Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-05-10
BRUTALITY OF A SEA CAPTAIN.
A Story Unmatched Since the Days of
African Slave Traie.

African Slave Irafe.
BosroS, May "a story that is IN
matched since the days Of the African
slave trade is told in connection with q
case to-day before United States Commits
sioner Hsllett. Deputy Marshal Gsllupe
this morning brought from New Bedford
John Gomez, Portuguese negro, who ID
charged with violating about all the provi,
sions Of the passenger carrying act. Last
fall Gomez chartered the little fishing
schooner Springbird, eighty tons, Of
Provincetown, for trading cruise to the
Cape de Verde Islands He took ont q very
small cargo of miscellaneous merchandise,
and cruised about among the islands trading
for some time. He sailed for home April
let, and reached New Bedford on the lst
inst. Instead Of cargo be brought back
on the little vessel eiRhry.two human be.
iugs. The report made by Gomez to the
Custom House authorities was that the
vessel brought thirty.fve passengers and
forty crew. As q matter OF fact, &C.
cording to the stories Of those on board,
the cargo comprised about seventy.6ve
native men. women and children OF the
Cape de Verde Islands, who for thirty
days were huddled in q senistarving
condition in the small hold OF
the schooner. Their narrative,
told BY means of interpreters, is q shocking
one The captain admits that he made up
his cargo of natives OF the island who were
anxious to get away from their famine.
stricken homes at any price They paid
him, he Gays come $25, some $40, some in
miscellaneous property, aud Others 10
mortgages on their native property, &c.
The condition Of affairs at the Islands Is
described as dreadful. All business il
paralyzed. and hundreds are dying OF star.
walton. 1t is a common sight to zee men
and women drop in the streets exhausted
by hunger.
The captain Gays he could find no other
cargo to bring back, aud go came with q
load Of men, women and children. There
re no accommodations on board for
psssspgers. The poor people were turned
into the hold and told they must get along
as beat they could upon the rough ballast
without beds, mattresses or any thing with
which to make decent resting places
Four young girls, however, we're given &C
commodstions with the captain in the
small cabin. These girls were thirteen
to fifteen years old, and very serious
charges are made against the
captain regarding his treatment OF
them. The vessel set sail for New Bed
lord on April lst, and the suiferings OF
those on board began at once. There was
not food enough, according to the state.
ments OF the passengers, tor halt their
number. After the vessel was three days
out the only food they received was q
small portion two or three times daily OF q
hard cake made by mixing coarse meal,
which looks like sawdust, with water.
Deputy Marshal Gsllupe has some OF the
rstiops in bis Office A morning meal
consisted of hard, dry cake
about four by two inches and an inch
thick, and two gill cup Of socslled
coffee. Supper was one ordinary griddle
cake made of precisely the same mixture OF
meal and water and cup of alleged tea
This was the bill of fare for almost the en-
tire voyage. Men crawled about the ship,
it is stated, bent almost double with hun.
ger, and the women and the children could
DO little more than moan in their distress
1t was expected the trip would be made in
twenty days, and the additional ten days
greatly increased the suffering. When
the ship reached New Bedford nearly
all on board we're in most
exhausted condition. On approaching his
Destination the captain arranged 10 land at
dark. 1t is sad on good authority that
other vessels which are bringing large car.
goes of Cape De Verde natives 10 New
Bedford pursue the same tactics making
such reports ss they please TO the Custom
House authorities, but escaping inspection
by landing their passengers after business
hours.
On being arranged before Com mission.
er Hsllet to-day, Captain Gomez obtained
q continuance until the 18th inst, and
gave bail in the sum OF $4,000.