The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-31 00:00:00

CAPTURE OF AN AMERICAN SLAVER.

The Key West correspondent of the _Yew Yorl,
Herald writes :—" The great event of the last
fortnight in this section of the Union has been the
capture by .the United States steamer Mohawk,
Lieutenant T. A. M. Craven, of the slave bark
Wildfire and her cargo of 520 negroes, and the ar-
rival and disembarcation of the latter upon White-
head Point, near Fort Taylor. News arrived in
the city on Sunday, the 29th, that the Mohawk was
at anchor off Indian Key, 50 :miles east of Key
Wrest, with a slaver in tow. The next morning the
Mohawk made her appearance off Booca Chica, and
at noon rounded Fort Taylor, proceeded up oppo-
site the naval depot, and came to an anchor with
her prize. The Mohawk sailed from Key West on
the 9th of April on a cruise off the eastern end of
the Island of Cuba. She steamed and sailed about
the barren keys of the Bahamas, occasionally land-
ing and procuring supplies of fish and turtle. She
also visited the Lobos Keys, and had two or three
exciting chases after suspicious craft. On the 23d
she put into the harbour of Neuvitas, and remained
there until the 25th, when she took the American
brig Pedro Sanchez Dolz in tow, the weather
being calm, and carried her outside of the reefs.
She remained in company with the brig until
the next morning, when discovering a sail in the
offing heading for the land, she cast off the brig
and made chase. There being no wind, the sail,
which proved to be a barque, was speedily ap-
proached. She was evidently an American-built
vessel, but having no name upon her stern she was
requested to show her colours, in response to which
the American flag was hoisted. As the Mohawk
ranged alongside men were observed at work in
the rigging, others about the decks—a few in num-
ber—while the captain and his officers coolly leaned
upon the rail observing the steamer's movements.
She did not look the slaver, but from force of habit,
with a spice of curiosity, Capt. Craven ordered
Lieut. Carpenter to board her. As the boat ap-
proached the vessel it was observed that no rope
was thrown out, and it was evident the visit was
not agreeable. The lieutenant, unassisted, boarded
the vessel, and was no sooner on her bulwarks than
he waved his sword, and the men in the boat raised
a shout—a signal that she was a slaver and a prize.
The moment that the slaves, who had been driven
below, caught sight of the officer's uniform (the
hatches were covered with gratings only), they sang
and clapped their hands with joy. They instinc-
tively knew that their deliverers were at hand.
The vessel was at once taken possession of by Capt.
Craven, a prize crew put on board, the officers and
crew transferred to the Mohawk, and the barque
taken in tow. The Mohawk then headed for the
Florida Keys. The barque proved to be the Wild-
fire, a handsome clipper of 337 tons, built in Phila-
delphia in 1855. She sailed from New York on the
16th of December, 1859, with an American crew,
for the West Indies. She made a good run to St.
Thomas's, where she remained eight days, and then
sailed for the Congo river. She took on board 603
slaves the night of March 21. She got safely of
the coast, and had not seen a sail up to the day ch
her capture. When they left the coast the Ameri-
can captain and crew were superseded by a Spanish
captain and crew, the former then acting as pas-
sengers. This cargo consists of children and young
men and women, the majority being from twelve to
sixteen years of age. They are in a remarkably
sound and healthy condition ; few cargoes come
over in better order than this. The negroes, since
their transfer to the shore, seem happy and con-
tented. The sick in hospital are getting well under
the kind treatment they are receiving. The United
States Marshal, who has charge of the negroes, has
placed them in hastily constructed but comfortable
sheds, built expressly for them upon Whitehead
Point, a portion of the land purchased for Fort
Taylor, but hada mile distant from t her
e thefortifiuc fortification.
The crew of the slaver have been b
efo
States' commissioner and committed to gaol."

THE LONDON "ENTERTAINMENTS."—That parti-
cular class of public amusement that goes by the distinctive
name of "entertainment" is becoming much loss extensive
than it was a few years ago. The lamented death of Mr.
Albert Smith extinguishes the most celebrated of the spe-
cies, nor is it easy to foresee what will take the place of
Mont Blanc and the expedition to Canton. Mr.
and Mrs. Howard Paul, who have exhibited their
versatile talents in song and mimic representation
nearly 1,000 times, and seemed to have grown into a per •
manent institution, have now reached their last week at St
James's-hall. On the other hand, Mr. John Parry, who
has not been heard of for something like nine years, and
may almost be regarded as the patriarch of " entertainers"
in general, is announced to appear on Monday week, as a
co-operative with Mr. and Mrs. T. G. Reed ; and on the
same evening, but not at the same place, Mr. Washington
Friend will unfold an American panorama, which he will
illustrate with song and characteristic anecdote. The
Christy's Minstrels are settled at Polygraphic-hall till the
beg,inning of August, when their enterprising manager,
Mr, 103110 r) will retire frQui Once,