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

Gill1id 10 the American Consul, who accompanied
him To the Governor of New Providence and all the
other Bahama Islands. Clifford then related 10 the
Governor all the facts relating to the voyage from
chmond iol hat port The American Consul, in
behalf Of said vessel and all interested requested of
the Government that he should send guard on ,ard
TO protect the vessel and cargo, and keep the slaves
on board ill such times as they could know what they
could do. The Governor did so, and IA guard "
twenty-five negro soldiers with loaded nuskets and
bayonets, in Brit sh uniform commanded by white
officer who took possession of the vessel and all the
slaves.
From Tuesday the 10Th, ill Friday the 18th day of
November, they tied Ben Blacksmith, Addison, Ruf
fin and Morris, put them the long boat placed a
sentry over them and fed them there. They mingled
with the negroes and told the women they free,
and persuaded them TO remain in the island
Captain Fitzgerald, commanding the company, told
many of the slaves owned by Thomas McCargo IN
presence Of many other slaves, how foolish they
were, that they had not, when they rose, killed all
the whites on board and run the vessel ashore, and
then they would have been free and there would
have been no trouble about IT, This on We'd
nesday.
at o'clock A. NJ. There are 500 regular soldiers
the island divided into four equal companies,
manded by four officers called captains. There was
regular sentry stationed every night, and they pac-
ed all the slaves, except the four which they ted
and placed a guard over the hatchway. They put
them in the hold and let them out at sunrise
There apparently from twelve to thirteen
thousand negroes in the town of Nassau and vicinity,
and about three or four thousand whites.
On Wednesday, the 10th of November, about nine
O'Clock A. NJ, three civil magistrates OF the island
came ON board and commenced examining all the
white persons. They completed the examination on
the Friday following, when the attorney general came
board with three magistrates, and the dispositions
signed. The American consul was present the
first two days. The magistrates accompanied
1y onlar Ths.~ IN Erld m
the nineteen muneers in the custody OF the captain
of his guard and ordered them upon the quarter deck
There were about fifty boats lying around theb brig,
all filed with men from the shore armed with clubs
and subject to the order of the Attorney General
and awaiting signal from Of the civil magls-
trates ; sloop was lowed from the shore by some
oar boats and anchored near the brig this sloop was
also filled with men and armed with clubs; all the
men in the boats were negroes. The iieet Of boats
was under the immediate command oil the pilot who
piloted the brig into the harbor This pilot partly be-
fore the signal given by one of the magistrates
said that he wished that they would get through the
business that they had their time and he wanted
his.
The Attorney General here stepped on the quarter
deck and addressing himself to all persons except the
nineteen who were in custody, said my friends you
have been detained short time on board the Creole
for the purpose of ascertaining the individuals who
were concerned in this mutiny and murder They
have been identified and will be detained the rest Of
you free and al liberty 10 go on shore and where
you please" Then addressing the prisoners, he
said, men, there nineteen OF you who have been
Identified as having been engaged III the murder OF
Mr. Howell and in an attempt to kill the captain and
others. You will be detained and lodged IN prison
for a time, in order that we may communicate with
the English Government and ascertain whether your
trial shall take place here, elsewhere" Al tins
time Mr.. Clifford, the of the vessel, then in com
mand, the captain being shore under the care of
physician addressed the Attorney General in the
presence of the magistrates, protested against the
boats being permitted to come alongside Oft vessel
that the negroes, other than the munecrs should
be put on shore. The Attorney General replied that
Mr. Clifford had better make no objection, but let
them go quietly on shore, for if he did, there might
be bloodshed. Al this moment Of the magistrates
ordered MIR. Merritt, Mr. McCargo, and the other
passengers TO look TO their money and effects he
apprehended that the cabin of the Creole would be
sacked and robbed
~ The AT orney General with one of the ma gistTates
stepped into the boat and Withdrew Into the stream
short distance from the brig, when they stopped.
magistrate on the deck of the Creole gave the signal
for the boats to approach instantly. With hurrah
AMI shout, fleet of boat, alongside Of the brig
and the magistrates directed the men to remain on
board OF their boats, and commanded the slaves
to leave the brig and 20 board the boats They obey
ed his orders and passing from the Creole into the
boats were assisted many Of hem, by this magis
trate During this proceeding, the soldiers and off
GERS were on the quarter deck of tho Creole, armed
with loaded muskc,s and bayonets fixed and the At
torney General, with one of the magistrates in his
boat, lay at convenient distance ooS ing After
The negroes had emba ked in the boats the Attorney
General and the magistrate pushed out their boat and
min gled with the fleet congratulating the slaves on
their escape, and shaking hands with them Three
cheers were then given and the boats went TO the
shore where thousands waiting TO receive them
When this proceeding over, and all the slaves
except The 10 landed, large was sent from the bar
racks the Creole to take share the 10 prisoners
and the guard which had been left over them. They
taken shore TO the barracks and the 10 carried
hence to prison. One Of them died the day after he
had been put in prison. in consequence OF wounds re
cen ed in the ARRAY
During the investigation carried on by the macis-
board the Creole, and the evening of The
same day on which the slaves and prisoners land
ed the mutineers arragned and identified by the
witnesses.
Ma " Of the negroes who were emancipateJ, ex.
pressed desire 20 to New Orleans on the Gre
ole, but deferred from it, by means of threats
which made TO sink the vessel If she attempted
to cary them away. Three women one girl, and
boy concealed themselves board the Creole and
were brought TO New Orleans. Many of the male,
and nearly all of the female slaves woulI have re-
manned on hoard and come to New Orleans had it
not been for the command of the magistrates and the
interference as before stated
On Monday following these events, being the 18th
day Of November the Attorney General wrote a letter
10 SaptaiH iHioiHiHS Tue passengers
of the Creole as he ca led the slaves had applied to
him for assistance in Obtaining their baggage, which
still board the brig, anu that he should
them in getting it on shore To this letter, Clifford
the officer in command of the vessel replied that there
was no baggage board, belonging to the slaves,
that he was aware of, as he considered them cargo
and the property Of their owners and that if they had
left any thing the brig il the property also of
their masters and besides, he could not land any
thing without permit from the custom house and
order from the American Consul.
The Attorney General Immediately got permit from
the Custom House, but no order rori the American
consul and put officer of the on board the
brig and demanded the delivery ofthe baggage of the
slaves aforesaid, to be landed in the briggs boat The
master the Creole, not feeling himself at liberty
refuse permitted the officer, with his men, to come on
board and take such baggage and property as they
chose to consider as belonging 10 the slaves. They
went into the hold of the vessel and took all the wear
ing apparel blankets and other articles, as also one
bale OF blankets belonging to Mr.. Lockett which had
not been opened These things were nut on board of