New-York daily tribune., 1856-03-19
THE AFRICAN SLAVE. TRADE IN NEW.YoRK.
ATTEMPTED ESCAPE OF A SLAYER.
HER CAPTURE BIZ o. s. OFFICERS.
WHO OWNS 1HE BHrG FALMOUTH
A RICH u r I u T. .

trade every year. This fact II well known TO the
authorities Of the United States who do all in their
power to break up the inquitous traffic But in spite
OF their vigilance and regardless Of the rigorous laws
which have been enacted ior its extinction the busi
ness is still carried here, and that, too, in some
cases by persons Who from their position in society,
would be least suspected of engaging in it. In fact
ls so lucrative that those who pursue are ready to
run every risk for its enormous profits. The imHe
diate agents engaged it mostly Portuguese and
Spaniards who have long followed II, and whose expe-
rence and cunning too often enable them to escape
from the consequences of their crime. 1t is exceedingly
difficult to convict these men. Their vessel may be
seized and detained but searching her nothing
be found TO crminate those who had her in charge,
and yet there may be moral doubt of their cupa-
bility. Formerly these vessels took out weapons to
the blacks as well to fight intruders they
also wont to carry shackles enough to secure
many slaves hey could carry. Now they depend
upon their speed to eude cruisers and instead of bind
ing their living cargo, they simply carry akeg two of
sharp carpettacks and if the slaves become restve,
handful or two of these sprinked among them soon
reduce them to submission. The slaves being naked
and closely packed, cannot make any movement
against their captors without being subjected to the
most excruciating pain-every step which they take
forcing the sharp points of the nails into their bare
feet They also stow the coppers away; and, if
boarded by a cruiser before the slaves taken on
board the vessel presents the appearance of legti
mate trader A few scattered bricks might perhaps
be found as well as a barrel Of lime close
tiny; but the former mh easily pass for ballast. and
if anybody should be inquistve enough TO ask the
use of the latter why it would be the easiest matter
in the world to convince him that il required to
purify the ship. Once on the slave coast however,
and the slaves on board bricks and mortar would
serve lust as well to fit up the coppers for cooking
their food. Such are a few Of the modern improve
ments.
The profits accruing from a successful run to and
from the West Coast of Africa, great that the
captain generally hides all traces Of his crime, mmed
stey after landing his cargo by either setting on fire
or scuttling the vessel In this way steady market
has been established for light, swift sailing schooners
and brgs which are built for one voyage only" AT
present the most difficult part which SLAYER has to
play is to obtain his clearance To clear the Custom
House he must show that his voyage is a lawful one
Here he is liable to suspicion and it may be, arrest
and forfeiture. Hence, find that the practice of
leaving port without eecting clearance is becoming
frequent Not long since Capt Smith, who was found
guilty of having been engaged in the Slave trade told
Mr. McKeon the United States DistrctAttorney, that
the custom of clearing these savers was i'd non
Z" sense of no use whatever" and that If he ever
went into the business again he should clear himself IN
the night Recently, several vessels have sailed from
this port under ofthe night, undoubtedly bound
on slave voyages. Such tricks, however, when TOO
often repeated apt to become stale, as the follow
ing account of the most recent attempt OF this kind and
its Illustration will show
Tor sonao dayv past Messrs- De Angels and Nevins
two of the Deputy United States Marshss have been
engaged in watching the movements of the schooner
Falmouth of Baltimore. On Monday she left her
moorngs at the foot of Fourteenth street, East River
and sailed up to Astoria In the course of the after
noon steamtug passed up that way from Catharine
slip having in tow another schooner and in the course
of Monday night the cargo in the second schooner was
transferred TO the hold of the Falmouth, and crew of
twelve Portuguese also put on board. The -
schooner then sailed on through Long Island Sound.
About midnight the Falmouth was taken in tow by the
steamtug Ajax and brought to the foot of Sixty
street where those who had her in charge filled SO
large casks with water from the hydrant, and forgot
to pay for it, The steamtug then took the schooner
again in tow and in all probability those on board ex-
pected to be safely at sea before daylight.
During Monday evening Messrs. De Angels and
Nevins informed Mr. McKeon and his Deputy, Mr..
JoachimOn of the position OF affairs in reference to
this schooner that she fitted up for SLAYER, and
would sail during the night without Custom-H House
clearance. Mr.. McKeon Immediately authorized them
TO charter stesmtug and to procure such assistance
| from the Navy.Yard as might be necessary. Commo-
dore Bgelow was aroused st midnight, and on being
informed Of the nature Of the case promptly placed
file of marines, under command of Capt Morgan, at
the service of the Msrshals. The steam-tug Only
Son. which had been chartered for the expedition,
was brought up TO the wharf, and the marines were
sent on board and slowed below. Commodore Bigdow
then ordered steam to be got up on the T. s. propeller
Dispatch and the Msrshss requested him to dispatch
her. to their assistance in hour after the SLAYER
passed down. The Only Son soon after sped down the
Bay and laid TO, under the shadow Of Fort Diamond,
awaiting the approach of the Ajax, with the Falmouth
in tow A long and weary time elapsed before she
made her appearance; indeed, the officers had begun
TO fear that they had lost their prize when, just as
day was breaking she came past and the Only Son
shot out in pursuit. A few seconds suftced 10 place
her along side and before she grazed her hull her cap
tors were on her deck. The Portuguese made rush
eft TO the cabin but the boarders were there before
them and secured the doors The crew Of the schooner
were ordered to surrender, which they did, prooaoiy
out Of respect to the muskes of the MARINES, but Win
very poor grace indeed. Meanwhile, the AJAX was
making desperate efforts to tow her to sea- when one
of the marines took an axe and cut the hawsers upon
which the tug turned tail and put of toward the
city with all possible speed.
After securing what papers they could ind, the
csptors returned with their prize in tow to the Navy
Yard. There she was leh in charge of Mr. Nevins
and Capt. Morgan, while Mr. De Angels went on
shore for the purpose of taking the necessary steps to
arrest the crew and libel the vessel. Messrs Meheon
and Joschnson went on board in the course OF yes
terday morning and examined the people belonging 70