ST. HELENA 267 



health ; that two births occurred on the passage, so that 208 reached 

 Jamaica. 



St. Helena Gazette, September, 1845. 



We learn from our vessels of war stationed on the Western Coast 

 of Africa that from 1st April, 1844, to 6th July, 1845, no fewer than 

 seventy-five slavers have been captured by them, the Americans 

 having during the same period captured one slaver, making a total 

 of seventy-six captured vessels during a period of fifteen months 

 and six days. 



Commodore Jones, the senior officer on the station, arrived here 

 in the steam frigate Penelope from Ascension, having left that 

 island on Monday last, reports the death of Lieutenant Horatio 

 F. Elliott, of H.M.S. Albatross. Mr. Elliott was on his way to 

 this island with a prize crew of H.M.S. Albatross, and when within 

 a short distance off the island provisions fell short, and finding 

 it difficult to beat up, they put back into Anna Bona. After obtain- 

 ing what they wanted they sailed for St. Helena, when fever broke 

 out and carried off Mr. Elliott and five men. Mr. Elliott was a pro- 

 mising young officer and son of Rear- Admiral Elliott. 



Desperate Resistance of a Slaver, attended with Loss of 



Life. 1845. 



On the morning of the 24th May, H.M.S. Pantaloon, then cruising 

 in lat. 4' 30" N. and long. 3' o" E., made a sail, distant about five 

 miles on the weather bow. It being dead calm at the time three 

 boats from the Pantaloon were speedily manned, and sent after the 

 stranger, which was soon ascertained to be a slaver. When the 

 boats got within a mile of the prize — which turned out to be a 

 Polacca brig (name unknown), of 320 tons, with six guns and forty- 

 seven men — she hauled both courses up together, and fired a 

 shot which fell short of our boats. She then commenced firing 

 grape and round shot in good earnest without however doing 

 any mischief. When our men were about a cable's length off the 

 slaver, they gave three hearty English cheers, such as forebode 

 destruction to all who resist, and swept alongside. Two of the 

 boats made for the bows of the brig. Lieut. Lewis de J. Prevost, 

 who commanded, ran his boat under the bumpkin brace. Mr. 

 Crout, the master of the Pantaloon, at the same time gained a 

 footing over the bows and the prize was boarded, not however 

 before three of our gallant tars were wounded, in return for which 

 one of the rascals was shot through the forehead. 



The third boat, with the boatswain, attempted to board from 

 the main chains, and being much exposed, had the misfortune 

 to lose two men, he with three others being wounded. Our men 

 had no sooner a fair footing on deck, than the crew vanished as if 

 by magic; their fight was over, the cowardly rascals having done 

 enough mischief for one voyage. Mr. Crout, on getting on board, 

 was saluted with four muskets, fired close to his face, by which 

 he was nearly blinded. Mr. Prevost likewise had some narrow 



