New-York daily tribune., 1843-11-14
Horrors OF the Slave Trade in Is43.
Correspondence of The Tribune.
RIO De JANEIRo, September 18th, 1913.

a Baltimore vessel to give you the little lnforma-
ton can obtain up to this date. The st. Louis
put back to repair leak, and caulk throughout,
after having been some twenty days at sea, on
her way to the East Indes-she parted with the
Brandywine in a fresh breeze.
Yesterday slave prize arrived from Africa in
charge Of two English Midshipmen, who cap
tured her in small boat with crew of ten men,
and brought her safe into port. The Captain of
the SLAYER was shot while in the act of repelling
the English boat, and his body falling overheard
could not be recovered; the seamen Of the vessel
however, surrendered without firing shot, and
they are now safely deposited on board of an
English man-of-war. After the slaves are rescued
by the humane enccavors of the English Govern
ment, they are resuscitated on board Of vessels
provided for the purpose; and as | have Just re-
turned from visiting the late arrival on board OF
the Crescent shall attempt to give you some idea
of the state in which | found them. The SLAYER
lsscarcely larger than one ofour coastng schooners,
and ret she sailed from Africa with four hundred
and ffty negroes on board, out (which but three
hundred and fifteen arrived in port, the balance
having died Of confinement, starvation and dis
ease, during the voyage. On board OF the O.
| saw some of the three hundred and fifteen who
have escaped the horrors of slavery, for many
have died since their arrival from the effects OF
bad diet and confinement; and | must confess
never saw more interesting, and yet more
touching scene. in the whole course OF my lie. L
happened to get on board when the poor creatures
were all on deck dancing and slngpg their native
songs, and breathing the pure sir OF Heaven.
which had been denied them so long and the
happy faces and cheerful voices plainly Indicated
that they were aware Of their being at Liberty
again. But such emaciated beings | never saw
before scarcely one of the men had a limb larger
than boys arm and the little cmldren-tor
twothirds ofthem are very young-Were nothing
but skin and bones while the women with the
exception of those who had been favorites of the
crew, were in no better condition. Through the
kindness Of the officers, we were allowed to visit
the sick; and during our stay IN the apartment,
saw five sable skeletons carried out for burial,
while several, in which the spark of life was
scarcely visible, met my eye IN every corner of the
room On one bed saw little fellow reclining
upon the lifeless body Of his companion, and SO
entirely exhausted and cmaciated was he, that he
was unable 10 quit his icy pillow; indeed, he was
almost unconscious of every thing. Near by was
group of some half dozen others who were fear
fully watching the almost llfeless form of little
brother, perhaps, or following the humane doctor
with wistGu eyes, as if he possessed the power Of
restoring their dying associate. In another part
of the room the wasted figure ola tall, wel-made
man was stretched upon mat; and his plteous
means, his unintelligibe words, and continual
pointing to his breast, evidently proved that he
had been confined in STOPPING position for the
greater part of the voyage indeed theyall com
planned of pains in the breast, as well as of star
vation, and the medical officers informed me that
in dissectng them the most loathsome sights are
presented Ono of the subjects that | saw was
so much diseased, that large and disgusting worms
made their appearance through his nose, an oc
currence not rare, told, for it seems that the
ntestines are often filled with them in conse-
ouence of the bad diet and water they get on
board
The vilIainous crew of the SLAYER are confined
DIS prisoners OF board of the same vessel, which
offers an asylum to the poor creatures whom they
have stolen from their homes, and would have
condemned to life ofbondage, had not the timely
appearance of the brave Englishmen prevented
it. For my part, though as fond Of pleasant duty
as any other person, still | have no objection to
serve on the Coast of Africa, and | should feel
myselfsuthcienty remunerated for all the toll and
privation ola coast cruise, could be the means
of berating my fellow mortals from the nhuman
treatment they receive on board slave vessels
and furthermore add, as matter of oplnlon that
the very first arrival of captured SLAYER in our
waters will create such feeling Of sympathy in
the breasts of the American people, that they
will 60 heart and hand for its suppression, and
crush it at all hazards. am too well acquainted
with the noble nature of MY countrymen not to
be aware Of the hatred they entertain for oppres-
sion in all it's shapes; and venture to predict
that the day is not distant when they will rise IN
their streng 9Th and put an end to the barbarous
practice of dealing in human flesh at home, OF
abroad. Your odedcnt servant II.
To H. GREELEY, Esa., New-York.