New-York tribune., 1886-05-09
a ST1RVING HUMAN CARGO.

HORRORS OF VOYAGE FROM THE CAPE VERDE
ISLANDS WITH NEGRO CAPTAIN.
BOsTON, May 8 (Speciof The arrest OF John
Gomez Portuguese negro, at NewBediord last night
the charge Of violating the law against carrying too
many passengers has brought to light the most shocking
barbarties the part OF Gomez and a sad state OF
affairs at the Cape de Verde Islands. Gomez was the
master OF the Sea Bird, small fishing schooner which
he chartered at Provincetown last fall for trading
cruise After dsposng Of small cargo OF merchandise
no returned with cargo Of human beings whose trcat
shipbosrd rivalcd the horrors OF the African
slave trade. lie arrived at New Bedford on May with
eight persons board The report made By
Gomez to tho Custom House authorities was
that tho vessel brought thrty-fve passengers
and ortyseven crew. AS matter OF fact according to
the stories Of those board the cargo comprised ABOUT
seventy-fve native men, women aud children OF the
Cape de Verde Islands, who for thirty days were huddied
In semi-starving condition In the small hold OF the
schooner. The captain admits that he made up his
cargo Of natives Of the islands, who were anxious TO get
away from their famine-stricken homes at any price,
They paid him, he says. some $25, some $50 some in
miscellaneous personal property, aud others In
mortgages on their native property, etc.
The condition Of affairs at the Islands Is described as
dreadful. ALI business is paralyz and hundreds
Of the inhabitants dying OF starvation 1t Is COM
sight and women drop in the streets ex-
hausted by hunger The Captain says he could hnt no
other to bring back. and so came with load OF
men, women and children. There were no accommoda-
tons on board for passengers The people were turned
into the hold, and told that they must get along
hey could upon the rough ballast. without BEDS
anything with which to make decent rest
ing-places Tho vessel set sail for New Bedford on
April l. and the suffering of those on board began at
once. There food enough for half the passen
GERS After tho three days out all they re.
ceived small portion twice three times daily OF
bard cake made By mixing coarse NEAL which looks
like sawdust, with morning meal consisted or
hard dry cake, four by two inches and one inch
thick, and twO-gll cup o; socted coffee Supper was
ordinary grdie cake, ma 10 OF precisely the same
mixture of meal and water, and cup OF alleged tea
This was the bill of faro for almost the entire
voyage. Men crawlcd about the ship bent almost
double with hunger. and the women AID children
could 10 little than in their distress 1t was
expected that the trip would be made in twenty days,
and the additional ten days greatly increased the suffer-
ings When the vessel reached NcwB Bedford nearly all
board exhausted On approaching his destina-
ton the captain arranged 10 land at dark
Its said good authority that other vessels whlcn
bringing large cargoes OF Cape de Verde natives To
New Bedford pursue the same course IN maxim sucn
reports they please to the Custom House authorities
escaping Inspection by landing their passengers after
business hours On being drragned before Commissioner
Halett tO-lay. Captain Gomez obtained continuance
until May Is and gave Dail III the sum OF $1,000.