3

(2/
left, there were two of our new men on
shore, Humphrey Coughlan
and Alexander Macintosh,
also two of the blacks, whose
names I don't know. The vessel
was lying achored both head
and stern lying about half
a mile or more from shore.
[struck out "About midnight"] - We kept
no watch, some of us sleeping
on deck and some below.
About midnight I was awoke
by hearing a cry coming from
the hold, and fancied the ship
had parted an anchor. I was
below and rushed on deck crying
out the ship was going on the
rocks. [struck out "We"] As I was running
I heard a sound behind me
and saw a black after me
with an axe above his head.
I then sang out to the Capt'n
that the blacks were murdering
us. I kept singing out and
the other two blacks each
having an axe came at me
and struck at me, grazing
me in several places and
cutting a piece out of my left
arm. I scrambled forward
and managed to draw my
sheath knife & made a blow
at one of the blacks but
struck the axe handle and
lost my knife. I then picked
up the grindstone and staggered