New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-10
CAPTURE or A SLAYER.
SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIVE SLAVES ON
BOARD

/
master of the Constellation, flag ship of the African
Squadron arrived at this port on Saturday from Mon
royia and anchored off the Navy Yard at p H. ohe
WAS captured on the coast Of Africa by the ConSteia
ton on the Goth September with 700 slaves on board.
Tie following is detailed account Of the capture ana
| subs. ,uent events connected ,herp~--~ d.
The Constellation eft Boston in July 1883, win
crew of about $50 all told officers and nen. She 10
22-un sloop and was rebuilt in Norfolk III 1853, from
the old frgate that, in the of 1872 attained some
fame under the command Of Com. Truxon. She made
one cruise 10 the Mediterranean in f853A5 For near
" year and half she has been actively employed in
cruising on the western coast Of Africa between lS'
south latitude and go north. During the first six
months of her trip che captured after ten hours chase
brig without colors papers, named the Deicia,
which was sent 10 Charleston. There were, however,
no slaves on board.
The Constellation left Loanda the 9Th Of Septom-
ber and cruised of the Congo River up to the 25th
On that day her shaped to return to that
place for the purpose of getting wood, water and
provisions. At y o'clock in the evening, while thirty
miles south of Congo the cry was made of "Sail on
"the weather bow" At the time of making the sail,
which was about FIVE miles distant, it thought she
was a packet from Loanda bound to Boston-no savers
being supposed to cruise that part Of the coast.
The Constellation however, Immediately gave chase.
In an hour and half the pusuers had gained enough
on her to make out from her rig that she not Of
the regular packets. After getting within about two
miles of the stranger gun fired for the purpose
of bringing her to; but instead of heavng to- she kept
on her course At this time the Constellation was
going eight knots an hour and slowly gaining on the
SLAYER After an interval OF some 30 minutes, another
gun was fired, but to which no attention was
rad by the SLAYER II was then II o'clock the breeze
had freshened little and the Constellation going
at the rate of nine knots by log. The fugitive was
now within range and nearly ahead. A 32-pounder
was shifted to the bow port of the Constellation and
another shot fired but the shaver did not seem to mind
it. and kept on her course. The pursuers then kept
away little to get ready set their stun sails if neces-
sary BY this time they had approached to within 800
yards of the vessel and still gaining on her. but
she did not heave to- The Constellation now fired
another gun loaded with shot, which cut away some
of the slaver's port stun'sa gear The bark then
braced her main yard aback the Constellation ranging
ND under her lee quarter and Com. Eastman ordered
her TO haul up her courses. An armed boat then
lowered, and the prize boarded. Com Eastman asked
what ship il was, and where was the American cap
tain. lie was answered in Spanish by gem
tleman, who received him very politely that it
was the bark Cora, that the American captain
had remained ashore and that he the Spaniard had
command of tie Ship that she had 7Oj slaves on board
was "A hours out from Mangul Grande, and concluded
by CONCENTRATING Commander Eastman on the excel
lerce Of tie prize Commander Eastman then called
all the crew of the SLAYER to the gangway and sent
all of them except three Americans and five Spanards,
the latter being retained to take charge Of the Africans
in a boat to the Constellation. They numbered about
% men, and were made up mainly Of Spaniards and
Portuguese, with one Chinaman and three Americans.
Commander Eastman assuming command of the
Cora now began examining the ship and her cargo
She arreared to be new handsomely lifted out and far
superior to the class of vessels that generally
royed in the slave-trade Those vessels engaged in
the Cuba trade are very poor general thing, and
are usually burned after landing cargo. The hold
was filed with men and boys, and her cabin with
women. Twothirds Of the whole number were under
Is years of age. All were in perfectly nude state.
They were classified follows l72 men, LOG women,
3i3 boys 81 girls, ard babes at the breast. Com
mander Eastman represents them to have been fat and
hearty seemingly unconscious and careless Of their
situation and all Cabling at a great rate while the
sounds emitted were void Of any well-dened artcula-
tons Thirty tierces of rice, 80 barrels OF bread and
large quantity of beans, with light store Of beef
were found.
AT O'Clock the two slips got under way, and until
early daylight, the Constellation kept at an easy
rate the Cora following her at respectful distance. The
next day was occupied i'll getting the Cora ready to 90
TO Monrovia, the place designated by Government for
the delivery of recaptured Africans. The distance was
some 400 miles. Tie next day, the 9th September,
the vessels parted company and the Cora proceeded to
Monrova. where she arrived on the 18th October,
without sny accident except the oss by death of eleven
Of the negroes.
During the voyage two meals per day were given
the negroes The morning meal consisted of junk of
bread and some water and at 3p. m dinner OF boiled
beans one day and boiled rice the next was served.
Their aprettes appeared to be frsre, and there was
little necessity for washing the dishes after meal was
over for the negroes displayed an eXpertness in licking
the tubs that would defy competition on the part of the
most panstaking dog.
The five Spaniards who took special charge of the
dining arrangements would set the blacks in messes OF
fifteen and sixteen in a circle deck, with wooden
tub of boiled rice beans in the center of each group
After all were duly ranged around the smoking tubs,
the Spaniards made them 90 through an exercise OF
capping their hands and singing, which lasted about
three quarters of hour. BY this time the repast
would have partially cooled off, and the negroes were
allowed pitch in the one having the largest hands
getting most They seemed, however, very kind to
each other, and if boy got an extra large piece
of bread, he was always ready to share it
with his companions They appeared eontented and in
good spirits throughout the voyage. Amusing lustra-
tons of the negos love of display sometimes occurred
If young lady @ could get piece of red tape to bind
round her forehead what strip of forehead she
might have) was sufficient to fill her with rapture
of sesaiisacon that she wasn't Of that destitute
class who have "nothing to wear The sexes were
kent separate during the voyage.