The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-14
OFFICIAL
UHrIp STATES SHIP YoRKrows


Kabinda, africa Dec l6, l645
SR: have the honor to inform you that | ad-
dressed letter TO you on the Goth ultimo, giving
of the capture Of the American barque Pons
Of Philadelphia with eight hundred and ninety-six
slaves on board, duplicate Of which now enclose
was anxious to despatch the vessel il the short
est time for Liberia in order to land the slaves and
relieve them from their miserable confinement, that
il was not in my power to give you more particu-
lar account Of this vessel. | will endeavor to
do so, and also state some facts which have since
come to my knowledge.
The Pons, under the command of James Berry,
was at anchor at Kabinda for about twenty days be-
fore she took on board the slaves, during which
time she was closely watched by her Britannia Ma
jesty's brig Cygnet, Commander Layton. At about
nine O'Clock on the morning of the 9th November
the Cygnet got under way and stood to sea. I'M
mediately Berry gave up the ship to Gallsno, who
commenced getting on board the water, provisions,
and slaves; and 30 expeditions they in their
movements, that at eight o'clock that evening the
vessel was under weigh, having embarked nine hun.
dred and three slaves. Instead Of standing directly
to sea, she kept in with the during the night
At daylight they were off Kacongo, about twenty
FIVE miles to the north Of Kabinda, when they dis.
covered the Cygnet In the ofing. They immediate.
ly furled all their sails, and drilled so near the
Shore that the negroes lined the beach, in hope of
shpwreck. They continued in this situation until
meridian, when, finding they had not been discov-
cred they set their lower sails in order clear the
shore, and as the Cygnet drew off from the land
they afterwards set their more lofty ones. Two
days afterwards we captured her. Her crew con-
sisted Of Spaniards, Portuguese, Brazians, and
some from other countries, and although continuing
under the American flag, with probably American
papers, not one American on board.
As | could not despatch her the evening Of her
capture, she kept company with us that night
The next morning | regretted to learn that eigh
teen had died, and one jumped overheard. Sc
many dying in 80 short time, was accounted fol
by the captain in the necessity he had Of thrusting
below all who were on deck and closing the matches
when he first fell in with in order to escape de.
lection.
The vessel has no slave-deck, and upwards OIL
eight hundred and fly were piled almost in bulk
on the water-casks below; these were males; abou,
forty or fifty females were confined in one-half Of
the round-house cabin on deck; the other half oil
the cabin remaining for the use Of the officers. As
the ship appeared to be less than three hundred and
fifty TOMS it seemed impossible that one-half could
have lived TO cross the Atlantic. About two hun
dred filled up the spar-deck alone, when they were
permitted to come up from below, and yet the cap
tain assured me that it was his intention to have
taken four hundred more on board if he could have
spared the time.
The stencil from below was so great that il was
impossible to stand more than few moments neal
the hatchways Our men who went below from GU
rosity, were forced up sick in few minutes; ther
all the matches were off What must have beer
the sufferngs of these poor wretches when tn,
matches we're closed | am informed that very
often in these cases, the stronger will srange tn,
weaker; and this was probably the why sc
many died, or rather were found dead, the morning
after the capture. None but an eyewitness car
form conception of the horrors these poor crea
lures must endure in their transit the ocean
l regret to say that most Of this misery is pro
DIN hu our firm
means Of conveyance in spite of existing enact
ments and atho ugh there are strong circumstance
against Berry, the late master Of the "Pons," SUI
fcient to induce me to detain him, if should NEE
with him, yet fear neither he nor his employer
can be reached by our present laws. He will nc
doubt make it appear that the "Pons" was beyond
his control when the slaves were brought on board
Yet, from the testimony of the men who came owe
from Rio passengers, there is no doubt the whole
affair was arranged at Rio between Berry and Gal
lano before the ship sailed. These men state tina
the first place they anchored was at Onin, near thu
river Lagos, in the Blight of Benin; here they
discharged a portion Of their cargo, and receive,
on board number Of hogsheads pipes filed ,Ciu
,ooter. These were slowed on the ground tier, an'
tier Of casks containing spirits were placed owe
them. They pers then informed that The pessei go
ing to Kabindd for load Of SLAVES.
On their arrival at the latter place, the spirit wal
kept on board until few days before Berry gave W
Inc COmmanu, covering Watct-Cashs III oTue
to elude the suspicious of any cruiser. For twenty
days did Berry wait in the roadstead of Kabinda
protected by the flag Of his country, yet closely
watched by foreign man-ofwar, who was certain
of his intentions but the instant that cruiser is com
PEELED to withdraw for few hours, he springs a
the opportunity. Of enriching himself and owners
and diseracing the flag which had protected him.
As we are short.handed, l have shipped thos,
men, much to their qualification, who came out al
passengers in the Pons from Rio to Kabinja, in or
der that their testimony may be taken should Berry
be in the United States on our return, and commit
ted for trial. | have landed the balance Of tn,
prize crew here, with the exception of one whC
died of coast fever few days after he came on
board this ship.
have the honor to be, sir,
With much respect,
Your obedent servant
CHAS. III. BELL,
Commander.
To Hon Gropnr R.1cporr