Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-09-06
THE SUSPICIOUS SCHOONER.

Neto York Gdsette for n slip cona ming the
interesting particulars relative
% the capture and condition of the strange
vessel that for several days has been how
crlng on orr coast and has excited so much
Of the public attention. 1t appears that
the schooner in question was the " AIMS.
tad," Captain Ramonflues, from Havana
"a, bound to Port Principe in the West
Indies-that the crew. consisting Of fifty
four slaves, four nights after they were
out, rose and murdered the Captain aud
three other persons on board -aud that the
slaves took possession of the vessel, with
the intention of returning 10 Africa. The
remarkable incidents Of the perilous voy.
age of the "Amistad," unit! her capture
by Lieut., Gedney, near New London, will
be found below.
u. S. BRIG WASHINGTON.
.Netc London, August 26M, 1889.
While this vessel was sounding this
day between Gardners and Monrauk Point.
a schooner was seen lying N shore off
CnIIoden Point, under circumstances SO
SUSPICIOUS as to authorize L.. Com. Ged-
ney to stand IN To- see what was her char
acter-seeing n number Of people on The
beach with carts aud horses, and a boat
passing 10 and fro. boat was armed and
dispatched with an officer TO board her.
On coming along side number of ne
grocs were discovered on her deck and
twenty or thirty more were on the beach
two white men came forward aud claimed
the protection of the officer The schoo.
nor proved 80 b. the " Amlstad." Capt.
Ramoullue-, from the Havonnah bound to
Guauajs, Port Principe, with 81 blacks
and two passengers on board; the former
tour nights after they were out. rose and
murdered the captain and three of the
crew; they then took possession of the
vessel with the intention of reiurnInr to
the coast Of Africa Pedro Monies, pas
senger, and Jose Rues owner Of the slaves
and part OF the cargo, were only saved
to navigate the vessel. After boxing about
for four days in Bahama Channel the yes
sci was sleered for the Island of St. An
drews, near New Providence, from thence
she went to Green Key, where the blacks
laid in supply Of water. After leaving
this place, the vessel was steered by Pc.
dro Monies for New Providence, the me-
groes being under the impression that she
was steering for the coast of Africa they
would not, however, permit her to enrer
the port, but anchored every night off the
coast.
The situation of the two whites was all
this time truly depIorable, being treated
with the greatest severity, aud Pedro Mon
ties, who had charge Of the navigation, was
suffering from two severe wounds. one in
the head and one IN the arm, their lives
threatened every instant. He was order.
ed To change the course again for the coas,
oi Africa, the negroes themselves steer.
ing by the sun IN the day time, while a,
night he would alter the course so as to
bring them back to their original place Of
destination. They remained three DAYS
off Long Island, to the eastward of Provi-
dence, after which time they were two
months on the ocean. sometimes steering
to the eastward. and whenever an occa,
sion would permit, the whites would alter
the course to the Northward and West.
ward, always in hopes of ia ling in with
some vessel OF war. or being enabled TO
run into some port, when they would be
relieved from their horr!d situation.
Several tunes they were boarded bv
vessels, once by an American schooner
from Kingston Ga these occasions the
,h itps nrtnroI hall
groes communicated and traded with The
vessel: the schooner from Kingston SUD
piled them with dcmijohn of water, for
The moderate sum Of one doubloon-,hls
schooner, whose name was not ascertain,
ed, finding that the negroes had plenty of
money, remained lashed alongside the
"Amlstad" ter twenty"four hours, though
they must have been aware that all was
not right on board, aud probably suspected
the character Of The vessel-ihat was on
the Io'h OF the present month; the vesse,
was steered 10 the northward and west
ward. and on the 20lh instant, dlston,
from New York 90 miles, the pilot boat
N. 3, came alongside, and rave the ne
groes some apples. She was olso hailed
by No a when The latter boat came near
The negroes armed themselves, and wou,d
not permit her to board them they were
so eXasperated with the TWO whites for
bringing them so much out Of tho way.
that they expected every moment to be
murdered
On the 2lih they made Monlauk Light,
ana steered tor II IN the hope Of running
the vessel ashore, but the tide drliled them
np the bay, aud they anchored where they
were found by the brig Washington, off
CnlIoden point. The negroes were found
IN COMMUNICATION with the shore, where
they Land IN fresh supply Of water, and
were on the point of sailing again for The
coast OF Africa They had good supply
OF money with them, some of winch II Is
likely was taken by The people on the
beach, after they were disarmed and sent
on board from he beach, the rngleader
Jumped overheard with three hundred