The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-01-03
From hc Eaeiish Aanuaf for 1898.
THE DESERTER SLAVE,

THE DESERTER SLAVE.
1t will have blood they say blood will have blood.
Shakespeare.
In the year 1920 frigate, in which the
writer of these pages was an officer, visited
Porto Bello, and remained there three days.
As a lady and family was going on board pas
sengers to the Havannah, some little hustle
occurred on their embarkation, which took
place about sunset After the lrigate was
under way several things were reported mis-
sing, consisting of various family utensils,
which il was ascertaincd had been purloined
by the men of the boat which had brought
them on board; after some difficulty the pro-
perry was restored, when it was discovered
that one of the crew, slave, was no where
TO be found His master was in a canoe along
side whilst search was making to no purpose,
and vowing vengeance on the wretch should
he be found and he unwilingly left the ship
without his property, in the hope his slave
had returned on shore by some other convey
ance. Such, however, was not the case, as
the unfortunate black made his appearance
after the ship was out Of sight of land, hav-
ing been concealed, or damned in as the sal
lors call it, between the pumps in the Storage
on the lower deck for twenty-four hours
What between fright and exhaustion the poor
fellow was scarcely able to stand, and even
in that state, hcwever cruel it may appear, he
was ordered TO be put in irons as runaway
slave, until an opportunity should offer for de-
liyerng him up 10 some party who would I'M
dertake TO send him back TO the master he had
escaped from, and where, indeed, severe
doom awaited him should he be so transferred.
Such was the law, and to have infringed it
would have been more than an officers CON-
mission is worth. Let it be understood, that
although compelled TO do his duty on every
occasion, the breast of the officer who gives
so apparently harsh an order is by no means
devoid of the feelings of humanity, and in this
instance the descrter slave, although in con-
finement, was kindly treated and fed almost
entirely from the officers table.
Late at night, when the crew, excepting the
watch on deck, were in their hammocks, the
master at arms was desired TO bring his negro
prisoner quietly below, and leave him in the
surgeons cabin until further orders; and there
in the presence Of myself and the frigatc's
doctor, the following story was told. How far
the slave exaggerated or cxtenuated is of little
consequence, but his story shall be rendered
into plain English, for the convenience Of
the readers who are not conversant with
West Indian patois, which is indeed apt to
puzzle folks uniniiiatcd The narrative ran
thus
"On the estate Of Monsieur Pichaud, on
the island of St. Domingo, | have my first
recollection | was a slave without a friend
or protector. Who my parents were never
knew, and most likely never shall know-that
is now a secondary interest with me, since to
find them would be most likely to find them
in slavery, state most abhorrent 10 my soul.
do not think was brought from Africa, as
nothing has ever crossed my mind which
could give me an early idea Of voyage by
sea, and the cruelties inflicted on the slaves
during those voyages are, as have heard, not
| likely TO be forgotten.
"Monsieur Pichaud was kind when on his
estate and took care that his Inexperienced
good Treatment, although he spared them not
as 10 the quantity of work TO be got through
in the cane patches, in the mills, or in the
culture Of his grounds, because he was fond
of amassing money; but it was very different
when he was absent from home. Then, we
had not only more work to perform, but Sc
we're chastisement, and often without in the
least deserving IL
1.-TWO overseers, one French and the other
| Dutch, became particularly obnoxious 10 The
/ slaves for their harsh and cruel behaviour. -
| No one dared TO complain to Monsieur Pr
chaud on his return from fear Of the conse-
oucnces when he would be again absent; yet
curses, not loud but deep, were muttcred in
secret and The cruel slave drivers, had some
cause 10 feel tho vengeance ofuurbulent spirits,
which had been for some time curbed, but
not broken.
Il was then too young 10 be admitted
among the elder slaves when they held their
private conversations, but was desired TO re-
tire with the women, and those children OF my
own age who did not always have their din
ner in the fields, which is the custom for the
men slaves in general; yet could not help