CHAPTER XXXIX.
HEROISM AT SEA.
In the month of August, 1839, there appeared in
the newspapers a shocking story:—that a schooner,
going coastwise from Havana to Neuvitas, in the
Island of Cuba, early in July, with about twenty white
passengers, and a large number of slaves, had been
seized by the slaves in the night time, and the passengers
and crew all murdered except two, who made
their escape to land in an open boat. About the 20th
of the same month, a strange craft was seen repeatedly
on our coast, which was believed to be the captured
Spanish coaster, in the possession of the negroes. She
was spoken by several pilot-boats and other vessels,
and partially supplied with water, of which she was
very much in want. It was also said that the blacks
appeared to have a great deal of money. The custom-house
department and the officers of the navy were instantly
aroused to go in pursuit of the "pirates," as
the unknown possessors of the schooner were spontaneously
called. The United States steamer Fulton,
and several revenue cutters were dispatched, and notice
given to the collectors at the various seaports.
