The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-10-18
Revelations of a slave Simug-
G-spE,e


The recent efforts (too often success
fuD to revive the horrid traffic in Afri-
can slaves, which the whole Christian
world has denounced as piracy, makes
these L" Revelations Of peculiar interest.
The editor is Rev Henry Baird " est, of
the Protestant Home Union in the city
of New York. The book is a narrative
of the life of Capt. Philips Drake, said to
have been an African trader for fifty
years" The author describes as follows
the fate of the Poncheeta, with 700 slaves
on board, just purchased at Bedagry.--
The vessel was commanded by Antonio
Mendez, an old slave smuggler:
"Our schooner was loaded beyond ca
pacity and the deck had been fitted with
temporary platforms, or shelves, as high
as the tafrail. Above these, stiff netting
was drawn to prevent the shackled cou-
pies from lcaping overheard, to commit
suicide. Ia walking the deck, we some-
times trod on hand or foot thrust out
from the lower tier Such was the con,
dition of tie Poncheeta's cargo, when we
left the Blight.
On our first night out there was a
frightful battle amoug the slaves for room
and air, although our matches were off
The crew and ovcrseers restored order by
the use of whips and hand~pik"s, but
not till seventeen negroes had been choked
to death, or so badly Cnawed in their
throats by their neighbors, that we were
obliged to drown them So tightly were
the wretches wedged below, that the sal
lors had to draw the dead ones out by
main pulling of their legs.
About week out we encountered a
severe gale, which drove US furiously be-
fore it, al our canvass being taken in. l
had, up to this time, kept my resolution
of abStaining from dlink whilst on ship
board but the close, Sultry weather, and
the stencil OF the negroes, sickcncd me,
so that [ INDUCED that night pretty free
ly on potations of Jamacia spirits, until |
dropped off to sleep. | was awakened by
a crash, as if the skies were falling, and
a yell like a thousand tigers. Springing
from my bunk, near the after gaugway, |
heard Capt. Mendez calling to his mates,
whilst the men were running to and fro
like mad. Nothing was to be seen; no
hgAt apeak or abeam; and the night
rainy, and as dark as VOLTS mouth. |
ran toward the pinnacle lamp, and fourd
the helm swinging loose, aud at that mo-
ment vivid fash of Lightning, by which
| saw Captain Mendez, with face like
his shirt. "Save yourself, doctor !"
cried he, " the briggs sinking !"
| rushed to midships, and heard the
negroes schreeching on both sides then
back to the stern davits, where our men
were lowering the boats. How | got in
with the rest, never knew, but ten
minutes after this l found myself with
Capt. Mendez and half the crew, in one
Of our boats, the rain dashing on US; we
rowed about for an hour, before day ap-
peared. The gale had lulled, but the
heavy rain was like water spout. All
this time we could hear the slaves screech-
ing on board tie Poncheeta. When the
morning broke, we saw her alec, her
decks almost level with the waters edge.
We did not dare to pull nearer, bat lay
b.. till she went down, little over two
hours after the collision that caused her
to founder
She had been struck on the beam, BIZ
large vessel, which tore away her star
board rail and netting, the whole length,
crushing our chained blacks on their
shelves, which occasioned the dismal
shriebs We had heard. The Ponchecta
sprung a leak, and filed gradually, till