New-York tribune., 1841-12-21
The Creole !rzutiny.


the Protest of the Officers and crew of the brig
Creole against the winds and waves and the
dangers Of the Sea generally, but more especially
against the iasurfecton Of the nineteen Slaves and
the Illegal action OF the British authorities az Mas
sau in regard to the remainder of the Slaves on
board said vessel. The protest recounts all the
particulars Of the mutiny whieh we have al
ready given, we shall rot repeat. Oalg nineteen
Of iae sayes had any part in tie mutiay the rest
were afraid Of them and remained forward OF the
1lanmast.
The occurrences after reaching Nassau have not
been so generally published. The offcer, Clifford,
called upon the Governor Of the Bahamas Who at
his reques, sent guard 81 twenry-four negro sol
diers on the ship to keep the Sla.cs and cargo
board Capt. Fitzgerald, who commanded the
troops. told the Slaves that they very foolish
in not killing all the whites on board Ga the 10th
of Oct. three Magistrates came on board and ex-
suined all the white persons. The vessel was sar-
rounded by boats filed wiki men armed with clubs.
The nineteen were taken in'o custody and the A.
rorney General sad to the others. my friends you
maze been detained ,hor; time on board the Creole
for the purpose Of ascertaaing tte individuals who
were concerned in this mutry and murder. They
have been identified and will be detained, the res,
Of YOU are free and a; liberty to 20 on shore and
where Yen please Then addressing the prisoners.
he sad, men. there arc niretecn Of you VINO have
been identified a. having BEEN engaged IN the muir
der of Nh Hewell, and in an attempt to xiii the
captain and Others YOU viii be detlined and
lodged in prison for tine. in order that we may
communicate with the English Government and
aseortaia whether yosr trial shall take place here
or elsewhere
Mr. Clifford, the oaioQr in command. protested
asains, allowing the armed boats 10 come along
side and the Slaves to GO ashore. The Attorney
General. in reply, told him that he had better
make no osjection for if he did there might be
oIoodsh-d. He then stepped into his boat with
one Of the Magistrates and withdrew into the
stream. At a signal from another Magistrate on
beard the Creole, the armed boat. came alongside
aud Inc Slaves on board got into them. Three
cheers were given and the boats went ashore, where
thousands were waiting to receive them. The
mudnccrs were taken ashore in barge.
On the 18th the Attorney General wrote TO the
Captain of the Creole demanding the baggage Of
tie PASSENGERS. Clifford, the commanding Oft
Ger, replied that the Slaves being themselves pro-
pcrty had no baggage and that moreover, he could
land nothing without permit from the Custom
House and an order from the American Consul
The Attorney got the permit, but not the order,
and put an officer on board the Creole who took
away such baggage and property he chose to
consider as belonging to the Slaves. The master
Of the Creole made no resistance.
The next dag the Captain of the Creole pro-
posed to sell his surplus provisions to pay his
penses. The Collector of the Customs refused to
allow them to be landed unless the Captain would
enter the slaves as passengers. This was refused.
A plan was formed By the American Consul,
with Capt Woodsdc of the American vessel
Louisa, to rescue the Creole from the British
officer and take her to Indian Key, where was a
L. 5. vessel Of war.
" Accordingly says the Protest '' the
ing Of the l2lh of November, Capt Woodsidc with
his mcn in Il boat, rowed to the Creole Mu7kets
and cuilasses were obtained from the brig Con-
src.s Every effort had been made, in concert
with the Cou,9l. TO purchase arms of the dealers
at Nassau. bat they all refused to sell, The arms
were wrapped in the American flag and concealed
in the bottom OF the boat, SAID boat approached
TIE Creole a negro in a boat, who had watched
the loading OF the boat followed her. ana gave the
alarm To the British officer on the Creole A. the
oeat came up 10 the Creole, the officer called to
lhem Keep -ii, or viii fire into you His com
puuy ct iwcuty-four then all standing on
deck and drawn up in line fronting Capt. Wood
sides boat, and were ready with loaded muskets
aud fixed buyone,s FOR an engagement. Capt.
Wood,de was forced to withdraw, and the plan
was prevented from being executed, the said British
officer remaining in command of the Creole The
officers and crew of the Louisa and Congress, and
the American Consul were warmly Interested IN
the plan. and every thing possible was done for
it, success.
On the day the slaves were liberated, the Amrri-
can Consul requested Of the Governor guard to
protec, the vessel until he could write to the Flo
rida coast ana put her in charge OF T. S. ship Of
war. This was refused. He then asked a guard
until the crews Of the American ships then in port
coald be collected aud put on board the Creole, to
take her 10 New-Orean.. This was also refused.
\ proposition then iaally made the Gov
ernor, thar the American seamen then in port and
in American vessels should go on board the Creole
and be furnished with arms by the Governor to
defend the vessel and cargo except the nineteen
slaves who were to be left behind on her voyage
to New-0reans. This also the Governor refused.
On the 18th the Consul, on behalf of the mater
If the brig Creole and all interested. proposed to