Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1854-12-15


matter where-and instantly clear"
"But if you were seized at that moment
could the officers tell, by searching the
ship, that she was slaver?"
"Oh, yes, they couldn't help knowing
Besides, they must suspect something from
seeing such an almighty crew. My little
brig carried bu, 200 tons, and could be
manned by four men. But had fourteen
before the mast. The moment Of leaving
port is the one Of danger. But we dom,
lose time. A steamer is kept ready, and
VIC get under way Immediately. Often
two or three slavers leave at once. We
steam down the bay, and over the bar,
aud then the ocean is before US, and We
set our course for any quarter We please" "
"But when you reach the African coast,
are you not in great danger from British
ships Of war?'
"Oh, no, we don't care for the English
squadron. We run up the American flag,
and if they come aboard, all we have to
do is to show our American papers, and
they have no right to search us. So they
growl and grumble aud 60 of again"
"That may do very well when you are
going in empty. But suppose you are
comiug out with cargo Of slaves on
board p
Even then We can get along we'll
enough, if the niggers will keep quiet.
We put them all below deck, and nail
down our matches, AMI then present our
papers. The officers have no right to 60
below. The only danger in this case is,
that they will stay on board tno long They
often suspect the truth, and hang about
for an hour or two. BY this time the mig
gers are stided, aud begin to make noise
Then the thing is out, and they seize the
ship"
CATER that, suppose you are punish
ed |" "Oh, no; We generally get Of.
You see as we are Americans, they must
bring US to an American port to be tried.
But if they run the ship into port along
the coast, they get one pound head for
every recaptured slave. So they generally
prefer to let US 60, and get their prizemo-
ney."
"How many could you carry on your YES
sel?" 1--WE took on board 664. We might
have slowed away S0O If she had been
going to the Brazils, We should have ia.
ken that number, She would carry $50
niM pleasure. The boys and women We
kept on the upper deck. But all the
strong men-those giant Africans that
might make US trouble-we put below on
the slave deck" "Did you chain them
or put on handouts ?" "No, never; they
would die. We let them move about"
care you very severe with them ?" ave
have to be pretty strict at frst-for a
week or so, to make then feel that We are
masters. Then we tighten up for the rest
of the voyage"
"How do you pack them at night ?"
"They lie down upon the deck, on their
sides, body to body. There would not be
room enough for all to lie on their backs"
"Did many die on the passage!" ayes.
l lost good many the last cruise-more
than ever before. Sometimes we find
them dead when we 60 below in the NOR
ming Then re throw them overheard"
"Are the profits Of the trade rerylargc?"
any brig cost sl3, 900 to fit her ou. COM
pletely. My last cargo to Cuba was worth
SEQ, 600 But it was seized by The late
Captain General, Pezuela He did more
to break up the slave-trade than any ono
else. II he had remained in Office, he
would have stopped it altogether. But
now Concha is back again, and it goes on
as fourishing as ever"
"But thought Concha was the great
enemy of the slavc-trade !" $50 he is
in words. He talks great deal, but Pc
zuela acted From time immcmorial, the
planters estate has been sacred. But Pc
zuela respected nothing. He seized the
negroes wherever he could find them,
even on the plantations. BY this he in-
CURED the cnmity Of the planters; and he
would probably have been assassinated, if
he had not been recalled"
"Did you ever have fights with the Eng
li.h ships2" "Yes, once ship pof-w war
chased two of us. We knocked the sticks
out Of her. We didu't stop to look after
the dead. At another thine l was captur
cd. 1t was in dead calm, and there was
no chance to get away. When saw
that We we're gone, went below and stove
iu every cask of water but one. The other
ship was short too. So we had both to
put in to the land to get water. They put
on board of US lieutenant and crew. But
lie did not know the coast, and as We drew
towards land, be had to make me pilot,
at the same time to shoot me
if | run her on shore. l took the helm,
al $50, Lo. into an ;n1at No soof,ef had