Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-09-17
ca,,ta,n To,ynsend,s statement.

Captain Toyynsend's Statement
special reporter of the New York Tribune, de-
scrbng visit to the Dolphin, furnishes the following
statement, which we give at its own value:
The Dolphin had on board Capt. Townsend, the COM
manier of the Echo, prisoner He will be kept in
the custody of the gate Sabine to await the requstion
of Mr. Hamilton, the United States Marshal of South
Carolina who has the Echo in custody for adjudication
and the Dolphin will proceed tomorrow to Boston, to
be fitted it is said, for the expedition to Paraguay
CAPT Townsend is native OF Rhode Island, and has
wife and three children residing in Providence. He
about 33 years of age and OF superior address
ami education He is tall and well formed, and has
progressing features. He has light hair large sandy
whiskers and is scrupuOusly exact in his dress. He
speaks freely upon the affairs of the voyage of the Echo
and states that he driven to engage in the slave
trade because of i'll success In his voyages III legitimate
commerce After the Echo left New Orleans he states
that he called the crew aft and said to them that he pur
posed to go in the slave trade and promised them 5000
each if they would continue the voyage The Portu-
guese and Spaniards probably of the nature
of the voyage before it projected. All the
ceded to the proposition Instead of proceeding to ST.
Thomas for which port she had cleared the Echo shaped
her course for the Coast of Africa When she reached
Congo River she landed two Spanards the slave agents.
who went to look after the cargo, and the Echo proceed
ed to an island on the coast for water and fresh prov
sions They were chased from the island by French
brg-ofwar, from which they escaped IN fog
Returning thence to the coast they took 40 slaves
board 100 of whom died On the passage. Capt Towns
end then gave up the command of the vessel to Span
lard, and shipped as messenger on the brig This is the
frequent in the slave trade to avoid the responsible
ity in case of capture. The Spanish captain having
calculated his reckoning incorrectly the brig ashore
in the night at Abaco in the Bahama Islands. Float
ing off at high water she proceeded her voyage and
at daylight passed Sagua la Grande, when she discover
ed the Dolphin making toward her under British coors
She supposed the Dolphin to be Spanish brig, which
had hoisted British colors, for ruse not supposng
that there any American vessel OF war cruising
mong the West Indies, there was, that any Amer
lean 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 hedges from her masts and sawed down and cast
overheard her buwarks to increase her speed AT the
same time the liquor closets opened and the excite
ment of the chase heightened by the general ntox
cation of the crew. No less exciting the scene on
board the Dolphin, though the artificial stimuli were
not resored to there The Dophins were confident
OF capture, and this confidence increased when 1t
became evident that they were rapidly gaining on the
SLAYER Already the slaves observed on the deck
of the Echo.
After chase of nearly nine hours, the Dolphin fired
two blank cartridges at the Echo to make her show heI
colors. This was not regarded and Capt Mafit order
ed shot to be fired, which passed few feet from hel
stern. The Echo then up American coors, and the
Dolphin Immediately hauled down the British flag anC
up the stars and stripes The next shot fired passed
between the masts of the SLAYER and seeing that she
entirely at the mercy Of the Dolphin, the Echo theI
hauled down the American colOrs. Capt. Mafft DIES
patched Lieut. Bradford two other officers and sixteen
men aboard the SLAYER, who took possession Of her
Capt Maft himself subsequently visited the Echo. He
states that although presenting sad spectacle the con
dton of the Echo and the slaves much better thar
! that of most slavcrs and cargOs Capt Townsend
states that they had been allowed extra raions to i'm
prove their appearance and enhance their value in mar
ke They were the captves of warlike tribes brought
tO fha 11ac
the arrival of the slave ship they fed roots an(
esculents and scantiy fed at that and their close
! finement was terrible On the Echo, Capt. Townsend
states, they fed rice, beans, svers Of pork anG
quart OF water, and small quantity Of whisky eacl
day. Tobacco was also given them, and they were ex
ceedingy fond oft.
Capt. Townsend is at no loss to find excuse for hE
act He states that the slave trade is humanity to thu
prisoners taken by the warlike tribes in Africa thai
before they not sold to the traders they put
to death in colo blood and that the capves in the Echo
would prefer life plantation to the surings they
endured at the hands of their enemies in the baracoons
He says that the horrors Of the slave trade depicted
by writer's based upon the imagination, and only
true regard the trade carried by the Spanish anC
/ Portuguese.
! Capt. Townsend is connected with an honorable fam
! lily in Rhode Island He distinguished himself in thu
with Campeachy for his determination and bravery
His last exploit will bring disgrace upon honorable
nane and tarnish the ustre of his previous achieve
ments He is somewhat detected and melancholy, bu
is confident of escaping the extreme penalty Of the crime
by the verdict of South Carolina jury. He expresse
his qualification at being captured by American yes
SCI Of war, and is grateful to Lieut. Mait for the kline
treatment he has received at his hand while prisoner
He has not at any time been placed in irons but ha
been confined below decks, guarded by sentry.
The Dolphin presents the appearance of having passe
through hard service. This being the first cargo 0
slaves ever recaptured by an American vessel, anc
brought to an American port the position of the Dol
phin and her officers is of peculiar interest
] Ekixer HI Sfranrer ,fiII the Gals I-nlres.