The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-04-12
A Sea Captain aud Son whipped and Inn.
prissncd in Georgia for being RcPub-

prIBOucu Ior Dchuk 1NVPu
cnuss
The bark Julia A. Aery, from the West In
dies. arrived at this port on Saturday amer
noon with cargo Of molasses. The captain
and mate Of this vessel were recently subjected
to those exquisite tortures INDUCED in BY
Southerners towards persons who are SO un-
fortunate as to have been born North Of Ma
son and Dixon's line. The story Of their suff-
erings is substantially as follows:
In the Fall Of last year the bark cleared from
Thomaston, Maine, with IN assorted cargo for
the Encero Mills, Camden County, Georgia.
The vessel was in command OF Capt. W. Ryder
Of Maine, aged 81 years, whose son, Joseph u.
Ryder, sailed with him as second mata. They
arrived ut their destination on the 9th OF No
yember, and commenced discharging their
freight. During the day. o negro, belonging
to q DR.. Nicholsl visited the vessel twice, once
offering some oars for sale, and on the second
occasion taking away with him some clothes to
wash. He was on the bark but few moments
in all, and only INDUCED In such conversation
as related to the errands he was upon. In the
evening, FIVE white men came on board OF the
Aery, and alleging that the negro was sccreted
in the hold, demanded the privilege Of search
ing the vessel. Capt. Ryder permitted them
to do SO. and they went away amer completing
who twas ashore the whole time. The men
threatened to come back the next day and make
II all right with the captain and his son, at the
same time charging them with being abolition
lists. On the following night sure anough they
did come again, there being fifteen In oil, and
all Of them being moro or less intoxicated.
They asserted that oil hands on board, but es.
pecially Capt. Ryder and his son, were id
abolitionists,' and said they would either hang
them or tar and feather them before leaving
ths vessel. Fortunately both the captain and
mate were on shore at the time, OF they would
doubtless have fallen victims to this rutianly
gang Of Southern gentismsn-for the most not
ed citizens OF the place were among them. AS
II was, their vessel was ransacked from top to
bottom for abolition documents, and some OF
their valuable instruments destroyed. From
the vessel the gang from proceeded to the En-
cero Aiills, which were owned by MIR. Bayley.
This man hired q number Of negroes from a
man named Scott, and these slaves had been en-
gagged In unloading the Aery. The yigiienee
Committee, as the drunken rabble termed them
selves, began to question the negroes as to what
conversation they had had with the captain and
his son. The negroes denied having talked
with them Mt all, rs was the fact, but the CON-
mittee asserted that they had been lstning to
Abolition doctrines. As the negroes persisted
in their denial, six Of them were stripped and
whipped most numerically In order to make
them confess. What they stated after being
aayed is not known, but they doubtless told
any story that was required to get them free
from further whipping.
Next day, when Capt. Ryder heard Of the
previous nights transactions. he and his son
Voluntarily went to the VigilanceC Committee to
assure them that they had in no way tampered
with the slaves, nor was II their intention to do
SO. The Committee treated thhir statements
with contempt, and seizing the two men as
prisoners, conveyed them to the town OF Jeif-
erson, fifteen miles distant. Here they were
taken before the Vigilance committee OF the
town, and charged with being aboltionists.
They denied the charge, and as no evidence
could be produced, they were allowed to go to
hotel for the night, being closely guarded all
the time. On the following day they were
again taken before the Vigilance Committee for
trial. Tho cook belonging 10 another ship
then in the vicinity, testified that he had heard
both the prisoners say that they were Repub-
licans, and that II they had an opportunity they
would vote Mr.. Lincoln. The negro who had
visited their vessel, and who had been impris-
oned and intimidated in consequence, corrob-
borated this testimony. This evidence was
deemed to be sufficient, and the Committee de-
cided that the prisoners were guilty OF the
charge made against them. They resolved,
however, to deal leniently with the culprits,
and decided not to hang them, as they deemed
they deserved, but simply ordered them to be
publicly Hogged,,' and afterward to be inn
prisoned such length of time as the Committee
81 years of age, and his son, were then led from
the Committeeman to the front Of the Court
house, where large number OF persons had
assembled to witness the scene. and there pub
licly whipped. They were stripped to the
waist, and, after having been securely tied to
tree, twenty. five lashes were administered
to each with heavy leather thongs. The young
man bore his infection patiently, but suffered
terribly to witness the tortures to which his
poor old father was subjected. The assembled
multitude looked on and cheered, laughing at
and haunting them without stint. After this
the two men were conducted to prison and con-
fined in the cells. Old Mr.. Ryder was terribly
Injured by the punishment he had received, and
for several days expectorated blood freely.
After lying in Jail for fourteen days, they
were finally visited by five men, who informed
them that their vessel had been brought round
to that point, and they must Instantly 60 on
board of her and take their departure. This
they were glad to do, and having been con-
Quoted to their bark. they joyfully set sail from
that inhosptable shore, being conveyed out to
sea by the FIVE men who were charged with the
duty of seeing them safely of. The Aery pro-
ceeded thence to Spanish port, from there to
the West Indies, where she was chartered for
this port. Both the captain and his son claim
that they are Republicans, and that they did
say that they should like the privilege ofyoting
for Mr.. Lincoln. Beyond this they committed
no offense of which they are aware. They held
no conversation with,any negroes except those
working ABOUT their vessel, and to these they
only spoke in regard to business matters Capt.
Ryder visited the same place few years since,
when no was far more intimate with the slaves
than on this occasion, their owners feeling
grateful for the employment he gave them.
He does not contemplate another visit there,
at least not till the Secession troubles are. set
4. Tr;b,a,