The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1860-05-23
From lie Chrleston Courier.
The Slav Bak Wildfre.
KeyWet, May 10, 1860.

0' -h"eoWh, Leul. Oi.'feu, commanding.
At the time thecapture, the bark was
on the coast { Cyba in sight of the land,
and had bee bealmed for four days, in
sight Of Pasdop Grande Light, on the
Island Of Oba.
AT the tine the bark was disc overed
the steame had in tow an American
brig, that he VAS aiding to get to sea
from Nueitas Soon after making the
bark, theoriB was cast off, and the course
of the seaner shaped for the bark. On
approaching the bark as she lay becalm.
ed, she dsF Flayed tho United States flag,
and bal was manned from the steam.
or and placed under the command Of
Lieut.. Carpenter, with instructions from
Captain Craven 10 visit the bark and as
certait ter character and destination.
On reaching the bark, no one attended
to throwing line to the boat, and Lieut.
CarreS,er at once proceeded to board her
by gong up tue sides, when a hand was
extended TO assist him in getting on board.
~
covered that she was full of Africans, MS
she iatches were off aud the cabin open.
Lieu Carpenter at once hailed the stea
mer and gave the Information that the
bark aud cargo was prize. II will be
remembered that this Lieut.. Carpenter is
the same officer that was on board the
org Dolphin, ut the time of the capture
by her of the slave brig Echo, with over
three hundred Africans on board, and in
that instance, as in this, was the officer
who FIRST boarded the SLAYER. If his sue
cess in capturing slavers should contnue,
de Will be in great danger Of being run
hy the Black Republicans for the Pres-
dency---or it may bs that the English
Government will apply to have him sent
10 the Coast Of Africa, that his prestige
OF success may have a wider and more
extensive field Of operations. lie is a
native Of Massachusetts, and his brother
officers speak of him as good and ,ner
itorious officer.
At the time Of the capture, the uegros
on board raised a loud yell in token Of
their pleasure, but whether they under
stood the full consequences Of the change
IN their condition is very doubtful.
Since the capture slout twenty or
twenty five have died, and about thirty
more are now sick, but the physicians in
attendance believe that most Of the sick
will recover. Mr.. Moreuo, United States
Marshal, has taken every care and trouble
to provide for the wants and comforts
Of these people, and has fully carried
out and sustained his reputation for hu
manity aud kind heartedness.
The negroes now he:e (abou, five hun
dred in number are whn, is termed OK
tremery likely, and, indeed, may be said
20 be handsome, and those who have
have never seen so healthy and fine
cargo. do not believe that any slave
State in the Union can present. on auy of
their plantations SO good looking crowd
OF slaves. These beings seem extremely
happy aud cheerful, aud already begin to
express desire not to be returned to AT
rca, and to express the wish TO remain
where they are. Their condition show
chat ;hey have been well treated on the
passage by those having them in charge
Will philanthropy, humanity and Chris
taniry be advanced by returning these
negroes to the Coast Of Africa to go back
IN barbarsm ! Time alone can tell. |,
is said that this cargo would have been
valued at Fix hundred thousand dollars,
il landed in Cuba.
The bark had, at the time Of her cap
ture, two parties on board, nearly equal
in numbers-one American, the other
Spaniards-the whole number being 20,
with one or more passengers
At the time the bark was captured, the
Spanish Captain came forward and de-
clared that he was Master 5u, since tina.
time he has changed his tune, and now
claims to kave been passenger. The
truth, as shown by the evidence now be
ing taken before The Com missioner, doubt
less is that the bark WiIdfre sailed from
New York, in the month Of December
last, TOR the Coast Of Africa. with the un
derstanding that she was to DO there
sold, and the crew to got back to the
country as best they could. That she did
go out, and while in the Congo River,
was passed over to the possession Of the
Spapisrds. 10y transfer to the Spanish
agen, of n house in Havana. From this
time the Spapiards assumed command
and control, and the American master
came back as a passenger and the Amer
Jean crew were told that they must work
or have no food or drink, and that III they
worked well they would be we'll paid on
the bsrk's arrival in Cuba. In this state.
ment the entire American crew and off
GERS agree, while the SPaniards say that
they were on the Coast Of Africa, on the
arrival Of the bark in the Congo River,
and being desirous Of returning 10 Cuba,
took passage 10 the bark as passengers,
and were such on the voyage home and
that the bark was navigated home by
the American Captain and crew. This
statement, however, does not tally with
the Claim Of the Spanish Captain, when
the bark was first captured.
Tta nK;.npaKa ka,a .a,nxal kha aaKvicaa