Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1858-09-15
CLEARFIELD, PA. WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER Is. 1855.

Dolphin was gaining on her, the crew of
the SLAYER knocked ont the hedges from
her masts and sawed down and cast over
board her bulwarks, to increase her speed. !
At the same time the liquor closets were
opened, and the excitement Of the chase
was heightened by the general intox.
ication OF the crew. No less exciting was
the scene on board the dolphin, though
the artificial stimuli were not rcsovted to
there. The Dolphiu's men were conf
dent Of a capture, and this confidence was
increased when il became evident that
they were rapidly gaining on the SLAYER
Already the negroes we're observed on
the deck Of the Echo. After a chase Of
nearly nine hours the Dolphin fired two
blank cartridges at the Echo to make her
show her colors. This was not regarded,
and Captain Mafiit ordered . shot to be
fired, which passed q few feet from her
stern. The Echo then ran up American
coors, and the Dolphin Immediately
hauled down the Britishs flag and ran up
the stars and stripes. The next shot fired
passed between the mast ofthe SLAYER and
seeing that she was now entirely at the
mercy of the Dolphin, the Echo then
hauled down the American colors Cap
tain Maffit despatched Lieut. Bradford,
two other officers, and about sixteen men
aboard the SLAYER, who took possession Of
her. Captain Mafiit himself subsequently
visited the Echo. He states that although
presenting a sad spectacle, the condition
of the Echo and the slaves was much bet
ter than that Of most slavcrs and cargOc5.
Captain Townsend states that they had
been allowed extra rations TO improve
their appearance and enhance their value
in market. They were the capt!ves Of
warlke tribes brought to the Coast and
placed in barracoons. While awaiting
the arrival Of the slave ship they were fed
on roots and csculents, and scantily fed at
that, and their close confinement was ter
riJle. On the Echo, Captain Townsend
states, they we're fed on rice beans sliyers
of pork, a quart of water and small
quantity Of whisl,ey each day. Tobacco
was also given them, and they were eX-
ceedingly fond of it.
Capt. Townsend is at no loss to find eX-
cuscs for his act. lie states that the slave
trade rs humanity TO the prisoners tallen
By the warllke tribes in Africa that be-
fore they were not sold to traders, they
were put to death in cold blood, and that
the capiiyes in the Echo would prefer a
life in a plantation to the suffering they
endure at the hands OF their enemies in
the barracoons. He says that the horrors
of the slave trade, as depicted by writers
are based upon the imagination, and are
only true as regard the trade carried on
by the Spanish and Portuguese,
Capt Townsend is connected with an
honorable family in Rhode Island. He
distinguished himself in the war witt
.Campeachy for his determination and bra
very. Heis somewhat detected and mel
Iancholly, but is confident of escaping tie
extreme penalty of his crime by the vel
dict of a South Carolina jury. He expires
scs his ratification at being captured by
an American vessel of war, and is grateful
to Lieut.. Maffit for the kind treatment he
has received at his hand while a prisoner
He has not at any time been placed il
irons, bat has been confined below decks
and guarded by a sentry.