M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-10-11
Hhe African-SiaVc 'Erade--CaD-
ture OF the Slave-ship Erie. with
Eight Hundred and Ninety
seven Negroes on Board.


Eight Hundred and NINETY
seven Negroes on Board.
LIE slaye.ship Erie arrived at New
l0M Wednesday afternoon. She
brings home Lieutenant ]. w. Dun.
nington, Passed Midshipman Il. d.
Todd, and prize crew OF ten men,
belonging to the captor OF the SLAYER,
the United States steamer Mohican
The Eiie officers supposed the M0ii-
can to be an English man Of war, and
hoped, by hosting the American FLAG
10 epade emancipation. She made
The passage from Monroyia to New
York in thirty-rour days, aud was in
company with the Marton, sloop of.
war, of Cape de Vorde Islands. The
MOhican sailed from Fernando Po on
the 4tb Of August, and stood to the
southwark for Loanda, having the
squadron mail on board.
When four days out, about fifty
miles eff the mouth of the Congo
River at seven A. NJ :, the officers Of
the Mohican sighted ship standing
to the northwest; and was about fiji.
teen miles from the vessel, which was
under all sail, and port studding sail;
Immediately got up additional steam
and came near the stranger, who re.
fused to show any colors; fired a blank
cartridge, and then the American en-
sign was hoisted from the peak of The
suspicious craft. She hove to and
Lieutenant bennington went on board
On getting inside the gangway, he
was confronted by a Spanish gentle
men, of rather respectable appearance,
who spoke English we'll. The officer
asked if the SpaDiard was captain;
the latter said not, but sent the visitor
aft in quest Of the skipper. An
American somewhat Of a Yankee, was
then accosted, but with no satisfactory
result, as he PERSISTED in declaring
that the commander died in the Con
go. The mate was next asked for,
but was not forthcoming, as he ran
away, it was alleged. "Who has
charge Of tie shipl' said the naval
man, becoming little excited.
No one enlightening him, he at once
ordered the flag to 90 hauled down.
"Now, boys, give three cheers" cried
Lieutenant Huntington, leaning.over
the ships side, and addressing his
boats crew; "lor we have a genuine
prize and no mistake" TIE entlusi.
asm of the man.of. of.war's men fonnd
ventin several loud huzzas. which had
no sooner been heard than all the
matches of the Erie few open as if by
magic, and her crew, who had been
keeping the darkies quiet below,
rushed on deck, and exclaimed in
regular chorus: "lt's all up with us,
boys" Mr.. Dunnington peeped into
the lower apartments, and behold
whole mass of woolly heads. Every
black eye in the ship was bent on the |
unexpected intruders, WHO took hasty |
survey of the ship, and proceeded to
regulate matters generally. Extra
men from the M0hioan were then sent
for and put on board, and the return
ing boats took back to the steamer the
crew Of the Erie.
Those among them who were for.
eigners were allowed to take "French
leave" on the coast, and three impor-
taut looking persons, supposed to be
the captain and two mates, were
brought home in the SLAYER, and will
be turned over TO the United States
Marshsl. The M0hican proceed to
Loanda, and the Erie to MOnrovia-
the ships companies giving three
cheers for the prize. After a run Of
fourteen days the SLAYER anchored at
her destination. Twenty nine of the
poor slaves died, principally Of fever
and dysenterry, caused, it is supposed,
by Congo water, on the passage, and
one fell overheard. The Rev. John
Legs received the negroes on the 23d
of August, and distributed them
among the inhabitants of Monrovia,
who promised to treat them kindly
They were perfectly naked when ia.
ken, and were delighted with the dis
position made OF them. They clapped
their hands, sang, shouted, and raised
a jolly time generally. The officers
and meh Of the Xohacan, who cscor,
ted the slaves to MonroVia, describes
their suf1erings during the middle
passage as positively revolving. They
would not undertake similar duties for
any consideration.