The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-06-10
The slave Traas.


ii reflects such inefIablc infamy upon those
who have fitted out slavers and sailed under
the American flag. An1 - cannot but prove
source Of shame and 'SorroW a every true
American heart that any Americas. citizen,
much moro tho Government Of the United
States, should seek to make the Flag OF our
country protecting veil to cover such scenes
as are developed in this correspondence from
the police ships Of Great Britain.
January It'll, in answer to complaints Of
Secretary Cass on the subject, Lord Napier,
the British Minister at Washington, in part
justification, wrote a note enclosing the fol-
lowing
REPORT OF COMMANDER AoREsBY.
Ii. Nj. SHIP SArpHo, Sept, 1857.
Sir: have the honor to inform you that,
while running down the coast on the after
noon Of the 18th inst, a fore and aft schoon-
err was observed standing of the land, in the
net Of wearing off shore, and while boarding
her ship was reported under the land, and
in the act Of wearing OF shore. As soon as
the boat had returned from boarding the
schooner, all sail was made in chase of the
for the beach, when, finding that | could
weather her, | also tackled. On the chase
nearing the beach, which was three fathoms
within $50 words of the surf, she bore up,
and ran along the land. The suspicious
movements of the chase ut once showed me
that she was not,a legal trader, an there
fore left the sbfp IN charge Of Mr. T. Willis,
the 1885,, en6eeding myself, in the gig, to
leeWn11 11tng the cutter to wlndward.--
The -, % getting into four fathoms,
auskssS0 ~ shore, about four miles. BY
| thio lime il was evident that the chase could
not escape, when her crew ran her on shore
escaping in their boats. On my arrival
\ found that Mr.. F. Willis, observing that ths
ship had run ashore, had, with the Creates
prompttude and energy, left the Sappho, il
| the whale boat, and WAS using his utmos
endeavors to save life.
4 The tremendous surf that was running
| combined with the heavy lurchlng of tbs
ship, which carried the main top gallant mas
over the side, for some time preventing ou
boarding. After many fruitless attempts
we succeeded, when she proved to be full
rugged ship, Of quito 900 tons apparently
full Of slaves, having frigate-built maii
deck, with three separate slave decks; no col
ors, papers or name. Her stern was orna
mented With large American coat Of arms
the whole OF which had just been painted
over with white paint.
1 On reaching the deck the sight that pre-
scented itself to my view was fearful an,
heart-rending in the extreme. The misera
BILE slaves, escaping in numbers from tn
noisome hold, rending the mir with their hid
eous yells, and finging themselves into tn
sea, were drowned By hundreds, it being i'm
possible for US to pick up bnt few, notwith
Standing the whole exertisas of all in tn
I boats, who fearlessly, and regardless Of the
own danger, entered the surf. As soon a
possible, after getting on board, the remain
der Of the slaves were driven below and Sc
cured under matches, and then commence
the labor al transferring them-to her Males
ty's sloop. then Quilted Tho SLAYER to su
perintend the wayk on board, leaving tn
prize in charge Of the master. Mr.. F. Willis
Mr.. Smallpeics, and party Of zen men,
When the boats returned to the shin Mt 10 p
m they found that the wind and surf had e,
much increased that it would have been mad
ness to approach the wreck. They therefor
returned to the brig, and it was with tn
greatest anxiety watched through the nigh
for the safety Of those on board. AT day
light, on the morning Of the 10Th, agnll
despatched the boats TO the vessel but the,
were warned off by Mr.. Willis, and ordered 4
return on board, the surf being too heavy II
communicate. The sea at this time was ma
king clear breach over her.
The boatswain, who was in charge Of In
pnnace, reported that large quantities o
armed natives were collected on the beac
with symptoms of hostile nature. there
fore deemed it prudent to send the pinnace
manner and armed, to protect the prize, Wit
n given signal, If assistance was wanted. =
This preconcerted signal was soon made
whenI left her Majesty's sloop With the boats
manned and armed. Sson after leaving,
observed an attack made by large pumbe
! OF natives, headed by Europeans, npppose
to be her crew, and reported Afterwards By
Congo negro, who had come of to the shin
to have been assisted by Che Portuguese VIII
owned the barracoons close to the wreck
! heavy fire WAS Immediately opened by III
n boats and party, which was kept up on bet
IN -jdes for an hour, whensNe forced them 4
! exchanged; and am hnrpy y ~ that n
casualties occurred on our tide. bnt With
reported loss Of several on the n.tackip
party's.
/ 1t was now evident that il would not b
safe for the master and his party to remain
another night on board, moro particularly =
the ships back was broken, and at low Wate
her forepart was high and dry. 1t ~
therefore, my bounden duty, at all hazard
TO remove them and the remainder of the IN
happy slaves on board before the dark shaAs
OF night closed around u.s. he cuttsf ~
steered under tho stern and succeeded t
getting a rope from the wreck, when the 70
. mainder Of the slaves were hauled throug
the surf without accident, the small boat
keeping up fire. then ordered her to b
} set on fire, rather than risk second attac
} being made during the night, there not bcin
! the slightest hope Of saving this dne ship
: Having removed the cathcad, she was fred
and the party lief. her. BY measurement sh
is loss tons, the length being l5s feet, dept
. 80 feet, beam 2sfeet.
Since capturing the vessel, on the 18th in
slant, forty slaves have died from exhaus
: ton and exposure to the wet. Every exer
ton has been made BY the officers and me
Of this sloop 10 alleviate their suferings, al
veng with each other in acts Of humanity
even tearing up their own clothes to cove
the naked wretches. The ship was u remark
ably fine and superior vessel, ex,raordinaril
: well rugged. well joined and coppered, til
9 mizzen topgallan, sail bsing the only sal nc
new. They ali had james Titers, New o,
leans" stamped on them. She was, as
I have before stated, full rugged ship, with