"THE LAST SLAVE SHIP."

Evening Post, Volume XL, Issue 63, 13 September 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

"THE LAST SLAVE SHIP."

Very soon the beach seemed to swarm with moving objects, which we .could not yet distinguish. A number of long black objects left the shore., and, when through the breakers, they stopped at the small craft outside. Now we could see that the negroes were being transferred to the boats outside the breakers, from canoes which ran through them, with from four to six in each. As the boats were filled they sailed for the ship, and, ladders having been arranged, the negroes were soon coming over the ship's side ; as each one reached the deck he was given a biscuit and sent below. It seemed slow work at first, but, as the canoes were soon all launched and rushing through the surf, it presented a busy scene. The sloops were now flying to and from us, and a great many negroes were already on board at 2 p.m. The look-out at the masthead shouted — "Sail, ho! away to the southward." From the deck we could see nothing. A danger signal was hoisted at once to hurry all aboard faster ; in a short while we see from the deck a little black spot. Smoke ! a cruiser ! Another signal, a blood- red flag, was hoisted, informing those ashore of the kind of danger. If possible, the bustle ashore was increased ; our own boats were lowered, and aided materially. The approaching vessel had seen us, and the volume of smoke increased. She could now be seen, and was recognised as the Vixen with the naked eye. A signal from shore that a very few remained was hoisted ; another hour passed, and the vessel was certainly within three miles. Our boats were recalled, and the en£re fleet of sloops soon sailed towards us. Our boat 9 were hoisted, and lines thrown to the sloops now alongside. The Vixen now changed her course slightly and fired a solid shot, which passed to leeward of us beyond. At this the Spanish captain cried out, " Let go !" The pin holding the staple in the anchor chain was cut, and the chain parted. Sail was hoisted rapidly, the negr©63 in the sloops climbing over the ship's Bide, and as the sloops were emptied they were cast adrift with their single occupant, a Krooman. They scattered like frightened birds.— From "The Last Slave Ship," by George Howe, M.D., in July " Scribuer."