The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-06-12

VOYAGE why does he leave off the name Of Antonio
from the shipping papers, and 60 and procure for
him passport Antonio was a Catholic; II was no,
to be presumed that, if he could not write, he had
any objection to make his S the document. II
was very common for seamen to do so, IN cases
where they were not able TO subscribe their sign
manual II could not, therefore, be LETT of, because
he could not write. Here were three passengers
taken on board; Francisco Go Ruiz, Adophe Fleu-
ret and Antonio. Did cabin boy need a passport
His fees paid, too, the passport showed Why
did they go this trouble and expense'
Mr. Rogers. Is there any evidence that they took
any troubled
Mr. R@iouL Yes; it appears in the papers them
selves.
Mr.. Rogers. Is there any epdenee of thiss
Mr.. Ranioui. will answer you. | was coming
to this soon. Why did not Antonio carry the pass
port with hm' Why was it in the captains desk
or possession
IA discussion, somewhat incidental, here arose
between the district attorney and Mr. Rogers in re-
ation to the law of Spain in this connection, and
other points
Mr.. Rantoul went on. He would take the law
of Spain, just the gentleman on the other side
had stated il. The passport was designed, he knew,
for the protection of Antonio, In case he remained
at the Rio Pongos, as well at other times. But
this was not the case. Antonio was not to remain
at the Rio Pongos. He was as he says himself, to
return with the Splfre.
The counsel is Obliged by the hard and difficult
which he does take. But this was not the case fur
nished by the vessel ITSELF Why did Antonio take
passport when he was in fact coming home? IL il
was necessary at all, why did he not have it about
him. And why, too, was it not the case with Ruiz
and Fleuret, the Spanish captain and the French
mater
Mr. Rogers. Yes, why were not their passports
in their possession
Mr.. RaniouL This is what am about to inquire
into.
Mr.. Rantoul continued. These passports are
found on board the Spitfre. While at the Rio Pom
COS, the Spaniard and the Frenchman lived at Fa-
bers house, and yet the passports were in the yes
sell and not in their possession. Why, too, did the
cabin boy, in the language of the passport, call HIM
self cooper and carpenter To all human appear
ances he neither, but sailor alone. These
passports enabled Captain Flowery to disguise the
real objects of the voyage; and this fact, taken in
connection with the other crcumsances--the marks
and indications on the vessel-thc great variety of
charts, and in three different languages-the Eng
sh, Spanish, and French--the finding of flag on
board, and the contradictory character Of the pa
pers-woud all lead British officer to suppose her
Spanish vessel. And this also the theory of
the French mate, his declaration to the in
the boat plainly indicates. If, said he this flag be
found on board the schooner by the English vessel,
she will be seized. All these things are not mere
weak links in chain of circumstanal evidence,
but circumstances themselves--facts, which come
down on the case and the hypothesis of the coun-
sci the other side, like apalanche. The proof
cannot be resisted Ii certain, from the Span
ish flag carried out, that the Spitfre meant in
tain emergency, to pass for Spanish vessel. And
Antonio, who knew the object of the voyage, and
the cook, Jackson, hoisted the American flag on the
Rio Pongos, when the vessel was boarded by the
boats, as their officers would probably have done
had they been on board. The Germans knew not the
object of the voyage, and therefore took no part IN
this early compliance with the order issued to hoist
their flag An American flag was hosted by Anto-
MO because he knew, all knew who were CONVEX
SAINT with, participated in the slave trade, that
an English vessel, or English boats would not be
very likely, under existing circumstances, to search
an American vessel, or one which hosted an Amer
can flag. Why were the Spaniard and the Ameri-
can on board the Spitfre at alb Obviously to get
slaves. Why were they at Peter Faber's factory
Waiting, beyond all doubt for cargo, to carry
back to Cuba. Madame Lightburn and Peter Fa-
Der, it seemed were the consignees of their whole
assorted cargo and the inference to be deduced from
this fact was indisputabe. Then, again, to the
charts and books of navigation. Here were French,
Spanish, and American books of navigation, and
three large sets of charts in the same languages
1t is said that these charts were apt to accumulate
lie knew they were. But were they always appl-
cable to one particular pathway across the Atlantic
Was captain likely to have this particular variety
and three different sets in three different languages
They were not such charts as Captain Flowery
would have been likely to accumulate on the United
York to Havana, and back again, These charts, or
such as he had probably gathered together in the
course of his profession were left behind and the
present charts in his possession collected by
him and Don John Scosure for this particular voyage
to the west coast Of Africa; and there were three
times as many as were required for the regular
trade. A portion of the charts must have belonged
to each of the parties concerned. Why did the
Spaniard and the Frenchman take the reckonngs
with Flowery of the voyage, unless they meant to
come back in the Spilfre. They go out from Ha-
vana, as has been proved they 60 with Flowery
first to the Cape De Verd Islands, and then to the
Rio Pongo They accumulate all the facts they are
able on the voyage, mark down all the indications
by the respective charts make allowance for the lee
way-for they might be compelled, each one of
them, to take the command on the happening of
some particular exigency Ruiz, the Spanish cap
tam, IN the mean time, is taking his wine, enjoys
himself like lord, and INDUCES himself in good
things while he is laying out the of his vessel
Although, living in this way, he was not the
man to stand watch as had been described by
the witnesses, unless he had especial interest in
the voyage. Gentlemen say, he didn't act as mate.
How did he acti What did he do' Certainly Cap
tain Flowery must have had dream or a present.
ment at New Orleans, that he was to meet some
where on his voyage two men who would discharge
the duties of mates for him, for he shipped no mate
himself, and had none on board. II was the duty
of mate to act in the place Of the captain at times
and especially take charge and stand watch when
the captain slept-aness indeed he slept al ALL
II, indeed, he never slept, he must have been like
the Argus in classic story, who was always awake,
like the beast in Ezekie which had eyes before and
eyes behind. Laughter in court. The captain
must have determined to act mate, and discharge
a mates duties, as well as his own, or have pre-
sentiment that two men were to appear at some par
ucular time and assume these indispensable duties.
This vessel the last one in the world that could
go on such voyage ns this without mate. The
great expense Of her fitting out, the profit anticipate
ed, were elements that would induce the owners not
to stand for such small trife that of the mates
wages. But these were to go out and come
back mates. By reason, too, ofthe peculiar NOR
ality of the African coast-the lying at Rio Pongo,
and being exposed To the malaria ofthat rver-both
Captain Flowery and the Spanish Captain would
have said, we must have mate He would again
refer to the charts. The three individuals alluded
to, took three different observation by the charts