Wilmington journal., 1858-09-03
From the Charleston Courier, 30th inst.
The CAPTURED Africans.

AS the arrival of captured slave ship in this port is
an event to the present generation of citizens and
residents it will be readily supposed that it has furnish
ed the chief staple of conversation in all parties. The
officers of Quarantine and others who have had oppor-
tuntes of visiting the brig Echo since her arrival
reported in the Courier Of Saturday morning have been
piled with ceaseess questions by hundreds Of eager in
qurers and groups and knots of citizens have been
lively and busy engaged i'll discussing the transaction
and the laws applicable to it.
The Echo is full rugged brig of 200 TONS with q
slave deck fore and aft masts and presents generally
the appearance of smart vessel The vessel was
formerly known as the Putnam, of New Orleans which
title can yet be traced, in part Oh her stern.
So far have ascertained particulars, the Echo
took On board four hundred and fifty Africans from the
Guinea coast, and had been out fortyfve days when
captured.
The number of Africans returned and delivered yes
terday to the U. S. Marshal, Dr. d. II. Hamilton was
three hundre-two hundred and sixty males and forty
females.
This shows mortality at the rate of hirty-hree per
cent since the departure from Africa. The rate of
talty as calculated in time, has diminished since the
Echo captured
best possible relief for the Africans under disease
and to prevent the spreading of any disease the captive
crew was landed yesterday at Castle Pinckney This
step taken, OF course by authority, and with the
consent of all concerned and the transfer made by
the steamer Gen. ClulC chartered for that purpose by
James Conner ESQ., U. S. District Attorney. A guard
detailed from the u S. forces in this command has been
assigned to Castle Pinckney.
As the Africans passed from the steamer to Castle
Pinckney wharf they presented a sad and affecting
sig ht which closely observed 10y all present Many
were reduced to walking skeletons, and some evidently
in dying condition. A few cases indicated dropsies
and their instances of hernia. Some also exhibit
traces of other diseases but goody number were APP
parently in health. Many of them are very young
Sixteen scamen of the captured crew were brought
IN noifUI in tbn tuCr id oO1h hoor,
lodged in Jail, under charge Of the U. S. Marshall
They able bodied scamen-the profits Of this trade
being sufficient to secure. the best crews.
Others of the who expected by the Cataw-
BID did not arrive, and two of the German and
q Portuguese-are at large at Key West.
The Captan-or the one supposed to have been in
command of the Echos still prisoner in the Dolphin
and will probably be taken to Boston for trial.
The Key of the Gulf (Key West,) publishing an ex.
ira giving an account of this capture, says
The prize had on her stern Echo' and painted out
was Putnam of New Orleans" The crew consisted
of twenty men-haIf American and half Spanish Nc
one would acknowledge the command, the supposed and
probable captain-who is evidently American-upon
the question being asked, Who is captain ?" replied
with the utmost GOODNESS and dignity, L" All are cap
tains The vessels papers, colOrs, and everything cal
culated to identity her, those connected with her
were destroyed Immediately upon the conviction that
escape was impossible
Capt Mafitt put Lieutenants J. NJ. Bradford and G.
G. Carpenter with twenty on board, confined the
briggs crew in double irons-except the supposed cap
TAIN who as he seemed to be an intelligent and deter
mined man, was taken on board the Dolphin where hi
is in double rOnsand ordered the vessel to Charles
ton for adjudication for which port sail was then made
and the two vessels parted company
Two sick passengers-against whom there was IL
proof of complcity-were taken board the Dolphin
and put ashore at this place.
This is the first SLAYER captured by an American man
owar and the prize with slaves sent to United
port and it cannot fail to create considerable excite
ment at Washington, and indeed throughout the coun
try.
The prize had on board when taken about three hun
dred and thirty Africans, mostly young men-none o
whom were thirtyfve years of age and there wa
evidently several births On the voyage More than sew
eneighths of the slaves male and female were in nude
state. They confined to the deck in sitting pos
ture-" spoon fashion" Originally there were 40 ia
ken on board, of which number lao had died
Among the incidents Of the capture we learn, tina
the night before that event. the vessel being within
about eighty miles of the port OF destination CRANE
champagne blow OUT had on board in authorization
of soon successfully completing the voyage and finger
ing the proceeds-of which are informed each of th
crew to receive 5000 and the owners expected t.
dear $l3OO00; but before they had had time to see1
off the effects Of their potatOns the Dolphin hove il
sight at daylight much to their surprise and chagrin
Aso during the chase, when it was thought by the sa
vers that their vessel dstancing the Dolphin the7
again INDUCED i'll champagne, drinking confusion to th
pursurers leaning over the rail and bowling and tossing
of bumper in the most approved and dont-you-wish
couldcatchu us" style. But when the last Shot wa
fired going between her masS their Selfassuranee ant
hopes of escape turned to fear and excienk and afte
the capture they expressed great astonishment as to th
accuracy of the shot, and asked what kind of gul
sent ball that distance"
-SWTN-