The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1858-12-16

Of arms, and her general appearance and rig
gave satisfactory evidence of her native build
The Echo sailed from New Orleans on the
18th day Of March, and arrived at Kabenda,
coast of Africa on the 3Oth day of June. She
received on board four hundred and seventy
three negroes. Of these, one hundred and
Dty-fre had persisted before her capture J;
twelve died on the passage to Charleston;
thirty-seven in Charleston, and fifty -seven more
to the date Of her arrival at st. Vincent's.
The majority of the slavers crew are Spaniards
and Portuguese, and as desperate and piratical
looking set of ruffians as ever cut a throat for
dollar Some of those in jail, although pro-
Tossing to be Of the ships company, and merely
acting as hired seamen, are evidently men of
means and intelligence, and were doubtless part
owners of the cargo or agents of the owners.
It was nearly ten o'clock at night before the
prisoners were properly confined, and prize
crew arranged, under Lieutenant Bradford, who
was appointed as the prize officer. Captain
Maffit ordered Lieutenant Bradford to keep in
close company with the Dolphin during the
night, in order to give him an opportunity to
write his dispatches, and duly consider the
proper course to pursue in this new and delicate
question. The urgent necessity, in the condi-
ton and nature of the prize, of having prompt
communication with the seat of Government, as
well as of reaching without delay port where
the prisoners and slaves could be properly cared
for, determined Captain Mafit, upon reflection,
to send the SLAYER and slaves to Charleston, as
he felt convinced, from his personal knowledge,
that at that place every accommodation posi-
BILE could be afforded to the unfortunate Afri-
cans, while be had every confidence that the
crew Of the SLAYER would be tried fairly and
without prejudice On the morning of the 22d,
therefore, extra water and provisions were sent
on board the captured brig.
A trusty crew was placed under the command
of Lieutenants Bradford and Carpenter, who
received their final orders for their course and
action The SLAYER crew were also again trans
ferred to the Echo, with the exception of Cap
tain Townsend himself, and two of the men who
were suffering from sickness. Their disease was
at that time African fever but it was rapidly
generating yellow fever, to which it appears
near akin and subsequently, on the arrival of
the Dolphin at Key West, they were sent to
the hospital there, on the representation of DR..
Brown, the Dolphin's surgeon, that they would
innoculate yellow fever on board if retained in
the vessel. They are since reported to have
d;od Y v Noc+ of +bo+ d;eaoco
Captain Mafit came to the determination Of
keeping the SLAYER captain on board the Dol
phin, and to send him to Charleston after the
prize, from Key West, because the intelligence,
the evidently scheming mind and resolute will,
the undoubted courage, and, above all, the
manner of Captain Townsend gave Indication
of master spirit that, in the event of trouble
with the large body Of negroes or of any unto
ward circumstances, might place the prize Off
GERS in jeopardy. Their responsibility was al
ready not only great and distressingly irksome,
but really hazardous in the extreme, and ought
not, in Captain Maffit's opinion, to be increased
Indeed, it must rarely fall to the lot of naval
officers to be under the necessity of performing
uuty uHutI SUCH trying anu HUITlule CHCuiH-
stances as those which must have surrounded
Lieutenants Bradford and Carpenter, and too
much credit cannot be awarded them for their
conduct in those distressing and sickening
scenes.
Unceasing anxiety, the necessity of constant
watchfulness, the Importance of being always
armed and on the alert for danger, deprived
them of their natural rest, and fatigued their
minds as well as their bodies Disease, filth,
wretchedness, and human suffering were before
their eyes at all hours of the day and night. A
stencil, too sickening to be borne, was present
in every part of the ship, destroying the appe-
tite and nauscating the stomach And all this
misery was patiently and nobly endured by the
gallant officers and the brave and faithful crew
for nine days; for although the passage to
Charleston consumed but six days, three more
elapsed before the prize officers and their men
obtained release from their onerous and unen-
viahle duties