Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-12-07
miscellaneous.


Horrors OF the COOiic Trade.
The Honolulu Adrcrtiser gives the follow
ing horrible details Of the voyage of San
Salvador ship from Macao to that port, on
the way to Callao, Peru, with six hundred
and eight coolies on board, and the rescue of
forty.three Of them, who were landed at
Honolulu
For weeks after leaving port the coolies
were not permitted on deck They were
slowed between decks, in four rows, two amid
ships and one in each wing, space sixteen
inches wide being allotted to each individual.
After the three weeks Imprisonment below,
under grated hatchways the coolies were al
lowed to come on deck in gangs Of fifty, for
one hour for the purpose Of exercise The
deck was in charge of sentries armed to the
teeth, besides carrying cat-o'-nine-tails
The after part Of the deck was separated from
the main deck by barricades defended by car
ronades, In order to get the amount Of ex-
ercise necessary in the time allotted the men
were compelled to move lively, being melted
thereto from time to time with the lash of the
cat Soon after being allowed to come on
deck some difficulty occurred between the
crew and gang of Chinese, which resulted
in the Jumping overheard Of a number of the
coolies, our informant said eighteen.
After getting well out into the Pacific, all
hopes of the release from this involuntary
bondage by oyerpowering the crew, died out,
and the coolies settled down in despair Soon
it became necessary to allowance them, and
they were given dish in which their food
and water were served out TO them. After
careful weight and measurement, we find that
they were given one pound of boiled rice and
less than one point Of water per diem. Some
of them had not been able to spend the ad-
vance paid to them in the barracoon at Ma
Gao, and consequently had few dollars with
them. They state that when the pangs Of
thirst became unbearable they would hold up
dollar through the gratings and call for wa
ter, when pot of water would be given them
and the money retained They were fire.
quently whipped, from twelve to twenty-four
stripes being inflicted each time The sentries
/ kicked aud cuiied them continually. Daring
the voyage about twenty-five deaths occur
| red. The mate declared that at night the
stencil from the main hatch was overpower-
ing To use his own language You could
not hold your head over the hatch one minute
without vomiting The condition Of the ship
aud coolies on their arrival here was misera-
ble This we state on the authority Of q
gentleman who has followed the sea for years.
Tho condition of the forty-three who were
landed here tells a story of inhumanty which
appeals to the sympathy of every citizen of
Christian community.
On the forenoon of the 26th ult, il was ru-
morcd that forty-three coolies from Dolores
Ugarte were in house back Of the old Lib
erty hall premises Learning this, citizen
secured the services cf an interpreter and
proceeded to the premises. The sight pre-
sented on entering the yard was enough to
excite the sympathy and indignation of any
man. Some Of the unfortunates were lying
in the sun, waiting their turn for washing,
, unable to move hand or foot Others were in
the hands of some natives, who placed them
in tub and poured water upon them. Some
: of the parties were stripped in the presence
Of the different witnesses, and afforded sight
D only equaed by the representations in the
e American papers of the Andersonyille and
Belle Isle prisoners during the recent rebel.
r lion. One had died and was buried. The
, Iuult NhANlhANh tiNuAAiNo ENNN ih'N't'Nf'N
p evidence Of "mans inhumanity to man.
Twelve were in the last stages OF decay, some
with ship fever others with diarrhea. Two
+ at least had ulcers in the corner OF their eyes
u so far advanced as to render them blind fol
q life. Tho interpreter questioned them re
4 garding the incidents Of the voyage, aitol
f which he asked them if they desired to return
q to the ship, and all who could answered in the
q negative. They were then asked if they
n wished to remain on these islands, aud th'
answer was in the affirmative. The interpre
d ter was then instructed to say to them tina
they could remain here and there was nj
n law which could compel them to return to tn
ship. The JOY evinced by them more thar
"a repays the trouble and annoyance experienced
10 by the parties who beiriended them.
). Knowing the excited condition of tn
y Chinese, and Of the natives who were wit
nesses to the suffering of the coolies, and alsC
a aware Of the resources of the agents OF tn
il ship which would be called into action TO re
IN consign the poor creatures to a slavery iron
,e which death would be a happy dcliverance
4 they were aware of the intended exodus, /
RS was determined to take such steps as woul'
10 prevent a mob or riot. The leading Chimes
Of were made aware Of the wish OF their country
A. men to remain here, and they immediatel,
ID repaired to the house where the coolies wer
TX kept and in a short time some thirty wer
it removed to different localities. During tn
y afternoon the remaining twelve were removed
IN carts. The removal of the sickest one
o. was only determined upon after full consid
I, Grafton Of existing circumstances. 1t wa
r, thought that they could be made comfortable
n elsewhere, and the risk of death was though
10 TO be lesscned, as TO leave them was to insur'
is their removal to the ship, where death wa
at sure to follow. In fact the captain Of tn
er slave ship declared that he did not care 70
Q. the loss Of these men, as they would hay
50 died before reaching Callao. The partie
who interested themselves in behalf Of tn
10 coolies were fastened somewhat from the fac
s. that the minister of foreign relations aud soc
it. ond associate justice OF the supreme cour
IS. were seen in close coniab with the agcnts
I and knowing that their synpathies we're Gu