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

master spirit and hero Of this bloody tragedy
, in irons. lie is about five feet eight inches ~
height. 25 or 26 years of age, OF erect figure,
well built, and very active. He is said to be a
match for any two men on board the schooner
His counteuance for native African, is unus-
ually intelligent eylncing uncommon decision
and coOlness, with compOsure characteristic
of frue courage, and nothing TO mark him as a
malicious man. He is negro who would COM
mand 10 New Orleans, under the hammer, at
least $500.
I By physiognomy and phrenoogy he has con
siderable claim 10 benevolence. According to
Gall and Spurzheim. his moral sentiments and
intellectual faculties predominant considerably
over his animal propensilles. lie is said. how
ever. TO have killed the Captain and crew with
his own hand. by cutting their throats. lie al
so has several times attempted TO lake the life
of Senor Monies, aud the backs ofseveral poor
negroes are scored with the scars Of blows in
1cred by his lash TO keep them in subjection.
lie expects to be executed. but nevertheless
manilests a sang Jroid worthy of Stole under
similar circumstances.
/ With Capt GedDey the surgeon ofthe port,
and others, we visited the schooner, which is
anchored within musket shot OF the Washing
/ ton. aud there we saw such a sight as we never
saw before, and never wish 10 see again. The
bottom and sides of this vessel are covered with
barnacles and sea grass, while her rigging and
sails present an appearance worthy oil the W
lug Dutchman, after her iabled cruise. She is
a Baltimore built vessel OF malchless model for
speed, about l20 tons burthen aud about six
years old. On her deck were grouped amid
various goods and arms the remnant of her f.
thiOp crew, some decked in the most fantastic
manner IN the silks aud finery piered from the
cargo, while others in state of nudity, ema-
ciated 10 mere skeletons, lay colled upon the
decks. Here could be seen negro with white
pantaloons and the sable shirt which nature
gave him, and a planters broad -brImmed hat
upon his head, with string OF gewgaws around
his neck and another with a linen cambric
| shirt, whose bosom was worked by the hand Of
some dark eyed daughter Of Spain, while his
neither proportions were enyeloped in shawl OF
gauze or Canton Grape. Around the windlsss
were gathered the three little girls, from eight
to thirteen years of age, the very images of
health and gladness
Over the deck were scattered in the most
wanton and dlsorderly prolusion. raisius, vei mi
cell, bread rice. silk and cotton goods. la the
cabin and hold were the marks of the same
wasteful destruction. Her cargo appears to
consist Of silks, grapes, calicoes, cotton and
/
hardware, brides, saddles, holsters, pictures,
looking glasses, books, fruits, olives and olive
OIL and other things too numerous TO men
tion"-which are now all mixed up in a strange
and fantastic medley. On the forward hatch
we uncOnsciousIy rested our hand on cold
| object, which We soon discovered 10 be a naked
corpse, enyelOpcd in pail of black hombaZlne.
On removing its folds we beheld the rigid coun-
tenance and glazed eye of a poor negro who
died last night. His mouth was unclosed and
still wore the ghastly expression of his last
struggle. Near by him like some watching
feud. sat the mos; horrible creature we ever
saw IN human shape, an object OF terror to the
very blacks, who said that he was cannlbal.--
Ills teeth projected az almost ii ia, angles from
his mouth, while his eyes had a most savage
and demoniac expression.
We were glad TO leave this vessel, as the ex-
halations from her hold and deck, were like
anything but gales waited over the gardens
of Gul." Capt Gedney has dispatched an ex-
press to the u. s. Marshall, at New Haven,
while he has made the most humane arrange
ments for the health and comfort OF the prison
ers, aud the puri6carion Of the prize. There
are now alive IL negroes, three Of whom are
girls about 10 have died. They have been at
sea 63 days. The vessel and cargo were worth
exclusive of the negroes, which cost from 20
to 30 thousand dollars. Vessel and cargo were
insured in Havana.
There is question for the laws Of Admiralty
TO decide whether Capt. Gcdney and his fellow
Officers are entitled to prize or salvage money
To one or the other they are most surely cnti-
tied, and we hope they will get their just dues.
Capt Gedney when he first cspied the Amis
tad, was running line of sounding toward
Nontauk Point. He had heard nothing of this
vessel being on the coast till after his arrival in
this port.
The New York Sun Of Saturday, contains a
long account of all the occurrences on board
the " Armistcad," and description of the ves-
sci and crew, from which we make the follow
ing extracts. We a,so copy from the same pa
per the account of the Judicial Investigation,
which is appended.
In the month of June last Don Jose Ruiz, a
wealthy and noble Spanard LETT his estate al
Principe and proceeded to Havana to buy
slaves. AT Havana he purchased 40 from a
cargo which had just arrived from the Coast OF
Africa. To forward his purchase home he
chartered the schooner Amistead, Ramon Fer
res master and sole owner. Together with his
slaves he shipped a number d packages, partly
his own and partly on freight. The packages
contained a regular assortment of goods for
that market. There was some crockery, some
copper aud many dry goods. besides fancy ar
tcles for amusement or luxury. Personally
Senior Ruiz had but little money on board, ,l-
though the captain was supposed to have spe-
Gle to the amount of $4,000 in dnubloons. Be
sides this cargo the Amisipad received N,