The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-01-15
TIE CREOLE CASE

VEN OFfeuHs, phoSe cargo ~ Stdpe' -"
MED on the IN Norember, 1S41, OF me Hote
in the Val, murdered a passenger, roaha-
ed the Captain and others, pat INTO Nassau
N. p, nhere The authorities confined nne-
teen of The mutineers, and forcibfy liberated
nearly all The siares.
BY this public instrument OF protest be II knowl,
that ON the second day of December lsii before me
William Young Lewis, notary public in and tor the
city of New Orleans, duly commissioned and sw ON
Personally and appeared Zephanah u Gli-
ford, acting master of the American brig called the
Creole of Richmond who declared that the said YES
sci sailed from Norfolk, in the State of Virginia, ON
the 18th day of October past, laden with nanuiac-
tured tobacco in boxes, and slaves, then under the
command of Captain Robert Ensor, bound for the
port Of New Orleans, in the State Of Louisiana
That when about 100 miles to the north northeast
of the Hole in the w ALL the slaves, or part thereof
on board OF sand vessel, rose on the officers, crew
and pas engers killing passenger severely wound
I'd the captain this sppearer, and part oil the crew
compelled said appearer then first mate TO navigate
said vessel Nassau, in the island OF New Provi-
dence where she arrived, and portion OF the Iing-
leaders of said Instruction were confined In PRISON
and the remainder OF said slaves Liberated ,y lhe n
tish authorities OF said island and required me, nota
~ TO make record of the same intending more at lei
sure to detail paIticu
And this day again appeared the SAID acting mas
ter together with Lucius Stevens, acting mate; w m
Deyereux cook and steward; Henry Speak, John
Silvy, Jacques Lecomte Francis Foxwell, and Blair
Curtss, seanen-all of and belonging to said vessel
who, being severally sworn according TO law TO de-
clare the truth, did depose and say:
That said vessel starlel atoresaid she was
light and strong well manned and provided IN every
respect, and equipped for carrying slaves
That said Vessel len Richmond on the twenty hfih
day of October, 1871, with about one hundred and
slaves an hoard
That about 80 of said slaves were shipped on board
on the both Of said month, of which Al were shipped
by Robert Lumpkin, about 80 by John r. Howell,
by Nathaniel Matthews, and by w. Robinson; that
from that time about two per day were put on
board by John r. Howell until about the said 18th
day of O tober, as to make the number lO2
fhe brig then proceeded to Hampton Roads, and
lay there one day, when about eight we've put on
board by Mr.. w w. Hail. for Mr. Hatcher . by
Mr.. c.. H. Shield, and % for Mr.. Johnson, making
The whole number of l35 slaves
The men and women slaves were divided The men
We're all placed in the forward hold ofthe brig, except
old Lewis and servant of Mr. Thomas McCargo, who
said in the cabin assistant servant and the women
the hold AFT, except six female servants, who were
taken in the cabin. Between them was the cargo OF
the brig consisting of boxes and tobacco.
The slaves were permitted TO go on deck, but the
were not allowed at night TO 60 in the hold aft
where the
On the Both of October the brig left Hampton
Roads for New Orleans The slaves were all under
passenger. John r. Howell had the particular charge
Of the slaves OF Thoma. McCarlo-Theophus Nc.
Cargo being considered too young and inexperienced
and the general charge OF the oker slaves all being
under the master of the vessel. he slaves were all
carefully watched they were perfectly obedieDt and
quiet, and showed no signs Of mu,ny and disturb
ance until Sunday, the 7th of November, about P.
NJ in latitude 81 Al N, longitude IS 10 W.
The captain supposing that they were nearer Aba
than they were, had ordered the brig to be laid TO-,
which was done. A good breeze was blowing at the
time and the sky little hazy with trade clouds
flying.
Mr.. Clifford was on watch. He was told by Elijah
Morris, one of the slaves of Thomas McCargo, that
one of the men had gone aft among the women. Mr.
Clifford then called Mr. Merritt who in the cabin
and informed him of the fact Mr.. Merritt came
up and went to the main hatch, which was the en-
trance to the after hold and asked two three of the
slaves which were near, If any of the men were down
in that hold, and he informed that there were.
MIR. Merritt then waited until MIR. Clifford procured
kmatch, and then Mr. Merritt went down into the
hold with the lamp and lighted it. MIR. Clifford stood
over the hatchway. On striking light, Merritt found
Madison Washington, very large and strong slave of
Thomas McCargo, standing at his back. Merritt said
to Madison as it possible that you down here p
YOU are the last man board the brig expected to
find here" Madison replied. ''Yes sir il is and
instantly jumped to the hatch-way, and got deck,
saying 81 am going up, cannot stay here He did
this in spite Of the resistance of Clifford and Merritt
who both tried to keep him back and laid hold of him
for that purpose.
Madison ran forward and Elijah Morris fired pis-
toll the ball of which grazed the back part of Gords
head. Madison then shouted 1--WE have begun and
must go through. Rush boys, rush aft, and we have
them" and calling to the slaves below, he said
come up every damned one of you. Ii you don't
lend hand, will kill you all and throw you
board"
Clifford now ran to the cabin and aroused the cap
tain and others who were asleep and the passengers,
viz :-Theophilus McCargo Jacob Miller, John r.
Howell, the second mate, Lucus Stevens, the stew
ard, William Devereux free colored man. and the
slave Lewis, belonging to Mr. i. McCargo, acting
assistant steward. The slaves rushed aft and sur
rounded the cabin. Merritt hearing the report of the
pistol blew out his light and came from the hold In
doing this he was caught by one of the negroes who
cried out, "Kill him. God damn him, he is one of
them :" and the other slaves Immediately rushed upon
him. One of them attempted to strike Merritt with
handspike, but missed him and knocked down the
negro who was holding Merritt. Merritt then es-
capped to the cabin.
Howell, at this moment jumped out of his berth, in
his drawers, seized musket, ran to the companion
way of the cabin, and after some struggling fred
The negroes wrested the musket from Howells
hands Howell then seized ahandspike and defended
himself from the slaves who pursued him They
thought he had another musket and retreated little
He advanced, and they fell upon him with clubs,
handspikes and knives. He was knocked down and
stabbed in not less than twenty places but he rose
got away from them, and staggered back to the cabin
exclaiming 81 am dead,-he negroes have killed
mel"
1t is believed that no more than four five of the
negroes had knives. Ben Blacksmith had the Bowie
knife he wrested from the captain and stabbed How
ell with it. Madison had jack-knfe which appear
ed to have been taken from Howell. Morris had
sheath knife which he had taken from the orecastle,
which belonged to Henry Speck.
Clifford, after arousing the persons in the cabin, ran
deck and up the main rigging to the main-top,-
Merritt tried to get through the skyght Of the cabin,
but could not without being discovered The negroes
crowded around the sylght outside, and the door of
the cabin. Merritt then hid himself in one of the
berths and three of the female house servants cover
ed him with blankets and sat the edge of the berth
crying and praying. Theophius McCargo dressed
himself on the alarm being given. Howell, after be-
ing wounded, staggered into said McCargo's state
room where he fell and expired in about half hour
His body was thrown overheard by order Of Madison,
Ben Blacksmith and Elijah Morris. McCargo got
his two pistols out and fired one at the negroes then
in the cabin; the other missed fire, and McCargo ha-
wing no ammunition put his pistols away. After the
Al q, 81 IIo, al