Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-09-18

commander Of the Echo, "a q prisoner. lie will
be kept in the custody Of the frigato Sabine to
States Marshal of South Carolina, whe hns the
Echo in custody for adj publication, and the Dolphin
will proceed tomorrow for Boston.
Capt. Townsend is a native Of Rhode Island. and
has o wife and three children residing in Provi.
dence. lie is about SO years Of age. and a man Of
superior address and education. He is tall and
well formed, and has progressing features. He
has light hair, large sandy w~hiskers, and Is scru'
pulously exact ia his dress. lie speaks freely up
on tho affairs Of the voyage Of the Echo, and states
that he was driven to engage in the slave trade be-
cause Of i'll success in his voyages in legitimate
commerce After the Echo left New Orleans, he
states that he called tho crew ait, and said to them
that be proposed 10 60 in the slave trade. aud prom
ised them 5000 each if they would continue upon
the voyage. The Portuguese and Spaniards were
probably aware of the nature of the voyage before
t was projected. All the crew aceeded to The prop
osition. Instead Of proceeding to St. Thomas. for
which port she had %ehipped, the Echo shaped hcr
course for the Coast Of Africa. When she reached
Congo River, she landed 40 Spaniards, the slave
agents who went to look after tho cargo, and the
Echo proceeded TO an island on the coast for water
and fresh provisions. They we're chased from this
island by a French brig-of'war, from which they
escaped in a fog.
Returning thence to The coast, they took 40
slaves on board, 100 OF whom died ON the passage.
Capt. Townsend then gave up the command Of the
vessel to Il Spauiard, and shipped as a passenger
on The brig. This is the frequent ruse in the slave
trade to avoid the responsibility in case of capture.
The Spanish captain having calculated his reckon.
ing incorrectly, the brig ran ashore in the night at
Abaco, in the Bahama Isl .nds. Floating off at
high water, she proceeded on her voyage, and at
daylight passed Sagula Ia Grande, when she disI
covered the Dolphin making toward her under Brit
ish colors. She supposed the Dolphin to be q Span.
ish brig, which had hoisted British colors for a
rpea mt eupnoa;n0 thai thnra trae .pu Annripan
vessel Of war cruising among the West Indies, or,
il there was, that any American vessel would take
sufficient interest in the matter to interfere. When
it became evident that the Dolphin was gaining on
her, the crew Of the SLAYER knocked out the hedg-
os from her masts and sawed down and cast over.
board her bulwarks, to increase her speed. AT the
same time the liquorclosets were opened, and the
excitement of the chase vas heightened by the
general intoxication of the crew. No less excl.
ting was the scene on board Of the Dolphin, though
the artificial stimuli were not resorted to tn ere.--
The Dolphin's men were confident of a capture, and
this confidence was increased when 1t became evi
dent that they were rapidly gaining on the SLAYER.
Already the negroes were observed on the deck Of
the Echo. After a chase Of nearly nine hours, the
Dolphin fired two blank cartridges at the Echo to
make Der show her colOrs. This was not regard
ed, and Capt. Mafit ordered q shot to be fired,
which passed a few feet from her stern. The Echo
then ran up American calors, ard the Dolphin i'm
mediately hauled down the British flag and ran
up the stars and stripes. The next shot fired
passed between the masts of the SLAYER, and seeing
that she was entirely at the mercy of the Dolphin
the Echo then hauled down the American colors
Capt. Mafft despatched Lieut.. Bradford, two Other
officers, and sixteen men aboard the SLAYER, whc
took possession of her. Capt. Mafit himself sub
sequcntly visited the Echo. lie states that al
though presenting u sad spectacle, the condition O
the Echo and the slaves were much better thar
that of most slavers and cargoes. Capt. Townsend
etafoa that thav had baap ollowoa nytra ratione n
improve their appearance and enhance their value
in market. They were the captives Of warlikt
tribes brought to the coast and placed in barra
coons. While awaiting the arrival Of the slave
ship they we're fed on roots and esculents, anC
~scantily fed at that, and their close confinement
was terrible. On the Echo, Capt. Townsend states
they we're fed on rice, beans, slivers of pork, and
quart of water, and a small quantity of whisk,
each day. Tobacco was also given them, and the.
we're exceedingly fond OF it.
4 Capt. Townsend is at no loss to find excuse 70
n his act. He states that the slave trade is human
5 ty to the prisoners taken by the warlike tribes i
Africa that before they we're sold to the ira
=. ders they were put to death in cold blood, and tina
. the captivos in the Echo would prefer a life on
:. plantation to the sufferings they endured at tb
e hands of their enemies in the barracoons. lie say
: that the horrors Of the slave trade, as depicted b
e writers, are based upon the Imagination, and ar
4 only true as regards the trade carried on by tn
t Spanish and Portuguese.
e Capt. Townsend is connected with an honorabl
e family in Rhode Island. lie distinguished hin
!, self in the war with Campeachy for his determine
n ton and bravery. His last exploit will bring dit
grace upon an honorable name, and tarnish th
n lustTe of his previous achievements. He is some
h what detected and melancholy, but is confident {
n escaping the extreme penalty of his crime by tn
ii verdict OF n South Carolina jury. lie ex presse
his qualification at being captured by an America
r vessel Of war, and is grateful to Lieut.. Mafit fc
the kind treatment he has received at his hand
a while a prisoner. lie has not at any time bee
N placed in irons, but hos been confined below decks
e, guarded by a sentry.