The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-03
"BLACK-BIRDING.'
A Ship Loaded With Contract Slaves Goes
to the Bottom.

SAN FRANcIsco, Dec. 2.-In a brief dis
patch from Manzanillo comes news of the
wrecking of the brig Tahiti, with every
soul of her go South sea slaves missing.
This wreck is noteworthy, as it marks the
failure Of the first extensive attempt at
BLACK Birding'' on the Pacific coast. The
brig Tahiti. it will be recalled, touched in
brakes bay, fifteen miles north of the
Golden Gate, early in September, anu
with Gilbert islanders under contract to
coffee planters in the San Renito district of
Mexico. All the horrors OF tho slave
traffic on the African coast were reoounted
during the few days the Tnnita lay in
brakes bay III distress, The American
steamer Roseville arrived at Man2anillo
Friday from lslapa, and her captain re-
ported that he passed the wreck of the
Tahita eleven miles southwest of Lizard
Point. She was floating bottom up, with
rudder gone and ballast shifted. IL was
evident she had capsized while on tho star
board tack, as all port rigging had been out
away in an attempt to prevent her going
over.
The disaster had occurred thirty days be-
fore they sighted the hulk. The steamer
stopped and sent a boat of, but not II living
thing could be found. The ~yessel's interior
could not be searched to determine how
many of the islanders bodies were still be-
tween decks. The briggs yawl was still by
ASA " WV 5haAAA oooto VI SSASs 49,
gives little hope that any lives were saved,
for only tho yawl would have stood any
chance of surviving the storm. From Man
Zan1ilo inquiries were sent to many ports on
the coast, but not u survivor was reported
having made the shore.
The Tahiti's cargo of contract slaves was
on Gilbert island. They were
nearly starving. and they were easily
induced to sign q contract to work
for three wears at IS per month.
with the proviso that at the end Of the
term they were to be given FREQ return
passage. II. II. Leavitt, OF New York, was
thres-fourths owner of the brig, and Capt.
Ferguson owned the remaining fourth.
Sept. 30 the brig put in at brakes bay for
to her rigging. DIR. Gibson. the
surgeon, left the vessel and returned to San
francisco. He declared hs would not re-
main longer on board il he were paid = for
tune. as she was unseaworthy. and there
also chance of trouble with the island
The hold was sandwiched with hunks
three and four deep. August 10 the brig
was caught in a squall. The topsails were
blown into shreds, and both fore sail and
main sail were carried away. The vessel
urched in the heavy sea, and the islanders,
,ooped up in the hold, were thrown into
leadly terror. After the wind subsidized
light sails were rugged n the vessel next
out into brakes bay for repairs.
Ferguson. by sickness in his family, was
'orced to stay here, and Capt. @. Erickson
ook charge. A strong effort was made to
the governments to stopthe shipment
# these laborers to Mexico, but it failed, as
he ships papers were declared all right.
The islanders were very simple people, aud
vidently knew nothing of the hard work
n store for them. They refused to accept
lalf dollars for some petty curios, but
eadily sold the same articles for a nickel, {
With which they we're familiar. Very few {
ould speak any English. Besides the cap i
ain the and islanders. the Tahiti carried q
hree mates. a physician, DR.. s. Crymser, t
wo cooks and twenty seamen. Not a word /
AZ been received from any of these by T
risnds in this city. S