The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-09-04

expression of his eye, snd brow. His appear
ance was neat, and in cleanliness would COM
pare advantsgeousy with any colored dandy 10
Broadway. lie was calm and collected. DC
casiOna!ly he smiled with melancholy but de-
termlned expression, bat he eyinced no fear.-
At intervals he motioned with his hand that he
expected TO be hanged, and then for moment
would gaze intensely on his accusers
Lieut.. X. w. Meade. who speaks the Span
sh language, both elegantly and fiuently. acted
as an Interpreter between the Spanlards and
the court. The poor prisoner did not under
stand a word in either language, and stood a
mute spectator, although interested in the event.
Several bundles Of letters were produced.
saved from the Amistead, and such as were I'M
sealed read. The contents being simply com
mercal can be of no interest 10 the reader
Among the papers were two licenses from the
Governor Of Havana, Gen. Espeleta, one for
ihree slaves, owned by Pedro Monies, one of
the men saved, and 40 owned by Senior Don
Jose Ruiz, the other that has escaped allowing
the said slaves to be transported to Principe,
aud commanding said owners 10 report their
arrival to the territorial Judge OF the district,
in which Principe is situated. A license was
found permitting Pedro Montes, mere hant OF
Principe, to proceed to Matanzas and transact
business, which was endorsed by the Governor
Of Havana, and the officer of the port. Regu-
lar passports were produced, allowing the pas
sengers to proceed to their destination. Ii
cense was found permitting Selestino Feners,
mulatto, owned by Captain Ramon Ferrers,
aud employed as a cook to proceed on the voy-
aye. Other licenses for each sailor were pro-
duced and read, all Of which were regularly
signed, and endorsed by the proper authorities
The Custom House clearance, dated the
18th May, 1889, was produced. Also another
dated 27th June, 1889, all regular. Several
licenses permitting goods TO be shipped on
board the Amistead, were read, and decided to
be regular.
Lieut.. r. w. Meade testified that he was in
the boat which boarded the Amistead, and de-
manded the papers, which we've unhesitatingly
deliyered.-Preyious TO this demand Senor
Don Jose Ruiz had claimed protection for
himself and Don Pedro Monies, the only two
white men on board. The protection was i'm
mediately granted and the vessel brought to
! New London.
| Many Of the events which are detailed in the
narrative were omitted in the evidence as hav-
ing no bearing on the guilt or innocence of the
accused, in the present stage of the proceed
! ings.
Senior Don Jose Ruiz was next sworn, and
testified as follows. | bought 40 slaves in Ha-
vana, and shipped them on board the schooner
Amistead. We sailed for GuanaJa, the inter
mediate port for Principe. For the four first
days every thing went on well. la the night
heard noise in the forecaste. All of US were
asleep except the man AT helm. Do not know
how things began; was awoke by the noise
| This man, Joseph, | saw. Cannot tell how
many were engaged. There was no moon. II
was very dark. took up an oar and tried to
quel the mutiny; | cried no no ! | then
heard one of the crew cry murder. ! then
/ heard the captain order the cabin boy to 90 be.
low and get some bread to throw to them, il
hope to paciiy the negroes. | went below and
called on Monies to follow me, and told then
not to kill me ! did not see the captain killed
| They called me on deck, and told me | should
not be hurt. ] asked them as favor TO spare
the old man. They did so. After this they
went below and ransacked the trunks Of the
passengers. Before doing this, they tied ou,
hands. We went on our course-don't know
who was at the helm. Next day missed Capt
Ramon Ferrer, two sailors, Manuel PagilIa
and lacinto-aud Selesina, the cook We
all slept on deck. The slave, told us next day
| that they had killed all but the cabin boy saic
/ that they had killed only the captain and cook
! The other two he said had escaped in the ca
noe-a small boat. The cabin boy is an Air
can by birth, but has lived long time in Gu
ba. His name is Antonio, and belonged to th'
captain. From this time We were compelled
! to steer east ln the day but sometimes tn,
wind would not allow US TO steer east, ther
| they would threaten us with death. la tn,
night We steered west, and kept to the north
ward as much as possible. We were six o.
seven leagues from land when the outbreaE
took place. Antonio is yet alive. They woulC
! have killed him, but he acted as iuterpre
ter between us, as he understood both langua
ges. lie is now on board the schooner. Prin
cipe is about two days sail from Havana or l0(
leagues. reckoning 3 miles to a league. Some
times, when the winds are adverse, the passag,
4 occupies Is days.
Senor Don Pedro Monies was next sworn
! This witness testified altogether in Spanish
I Lieut.. X. w. Meade interpreter.
We left Havana on the 2Sth of June.
owned slaves, 3 females and male. For
days the wind was ahead, and all went well
Between / and IL at night, just as the moor
was rising, sky dark and cloudy, weather yer,
! rainy, on the fourth night. ] laid down on :
mattrasS. Between and was awkencd by ;
noise which was caused by blows given 10 tho
mulatto cook. | went on deck, aud they at
attacked me. ] seized stick and knife with
a view To defend myself. dld not WISH 10 XII
! or hurt them. At this time the prisoner
wounded me on the head severely with one Of
the sugar knives, also on the arm. then ran
below and slowed myself between two barrels
wrapped up in sail. (Here the prisoner mo-
toned Tor his snuff box.) The prisoner rush
ed after me and attempted TO Kill me. but was
prevented by the interference of another man.
/ / recolect who struck me, but was not suffic-
/ ieutly sensible to distinguish the men who saw
ed me. was faint from loss of blood. then
was taken on deck and tied to the hand OF
Ruiz. After this they commanded me to steer
for their country. ! told them did not know
/ the way. was much afraid. and had lost my
senses so | cannot recollect who tied me-Or
the second day after the mutiny heavy gale
came on. ! still steered. having once been
master Of vessel When recovered. | steer
| ed for unyana In the nichf hx The stnrs hnt hx