Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1858-06-18
AN AMERICAN SLAYER.

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[A correspondent Of the New TorL
Journal Of Commerce, writing from on
board the U. s. frigato powh.ttau, at St
Helena, under date of Feb. 1st, thus de.
scribes SLAYER captured on the African
coast
The SLAYER is a brigantine, and wa:
built about four years ago in New Lond.
on, Connecticut. 1t was admirably con.
structed for speed, being something less
than $50 feet in length by less than 80
in width, and having measurement Of
220 tons. The hold was entirely empty.
Some planks had been torn up from the
bottom, probably in search of money,
which slayers usually conceal there when
there is danger Of being captured. A
private on board the Powhattan tells me
that once when be was serving in our AT.
ricau feet, be himself discovered above
$4,000 in gold pieces by tearing up a
plank Of the SLAYER which bad been cap
tured. The hold had been foored from
stem to stern, though the flooring was
now removed, and not a track of it was to
be seen. Thus the hold is about equally
divided horizontally, the upper division
being the slave deck, which is not above
four feet and half high. The gangway
leading to the slave deck is the only aper-
ture for light and air, and even this is in
part defeated in its object by the heavy
iron grating which is thrown over it to
prevent the escape Of the slaves in case
Of mutiny, and which is never removed
except when gang of slaves are taken
up for air and washing. Thus the wretch
es who carry on this detestable traffic,
seem to desire to chain heavens free and
sweet bounties as well as human limbs.
To locate si1 hundred and .ffty 4fri-
cans within the space afforded by the slave
deck Of SO small vessel, required the ut
most compression and compactness COM
patible with life, and had not SO large a
portion been mere children, they could
not have been slowed away. was told
the following method was employed to
economize. space. The Africans were
placed in rows face to face, lensth.wise of
the deck, and each one running one leg
between the legs of the one sitting oppo-
site. Another row was placed back to
back sgainst the exterior row first seated,
and thus the whole deck was almost
solid mass of living human flesh. To
keep them still and powcrless, and prevent
insurrection, ring was put on one ankle,
to which an iron bar was attached which
reached up to the body, and to which the
manacles we're fastened which were put
on their wrists. Thus situated, row fa-
cling row, and legs interlaced with legs,
long iron bar ran along over the line of
ankles, to which the irons we're attached
which fastened the feet. Thus nearly all
motion Of the body and exercise Of the
limbs was impossible, men in the stocks
having as much liberty as they had, with |
all the advantage of light and air. Even
for day, such position would be pain
full and almost intolerable; what then a
passage from continent to continent over
the broad Atlantic, amidst storms and
calms, and euffocation, and occupying Of
ten srty days and more!
Occasionally the slaves are taken on
deck in gangs, where they may breathe
the pure air short time, and where they
are washed by having buckets of salt wa
ter thrown upon them, and the fetters and
manacles yet remaining on them, and the
salt water washing the sores and raw flesh
which their sitting position on the hard
planks, their pressing against each other,
together with the CALLING irons, have made.
Both men and women are either utterly
naked, or else have hardly the equal of
fg leaf apron for their protection. The
stencil and filth are necessarily horrible
and iudescribable, which a stable or sty
can hardly exceed, and seldom equal. |