The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-06-07
From the Boston Post

For the same ineHable joy
Each mother feels--and too, her boy.
From the Boston Post
CASE OF THE SPITFIRE
uN,rrp STATES CIRCUIT couRr--RosroN, JUNE A.
CAsx OF Carr FLowKRY---THRD DAY.--Upon the
opening of the court this morning, Col. Rogers, for
the defence, being under the apprehension that the
Judge had not understood distinctly an objection
which had been suggested to the indictment, recall
ed his honors attention the allegations in the two
counts and then the examination of witnesses for
the prosecution was resumed
William Turner-one of the crew OF the Spitfre,
and a native of Hamburg-tesufed that ne was IN
the boat near the mouth of the Pongo, when the
English boats were for the first time approaching the
Spiifre. The Frenchman (Fleuret) sunk yellow
flag saying, If the English saw IL they would take
the vessel In confirmation OF EnDers, second day.
Saw some Of the shocks made into casks---saw
Flowery at Fabers factory-didn't hear his CONVEX
sation
Cross examined The English steamer was about
three miles off when the flag was sunk by the
Frenchman in the boat-l was rowing. The throw
ing of the flag over did not occasion any CONVERSE
ton among the boats crew. shipped at New
Orleans, for trading voyage. On the voyage out
heard no conversation among the crew about going
for slaves.
Ferdinand Wetz-of the crew, a Prussan--was
in the boat looking for pilot to get to the mouth
Of the Pongo--saw the almost yellow flag wet
and thrown overheard, &c, as above. The Span
hard who went out with us was navigator--he took
the sun sometimes, and made up the reckoning, and
marked the course on the --[ident6es the
chart, marked "F. r." with dates in Spanish !
The new casks made with the shocks were filled
with water at brook, and left there--saw 300 or
400 slaves at Faber's--a part of our tobacco was
taken away in canoes, but don't know where 1t
was carried. se
In explanation of the statement that the Sptfre's
boat was in search Of pilot, MIR. Rantoul remarked
that there several outlets TO the Pongo, but only
one of them nayigable to vessels of the draft of
the Spltfre.] ms
Cross-examined-Th shocks were taken on
shore and made up at the factory-about % new
casks were made, but only saw one cask made by
our cooper. have been to sea nine years. When
navgators 60 passengers they do sometimes keep
q chart for amusement or employment. BY Ram
toul--Enncrs showed English officer Blunt where
the casks were by the fresh water river, There
were no shocks on board of the Spitfre when she
Enners recaned-There were ~ new casks and
one old one on one side of the river, and ten old
ones on the other sde--l pointed out the new ones
to officer Blunt The ten old casks in which our
water was carried out were not removed from the
Spitfre.
Cross-examined the seizure Of the Spitfre,
Capt Eowery asked Capt. Bruce, on board of the
Truxton, if he was going TO send him to New Or
leans. Capt Bruce replied--"No. You might as
well be sent to hell as to New Orleans There is no
law there.n
William Often, native of Bremen, testified the
same as the preceding witnesses as to the sinking
Of the flag in the boat, Shocks casks, water, &c.
The fresh water river is three miles up from the fac
tory.
Cross examined Lceburn's factory is ten
miles further up the Pongo than Faber's--I was at
Mrs Liccburn's two or three times. We had been
lying at anchor two days before we went in search
of the pilot We were about twelve miles from the
mouth.
Orleans in the Spitffe--the Spanard and French
man stood their regular watch. We had no mate.
Did not know the object of the voyage till we ar
rived in the Pongo. Mrs. Liceburn's cooper made
up some of the shocks.
Cross exanned-No one assumed to act as mate
on board on the voyage out. A mate has the or
dering Of the men; no one but Capt. Flowery gave
orders on board of the Spitfre. / shipped for Ha-
yana on a trading voyage for twelve months The
Spaniard could not speak English. 1t is not unu-
sual for passengers who are seamen to relieve the
master when there is mate.
Thomas Haynes, one of the crew Of the Truxton
was on board of one of the boats that captured the
Splthre; when the first boat approached she hoisted
an American flag; her sails unbent moored
bead and stern; head up the river; lying along the
land; not much rice on board; nor wood; nor water
there were tooth-picks board--that is, pieces Of
the cracks in the main hatch said to be used by
slaves to pick their teeth; saw only one or two.
Cross-examined-The sales bent by ou
boats crew and some Of the crew Of the Spi.fre
they were stored away below; the season was dry
but the climate moist.
John Barnard, of the Truxton's crew-sais un
bent &C., &c.
Cross-examined--Seven of the Truxton's crew
came home in the Spit6rc to help work her. TIL
pieces of rattan saw were not tooth picks, but tb
things the Kroomen clean their teeth with.
Lieut.. Washington Reid, of the Truxton, brough
the Spi,frc home. She is sharp built; hollow-boi
toned in contradistnction to full-bottomed; belong
ing to the class which are built to carry less tina
their tonnage would indicate. have been boardin
officer on the west coast in two different cruises
have seen the cargoes of 40 or SO. In such bui
vessel as the Spitire only cargo of gold dust an
ivory would pay, and these articles only be pre-
cured in very small quantities; she could hardly Co
1ect cargo in twenty years. Witness described III
contrivance for extra ventilation hatchways, &c,
the Spitfre, &c. There were sweeps and perma
nent and temporary fittings for rowing; the tempo
rary blocks were found in the dunnage; they fit int
the port-hoes | brought the charts home
found on one Of them lunar worked in French
She had such an immense quantity OF spar
and sails, that sent most Of them down Witnes
described the sails, from the "mainn down to tn
',jib and jibber.jib.n The Spanish flag has muc
yellow in H. Nothing but the Truxton or q steam
er could overtake such vessel as the Spit6re Tn
fastest merchant vessel ever saw--we passe
everything we saw in coming home. Not usual 70
merchant vessels to unbend their sails on the coas
except they intend olay up. The bowsprit OF IN
Spit6re had not been sprung, but the heel was muc
rotted, and had not been taken out for some years
We received information from the mixed commits
sion at Havana in relation TO the Spiihre-lIh
line Of inquiry objected to, and not pursued.]
Cross-exsmined. Was a more expensive vesst
than usual-well fitted and well coppered, beyon
any other vessel ever saw. Had not stowage 70
such a return cargo Of ordinary coast products a
,more clippers usually. The name "Cahncror
distinct under the taffrail--I ordered the paint .
be rubbed of, to see If such name could be found
The prosecution here rested and P. w, Chnnd
Ter, ESQ.,, proceeded to state the grounds vhic
would be relied on in the defence. He referred {
the numerous publications in the newspapers reiu
ave 10 the seizure Of the spitfre, prejudging tn