Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-05-14
From the Falmouth (Jamaical Post of April 2
Capture of an American SLAYER.

On Thursday last, the 10th instant the inhab
tants of St. AIMS Bay were thrown into state
of excitement by the arrival of a schooner-ev-
identity American-towed into pert by III. NJ. brig
ARAB" 1t was soon ascertained that the schoon
er was a SLAYER, and that she had on board a
large number of captives. 1t appears that the
captain of the Arab had received information
that barque and schooner were expected in
Cuba from the coast of Africa, each with cargo
of slaves. 4 strict watch was therefore kept
and on Monday, the 18th instant, suspicious
looking craft was seen, making the best of her
way to her destined port. She was closely pur-
| sued, and the captain finding there was no pos
sibiity of escaping from the Arab" deserted
her, taking with him in a shallop his crew, mon
ey, chronometer and other articles.
| The commander of the Arab dispatched his
gunboat with ID men, under the command of the
LIST lieutenant, with orders for the capture of the
shallop. The chase continued for nearly three
hours-and a shot having destroyed the rudder
| OF the shallop, the captain, who was owner of
the SLAYER, surrendered. Two of his principal
! slaves, and an interpreter, were taken from the
shalop, and the crew were left in it to make the
best of their way to Cuba. The first lieutenant
then boarded the schooner, and found filed with
young Africans, males and females, to the num-
Der OF 3d. no less than l37 having fallen victims
to the horrors of the middle passage during a
voyage of twenty-nlne days.
The poor captives were in q wletched condi-
tion-all of them were naked-and the greater
part seemed to have been half.starved. They
were packed closely together, and covered with
dirt and vermin. On the arrival of the schooner
in st. AIMS Bay, several gentleman went on
board, and their sympsthies were excited at the
misery they witnessed. Messrs. Bravo & Bro
suggested measures which were adopted, and
with their usual lberality ordered steer to be
killed, and soup prepared for the sufferers other
gentlemen furnished ground provisions, bread,
&c; while the food was being prepared, the
whole Of the cargo was brought upon deck
washed, and blankets given to them until cloth
ing could be procured
Thirty of them were in dying state, but the
most humane attention was paid to them, and up
to the time when our informant left st. AIMS
Bay, they were all alive.and expected to do we'll
The honorable Charles Reyes, Custes of the
Parish, sent of without loss of time, dispatch
TO his Exceilency, the Lieutenant Governor, ac-
qualntlng him with all the circumstances con-
nected with the capture and requesting 10 be
informed whether the captives should be handed
over to proprietors of estates who were anxious
to procure their services
The captain of the schooner refused to give his
name, or the name of the vessel, but stated that
he would be a loser of 39,000-a loss which did
not cause him much concern, as he had made 9th
sr successful trips. A great deal of information
however, has been obtained from the interpreter
VINO meHuoned That several vessels We're left
on the African cOast-that they were to have
sailed soon with full cargoes-that upon an nv.
erage two vessels departed weekly, each with
oOO to 200 slaves on board-thai the trade was
RAPIDLY increasing-and that the slaves on being
landed IN Cuba were worth from $500 10 S7OJ
each
With regard to those that were captured in the
schooner, ;here was bat one day supply of pro.
VISIONS On the day of capture, and so limited was
the quantity Of food doled on; to them DURING the
passage. that when they saw the soup. bread
yahs &c, winch were sent on board by the gen.
temen OF 1t. AIMS, they made rush 10 get AT
them, and 1t was found necessary 10 exercise |
rigid discipline, in order that the numbers tina.
we're the most enfeebled should be the FIRST SIM.
Piled.
4 ne slave schooner has two decks, and between
them the eaptiyes were packed in such q man.
ner that they had scarcely room TO move. Dur
ing each day OF the voyage they sat in painful
posture, eighteen inches only being allowed for |
each 10 turn in and in deck room of thirty feet
IN length 800 hnman beings were slowed away, /
and brought up, in platoons, once every day, to /
get small portion Of fresh air. The schooner
draws six feet Of water, is of great breadth, and
hat-bot.omed, and was thus built to enable her. |
in case of pursuit. TO run into port where there
was not much depth Of water.
The interpreter states that when slave trading /
captains cannot escape cruisers, they make their
way to particular point of land on the Cub.
eoast-run the vessel ashore-snd leave the /