The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-11-17
The slave ship.

The slave ship.
As night set in, the wind freshened, viii
short, quick, head-ses, through which tn,
ship, under full sail, ploughed uneasy way
As the motion increased, the most heart
rending sounds began to issue from between
her decks. 1t grew stronger and stronger
blending with the almost overpowering, anC
creaking Of spars and bulkheads, and thu
melancholy wall OF the breeze among the
aughtened cords Of the weather-rigging. A
deep, dull chorus Of means, and sobs, anC
signs, arose from the grated hatchways
spread around upon the air, and enwrapped
the crusted craft in all the harmonies of hell
1t was the shIill cry Of youth, and the sob
bing voices OF woman in the hour Of fright
and distress. Ii was the deep groan Of
manhood, wrung by pain from the painting
breast. 1t was the choking sobs of oppressed
respiratiOn--the retchings of nausea-the
clanking of fetters-and the stentorous
gaspings of wretches in the last agonies Of
death.
The next morning five corpses were pick.
ed out from among the men, and two from
among the women, and thrown overheard.
Only seven!' exclaimed the captain:
"welll that's devilish good luck so far.
always calculate with full cargo to lose
from fifteen to twenty by the first touch Of
sea-sickness. Come bear a hand there,
and give them an airing
From forty to fifty al time were now
brought upon deck. As they emerged from
the hatchway they were manacled together
in gangs Of six or eight, as much to pre-
vent individuals from jumping overheard as
TO guard against resistance. Each gang was
then placed in turn on the forecastle, the
brakes OF a forcing pump manned, and a
stream OF water directed through hose
upon them. After being thoroughly drench.
ed, they were allowed to dry themselves for
fifteen or twenty minutes, and were then
passed down TO their sharkles 10 be sue.
ceeded by another set.
Never, but in a SLAYER, were seen such
groups Of woe-begone wretches. Many
were i'll with previous disease, and all of
them laboring under the distressing effects
Of sea-sicknesS their naked bodies, be.
grimed with filth, shivered and shrunk in
the cool fresh air, and their quivering lips
and rolling eyes expressed the height Of
bodily suffering, mental agony, and hope
less despair. There was none Of that stolid
Indifference which had characterized the
Of their faces on shore. There.
cruelty and hardship had assumed familiar
Torms, and a logged endurance opposed it.
self to the frowns OF fate. Here they were
Ipon new and fearful element--new ter
'ors aroused their jaded and sluggish fears
new pangs developed the sensations of their
,enumbed and hardened frames. Alas
hey were only at the commencement oil
heir fearful voyage-at the threshold mere
y OF the horrors that we're to multiply, in
ratio, the further they advanced.
attempted TO visit the slave.decks. The
lights, sounds, and smells were intolerable:
md with death like sickness at the heart |
was compelled to retire. Good heavens |
exclaimed, Il had no idea Of this!'
why, it isn't very pleasant said the
aptain, but what can you expect when
hey are all sea-sick? Wait till they get
'ver that, and we shall be able to keep
hem in better order; and, besides, they'll |
naturally thin out little, and that will
make them more comfortable
But Is such is the state of things in fair
weather., Il demanded, how will il be if it
hould come on to blowi'
IF tits downright regular gale, we shall
ave the dis own time, Of course re-
lied the captain. when it comes to
losing the matches, it is all up with the
oyage. You can hardly save enough to
ay expenses. They die like leeches in
lunder storm. | was once in a little
chooner with three hundred on board, and
'e were compelled to lie to for three days.
was the worst sea l ever saw, and came
ear swamping us several times. We lost
so slaves in that gale. We couldn't get
the dead ones to throw them overheard
cry handily, and so those that did mt die
ON want OF air were killed by the rolling
nd tumbling about of the corpses. or the
wing ones, some had their limbs broken.
nd every one had the flesh of his leg worn
} the bone by the shackle irons.'
Good Godl and you still pursue the hor.
BILE trade!'
Certainly; why not? Despite of acct.
snts the trade is profitable, and for the
'uelty of it, no one is to blame except the
nglish. Were it not for them, large and
'omy vessels would be employed, and it
ould be an object to bring the slaves over
lth every comfort; and in as good con-
ton as possible. Now, every cons.dera.