Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-11-14

Never mind the piOns part OF the
warn. mate" interrupted grim old
salt. Cit under way with the tightin
"Waai. 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 perceptibe change at
this point in the appearance OF the
audience. They pushed hack from the
FIRE. and one man unbuttoned his coat.
Zone night" the speaker continued.
I'VE was lynn at anchor In the KongO
river. The captain and most o the
crew and the owners had gone ashore
to make corral of blacks to bring
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 q Bible
under his arm to make the niggers be
lieve 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 I"
keep watch and ace 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 tOgs. swingin' a
big palm leaf FAM"
There was evident satisfaction on
<ho nm ~ NJ tho a udionco nj thia m RI Of
the narrative. and the speaker was in
terrupted by such remarks as wish !
was there now" ''That's the climate
for me-" and II feel like takin' on my
coat" When quiet was restored the
narrative was continued.
"Purty soon I saw y black spot on
the water and flashes In the moon
light ! knew the black spot was a
canoe and the flashes were oars lifted
out a. the water. Some one was row.
in ana was headin' for the Angel O.
Mercy. When he came up leaned
over tho 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 II I'D send a few armed white
men with him he could turn 'em all
over
II was young and ambitious to do
sumpfn noble. SO | puts the ships
guard into boat and sent 'em to
bring the niggers aboard. OF course !
took a risk In leavin' the ship with
only my own protection. but young
fellers is all pluck and no sense. and |
was one O. them kind.
1.-THE boat hadn't got out O. sight be-
fore | saw canoe put out from the
shore and make straight for the Angel
O. Mercy. There was six strappin'
blacks in her, and every one had a
paddle. I saw at once that a game
had been played on us-that instead Of
niggers bein' decoyed my men was
decoyed away from the ship to give
the niggers a chance to loot her.
"There was a small gun on the port
and another on the starboard bow.
both kept loaded in case the ongrate-
full niggers, not appreciatin' the bless.
ms brought 'em by the Angel O
Mercy, should show their teeth. l
sized up the time 1t would take for
the canoe to reach me and. SEEM |
had few minutes, made one jump
for the companionway and another
down It. Gatherin' firearms, l got
back with 'em as quick as l went
down and carried 'em to the little
four FOUNDER on the port bow. The
niggers acted as If they wasn't sure
how many men there was aboard
They had seen boatload leavin'
the ship. but hadn't spoke the niger
that had got 'em away. So they
didn't know how many was left. !
yelled to 'em to keep Off. and they
stopped paddlin' and looked up Gurus
like.
II don't reckon they spoke any
United States lingo. Anyway they
didn't say anything; but, seem only one
man on the ship, they commenced pad
dim ag'in, maxim straight for me
They had at least one gun they might
have taken from some kind white man
who had come all the way from civ
ilized land to buy ivory of 'em or
teach 'em the gospel. for one of 'em
sent bullet singin' by my ear |
hadn't time to use the four FOUNDER
which would have sunk their canoe If
could "a hit it, so l picked up a
musket and. takin' straight aim for
the hull of 'em-they all bein' in
line--fred. | dropped one man and
saw paddle fly out of the hand of
another. so l reckoned I'd put two
Of 'em out o. the fight. But ! saw
that it was too late to sink 'em with
the cannon and ! must shoot as many
as | could before they reached the
ships side fired couple more O
the muskets. droppin another man.
but in them days there was no repeat
ers. and had no time to reload
THE gangway had been raised, and
they could only climb to the deck
either by the anchor or bowsprit
chains. This helped me, cause didn't
have to defend mOre'n one position
If | had they'd have taken me in
rear. BY quick firin and sure aim
got rid of four out O. the six before
they got any hold Then | shot an
other comm up the anchor chain and
dropped him in the water But one
ugly black devil reached the bowsprit
and I'd emptied my last gun.
II TUX the barrel o. the musket |
had last fred in my two hands and
waited for the niger to come for me.
intendin' to brain him with the stock
But he fuk care tn snrinp for me