St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-09-19
Thrilling Description Of an
Exciting Capture on the
High Seas.
A Curious Ruse, and How 1t
Was Quite Successfully
Worked.
Lifting the Hatches Of the Bo-
gotta, and What Came
of 1t.
Story of Rescued Wretches.-
Story Of Rescued Wretches--
The Dark Tactics Pur-
sued.

Philadelphia Press
Away there, first cutter, away!"
preceded by the shrill whistle of the
boatswain's mate, was the order that
made lively scene on the deck of the
United States steamer Crusader thirty
years ago.
We had misunderstanding craft
hove to under our guns which had
wisely taken the hint from shot fired
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
steamers were fitted out for this pur
pose. two Being stationed OH the north
coast OF Cuba and the others on the
south.
At this time the slave trade was
lively and very renumerative. 1t was
unlawful in Cuba. but that did not
seem to be much of detriment.
Greedy. unprincipled men in our
Northern ports of Boston and New
York were doing their full share
of this piratical work, dealing
in human flesh and blood. Our
government up to this time had never
used steamers as means to suppress
this Ubiquitous traffic. The British gov
eminent had about thirty war steamers
on the coast of Africa looking after
slavers. and we generally had two or
three sailing vessels on the same station
and duty. Here was a new departure
for us. 1t was Well-knOwn fact that
with all their care and diligence on the
N fria c1 rot i,
the blockade. We were set to watch
these more cunning and lucky rascals at
the eastward end of their voyage.
AS Cuba is about 500 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 1,50O
negroes. The Crusader. under the com
mand of Capt. John n. Maffit, captured
three of the six. The prizes were sent
to Key West, our nearest American
port, and the vessels, officers, crews and
negroes were turned over to the United
States civil authorities tor trial. The
negroes were clothed and we'll taken
care of by our government authorities,
and were finally put in the care of the
American Colonization society and sent
to Liberia.
BY some method our prisoners es-
capped hanging. which was the lawful
penalty for this crime. The prisoners
would all deny their American citizen
ship. and. as matter of fact, perhaps,
but few were Americans. The punish
ment in the way of pecuniary damages
was the loss Of the vessel, which was
always confiscated. and the anticipated
profits OF successful venture.
The Bogota.
The incident in the capture of the
Bogota, with which this article deals,
was rather peculiar. Under the old
war cry of 1912, Free Trade and Sail
Ors' Rights" we as Americans were
very much hampered in our efforts to
suppress the slave trade. We refused
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 naval Of
| ficer did it, it was at the risk of the loss
| OF his commission, as it was direct
disobedience OF orders. Our orders
| were:
"Catch slavers," but if we forcibly
boarded vessel flying a foreign flag,
| and if by chance she was not a SLAYER.
| it meant dismissal and some interna-
| tional trouble. Our nation was very
sensitive on this point, as it was an old
| "war chip" which we unwisely insisted
| on carrying on our shoulders. On this
occasion, our captain, Yankee-lke, won
his laurels by a cunning trick. He
would change the appearance of the
vessel by altering her rigging. and
boldly fly the flag Of other nations
French, English OF 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
| sensation. In order to disguise our ap-
| pearance free use of white, black or
| yellow paint was made, sometimes
| while at sea and at other times at an
oh or under the lee of one of the lnnu-
merable uninhablted coral islands
| which dot the north coast of Cuba.
| Long before we neared our suspicious
she flew French colors; so we hoisted
the English flag at our peak and the
| jack forward, and looked like respect
| able English cruiser. AS other nations
| were not so particular OH this point of
sea etiquette, in 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
Lieut.. Duncan few golden coins, say
ing: "Mr. Duncan, l wish YOU would
board that Frenchman and give him my
compliments, and see if you can buy 9
| few cases OF good claret for me. By.
the-by. Mr.. Duncan, keep your eve on
our flag, and follow our motions.''
Duncan's boat pushed off, flying the
British flag, and looked like an English
man.
The Capture.
We kept the suspicious vessel under
our guns and maintained our distance
of about one-third of mile. AS the cut
ter neared the Frenchman we noticed
considerable excitement on their deck
and that they hauled down their flag
Duncan saw something thrown over
board, which we learned. afterward was
the flag, log books and all Oh The sbip'<
papers showing herfden1i.1,. MaGit. ,sftt
his eye at the glass, watched carefully
and, after waiting reasonable sinse
ordered our English eoisrs doxr4 . al
hoisted the stars and stripes Duncan
followed our example. and nailed the
stranger, asking him who ne 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 along.
side, and ordered his crew to board
her, and she became our prize as q
pirate ship at sea without nationality.
Four Hundred and Eleven Slaves