The Portland daily press., 1894-05-18
THE LAST. SLAVE SHIP CAPTURED.
The Chase of the SLAYER Cora" by the
Constellation.


described by Maj. Hall in the current num-
Der of the Century magazine. The story
reads in parts as follows In President Mon
roe's administration, the United States
and Great Britain by treaty agreed to main
tain each squadron carrying at least so
guns on the African coast, to suppress the
slave trade, which to that time had re-
ceived no real check. Each nation could
search and might capture the merchant
vessels of either, upon proof which satisfied
the naval officer of the violation of the laws.
In point of fact, while this right was oc-
casionly used by British men-of war, still
they seldom exercised it against American
vessels and it became almost the rule that
American men-of-war should perform the
duty. The fact came about because the
slave trade was largely carried on by..Amer-
lean vessels. And strange as it may seem,
by way of parenthesis, the American YES
sells were invariably fitted out and dis
patched from northern ports, only one in
many years Immediately preceding the war
having southern: ownership-the schooner
Wanderer, which landed slaves on the coast
of Georgia: but these slaves were at once
gathered in by the United States govern
ment, and sent back to Africa on the steam
frigate Niagara.
Engaged in this duty the Constellation
was cruising on the African coast, the men
finding relaxation only at long intervals
in a short rest at Madeira, or the Canaries:
or perhaps on one of the islands in the Blight
of Benin After one of these cruises, when
off the Ambriz river, near the Congo. in
August, 1850, the calm gave way to re-
freshing breeze, and the Constellation,
oil 1c 70 1c had irGt q
ed her course for st. Paul de Loando. 1t
was about p.m., the sea was calm as
floor, and a beautiful moon lit the waters
with a splendor rarely seen. The crew and
officers were all IN deck enjoying the re-
freshing change. Songs were heard forward,
messenger boys were skylarking in.the gang
ways, officers were pacing the lee quarter
deck. Suddenly from the fore-topsail-yard
rang out the cry, ''Sail hol'
Instantly laughter ceased, songs ended,
men jumped to their fetal was now ex-
pectancy. sWhere away?'' came sharply
through the speaking trumpet from the Off
Ger of the deck. about one point for'ard
of the weather beam, SIR Every eye
caught the direction Indicated. Sure
enough, bright and glistening in the reflect
ed moonlight, the sails of the stranger
were seen, hull down, with the upper parts
of her courses in view.
Iieut. Hall describes the alacrity and bus
fla with which all of the officers and men
of tbe Constellation snrang to overhaul the
brig. Soon the ship was dashing along on
the starhoard tack with ROYALS and staysails
drawing This evolution brought the chase
on our weather beam. The Constellation
wac a remarkable sailer by the wind. and
when ayarvtbino was bowlines taut The
va rds xvere So sharn mn that she ran nearer
than tho rsual six noints to the wind. In
no LONG time the courses of the stranger
baoan tn rise showing the gain we were
making. and in an hour she was nearly
hill mn II was as clear as day; but the
light was that wonderfully soft light which
the moon gives only in the tropics. The
stranper,s sails were as white in that light
asa pocket handkerchief. The breeze had
fresbened so that we were running at least
nine knots. Men had been sent aloft to wet
| down the topsails, and ever thread was
stretched with it's duty, the leeches of the
topsails Just quivering. At this time gun
from our weather-bow was fired-a signal
for the stranger to heave to, but on she
sped, silent as dream. We could now plain
| ly see through the glasses that there was
| not light about the ship, a most significant
sign Another gun was fired AS the
white smoke came pouring over our deck we
| lost sight of the chase, but as it was swept
| to leeward, there she ran silent and glisten-
| ing, with no tack or sheet started. Suspic-
ion now amounted almost to certainty
| that we had a slave-ship at hand.
| Our distance was yet too great to reach
| her with shot. Soon her jib fiuttered, her
| bow swung to the wind, the main yards
were hauled-altogether she seemed to turn
| upon her very heel, and with the quickness
| and almost the precision Of a man-ofwar she
| had gone on the other tack, hoping, doubt
| less, to beat to windward. The Constella-
| ton followed her movement and again fired
| a gun. We were both doing our utmost,
and the two ships cut the brilliant waters
| on an apparently even course; but the Con-
| stellation was gaining. Nothing could pre-
vent our overtaking the chase, unless sud-
l den squan should arise. This, possibly,
| was the strangers hope. Again and again
| she tackled ship, we followed like Fate it.
| self About IL 80 we had the fleeing vessel
within long range, and began a steady fire
from one or two guns, shotted, and full of
| command. The orders were to fire at her