The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-09-15
A Visit to the Echo and
Appearance of the Negroes. m

We have already noticed the capture
of the Slave brig Echo, with cargo of
Africans bound to Cuba. She is now at
Charleston, S. c., and the Mercury of
that city gives the following interesting
details Of the SLAYER, her crew and car
GO:
The real name of the captured brig is
the General Putnam. These letters are
partially erased and covered over by the
assumed name Echo. and would doubtless
have been restored, had success crowned
the enterprise in which she was engaged
when taken. She is of Baltimore build,
say $50 tons burden, and, it is believed
was formerly packet in the coffee trade
between that port and Rio. On the 9th
of March last she cleared from New Or
leans with captain, two mates. eight
seamen, cook, steward and one passen-
ger.
On the 5,h of July she shipped car
go of 455 slaves on the west coast of
Africa, at Kabenda, situated in latitude
$50 south. longitude 1920 east. 1t is
in lower Guinea. in the southern part Of
the District of Loango and not far from
the river Congo or Zaire. These slaves
were purchased in circuit of 500 miles,
and assembled at barracoon near the
point of shipment. The brig set sail
with them, and in forty-seven days made
the trip, reaching the point of destination
on the morning of the 2lst inst. In this
space of time one hundred and forty me-
groes had died, leaving but three hundred
anc fourteen alive.
A bay on Cape Verde one of the keys
on the north coast of Cuba, latitude
1880, longitude 1920, was the landing
place where the Echo was detected by
the Dolphin The officers of the Dol
phin left the harbor Of Sagua la Grande
the day before. and while cruising about
in search of slavers, perceived the Echo
at dayligh. in the distance, bearing the
Baitish flag, and running down the coast
ahead of the Dolphin in the same direction.
No suspicion was excited. The brig en-
tered the bay. The Dolphin run on her
course, and in good time came in view of
the bay and the Echo. The captain of
the SLAYER now lost his presence of mind
supposing he was suspected and pursued
aud suddenly heuled off from the coast. =
1t was then observed that number OF
launches near the shore had their sails set
to come out to the brig. This verified
the suspicion excited by her strange
movement, aud the Dolphin gave chase
to tine flying vessel, still bearing the
British flag. Blank cartridges were fred
and it became evident that the pursuer
gained The SLAYER spread all her can
vass in vain, aud finding herself aboutito
fall into the clutches ofsthe cruizer
thought to be British, hauled down that
alg and run up the stars end stripes.
The Dolphin followed suit, displaying
heI true colors, and brought her to with
few shotted guns fired after her. She
was boarded by lent. Bradford ard sixteen
men, and surrendered at discretion. No
papers were found, but signal of black
cross on white ground. which was prob.
ably jnst been used to notify the party on
shore by previous agreemen. The crew,
nineteen in number, professed to be all
passengers without captasn or officers =
But Lieut. Maffit selected the prisoner who
appeared to be at the head of the enter.
prise, and took. him aboard the Dolphin
with sick semsn and comrade to tend
him. The rest were brought here by
Lieut.. Bradford. 1t seems that the cap
tain and those two men we're not sent tt
Charleston on board the Catawba from
Key West. as was expected, bua are nov
on their way to Boston in the ship Dol
/ phin