptible change at
| this point in the appearance of the
| audience. They pushed back from the
fire. and one man unbuttoned his coat.
Zone night" the speaker continued,
| I'VE was lyin' at anchor in the Kongc
river. The captain and most o the
crew and the owners had gone ashore
! to make a corral of blacks TO bring
I aboard as slaves. Missionaries had
| been there before. and the owners put
on the same clothes they wore the day
we sailed. and each man took a Bible
| under his arm TO make the niggers be-
| leve they was goin' to teach EN- Unit
| ed States religion. Durin' the voyage
! I'd been made third mate and was left
/ on the ship in charge of six men to
/ keep watch ard see that no natives
} come aboard to loot the vessel.
1.-THE moon was full and the night
was hot sat out on deck In wicker
chair in my birthday toys. swingin' a
big palm leaf fan"
There was evident satisfaction on
the part of the audience at this part Of
the narrative. and the speaker was In
terrupted by such remarks as Wish
was there now" That's the climate
FOR me-" and Il feel like takin' off ny
coat" When quiet was restored the
narrative was continued.
Purity soon | saw n black spot on
the water and flashes in the moon.
light knew the black spot was a
canoe and the flashes were oars lifted
cut o. the water. Some one was row.
in and was headin' for the Angel O.
Mercy. When he came up leaned
over the gun'ale and asked him what
he wanted. He was a Niger and told
me in broken lingo that he had decoy-
ed dozen of his friends TO the bank
and IL I'd send a few armed white
men with him be could turn 'em all
over.
Il was young and ambitious to do
sumpin noble. so puts the ships
guard into boat and sent 'em to
bring the niggers aboard OF course
took risk in leavin' the ship With
only MY own protection. but young
feilers is all pluck and no sense, and J
was one o. them kind.
The boat hadn't got out o. sight be
fore | saw a canoe put out from the
shore and make straight for the Angel