The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-09
THE CAPTURE
OF A SLAYER.
A Thrilling Description of an Ex.
citing Naval Capture.
How an Americans Curious Ruse Helped to
Lift the Hatches Of the Bogota-Rescued
siaves-A Graphic Narrative.

made a lively scene on the deck of the
United States steamer Crusader thirty years
ago.
We had spicious-looking craft hove to
under our guns which had wisely taken the
hint from the shot fred across her bow,
showing that we wished to communicate
with her.
In 1859 an earnest effort was made by our
Government to suppress the African slave
trade with Cuba. Four war-steamcrs were
fitted oat for this purpose, two being sta
toned on the north coast OF Cuba and the
others on the south.
AT this time the slave trade was lively and
remunerative. 1t was unlawful in Cuba,
but that did not seem to be much of detri-
ment. Greedy, unprincipled Eien in our
northern ports of Boston and New York did
their full share OF this piratical work, deal
ing in human flesh and blood. Our Govern
ment, up to this time, had never used
steamers as means to suppress this in
iquitous traffic. The British Government
had about thirty war-steamers on the coast
of Africa locking after slavers, and we gen-
orally had two CT three sailing vessels on
the same station and duty. Here was
new departure for us. 1t was weli-known
fact that with all their care and diligence
On the coast of Africa many slaves got
through the blockade. Wewere set to watch
these more cunning and lucky rascals at the
westward end of their voyage.
As Cuba is about 800 miles long, it gave
our four steamers too much to do, yet we
met with reasonable success.
We were engaged in this enterprise about
eighteen months, and all told, captured six
vessels, with about 1900 negroes. The Cru
sader, under the command of John n Ma
fit, writes John A. Grier to the Philadelphia
Press, captured three of the six. The prizes
were sent to Key West, our nearest Amer
lean port, and the vessels, officers, crews
and negroes were turned over to the United
States civil authorities for trial. The
negroes were there clothed and well taken
care of by our Government authorities, and
were finally put into the care of the Ameri-
can Colonization Society, and sent out to
Liberia.
BY some method our prisoners escaped
hanging, which was the lawful penalty for
this crime. The prisoners would all deny
THEIR AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP
And, as matter of fact. perhaps but few
were Americans. The punishment in the
way of pecuniary damages was the loss of
the vessel, which was always confiscated
and the anticipated profits OF successful
venture.
The incident in the capture OF the Bogota,
| with which this article deals, was rather
| peculiar. Under the old war cry of 1872,
Free Trade and Sailors Rights" we as
| Americans were very much hampered IN our
eU0ttS 10 suppress INC Save tldtt. we It.
| fused to give any nation the privilege OF
| boarding vessel flying the American flag,
| except BY special concession for the coast
| of Africa. Thus We were not permitted to
| forcibly board any vessel unless she flew our
| flag If a naval officer did it, it was at the
| risk Of the loss of his commission. as 1t was
| direct dsobedience of orders. Our orders
| were: "Catch slavers," but if we f0rcibly
boarded vessel flying foreign flag, and if,
by chance, she was not shaver, 1t meant
dismissal and some international trouble.
| Our nation was very sensitive on TINS polnt
as it was an old war chip" which we I'M
| wisely insisted OH carrying on our shoulders.
| On this occasion our captain, ankee like,
won his lanrels by cunning trick. He
| would change the appearance OF the vessel
| by altering her rigging, and boldly fly the
| flag OF other nations-trench, English or
! American-to suit the occasion.
/ cannot decide upon the ethics of the
| case, but this sudden Standardization OF
| the ship and all hands was an odd sensa-
| ton. In order to disguise our appearance,
| a free use of white, black or yellow paint
| was made, sometimes While at sea and other
times at anchor under the lee of one OF the
| ihnumerable uninhabited coral Islands which
| dot the north coast uf Cuba.
Long before we Deared our suspicious
| craft, by powerful glass we discovered she
| flew French colors; So we hoisted the En-
| g.ish flag Mt onr peak and the jack forward,
| and looked like respectable English cruiser.
| AS DINER naJlOnS were IlOl SO particular on
| this point of sea etiquette III boarding vessels
! flying other flags than their own, the French
| man knew that we, as an English man Of
| war, could board him, but as an American
we could not.
As the cutter was lowered and twelve
! stalwart sailors, fully armed, manned the
| oars, our Captain publicly handed Lieuten-
| ant Duncan few golden coins, saying:
| "Mr Duncan, | wish ycu would board that
, Frenchman and give him my compliments,
| and see if you can buy few eases of good
! claret for me. BY and by, Mr.. Duncan,
keep your eye on our flag and follow our mo-
| TONS" Duucan's boat pushed off, flying the
| British flag, and looked like an Englishman.
! We kept the suspicious vessel under our
! guns and maintained our distance OF about
| one-third of mile. As the cutter neared
| the Frenchmau we noticed considerable eX-
| citement on their deck, and that they hauled
| down their flag. Duncan saw something
| thrown overheard, which we learned after
ward was the flag, log-books and all of the
| ships papers showing her Identity. Maflit,
| with his eye at the glass, watched carefully,
and after waiting a reasonable time ordered
| our English colors down and hoisted the
| stars and stripes. Duncan followed our
| example and hailed the stranger, asking
him who be was. They. fearing to be
| guillotined as pirates under French law,
| preferred to deny all nationality. They had
| no flag and were nobody! Duncan ran
alongside and ordered his crew to board her,
| and she became our prize, as apirate ship at
| sea without nationality.
When on board the odor of SLAYER is
| unmistakable and Lieutenant Duncan, in
| stead of being as polite as he was COM
| manded to be, neglecting to negotiate for
| claret, ordered our men to open the matches.
We got the claret and some champagne.
| too, among the ships stores, all of which
was utilized by us on our trip to Key West.
| The All perfectly nude slaves rushed wildly
| on deck, and although no one could under
! stand the situation by spoken language,
| some of the most intelligent negroes recog-
| nzed our flag, and knew that their freedom
was assured. Signals were made from the
| SLAYER that she was prize. We closed the
| distance between us. and l was one OF the
| party who boarded her in the next boat.
| prize crew was put aboard, removing her
| crew as prisoners to our own ship. We
quickly had a lIaWser over our stern and
| gayly headed for Key West, about 500 miles
| distant. with the prize in tow. Key West
| was our headquarters, and we had to 60
| there for coal, water and sea stores at stated
| intervals
When reached the SLAYER our prisoners
| had not ceased to curse their luck in sweet
! mixture of French, Spanish and English.
| In less than eight hours. had they been I'M
| molested, they expected to secure about
! 100000 as the remuneration for their
cargo. The wild excitement among the
| slaves was most ludicrous dancing, sing
| ing and shouting in the most violent man.
ner. One unfortunate and oyer-excited full
grown man, seeing bright copper kettle
| ON THE GALLEY
| That looked to him like helmet, seized it
hurriedly and put it on his head, not no.
ticing about a pint of hot water in it. His
| shouts of Joy turned to yells of pain. Order
| was restored by making some of the leading
slaves temporarily police officers. and by
other sterner means they were made
| to settle down so that our crew
cor,d hondla the sails More than half
the cargo were women and children.
| Tho men were kept in the forward part
separate from them. Slowing All men and
women in such close quarters without a
stitch Of clothing, without any thing in the
shape of beds and bedding, in vessel of
about $50 tons burden, may. give you some
idea of the horrors of forty-four days
| transatlantic trip on an African SLAYER.
| However, but seven of this lot shipped
10 Africa had died, and the remainder
appeared in good health. They were
| literally fed in groups of about
| dnZal each person having q rudelY carved