Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-06-04
CHASE OF THESLAVER CORA
THE LAST SLAVE-SHIP CAPTURED
BY THE UNITED STATES.
She Fell Prize TO the Steamer Con-
stellatlon, and Was Taken in
Charge by Mere Lad

4 NE of those true romances OF
| the sea that put to blush the
best efforts of Captain Mar
ryat, Il Fenimore Cooper or Il
Clark Russell, WAS the chase and cap
ture of the American slave ship Cora,
by the United States steamer Constel-
lation.
The Cora was staunch bark,
freighted with no less than 72O slaves,
md she was commanded by a bold,
resolute and resourceful man. At the
time of the capture the captain gave
his name as Campbell, aud claimed
that he was an English subject, and
merely II passenger ON the bark. BY
masonic friendship he managed to es-
cape from the Constellation at ST.
Paul dc Loando, and in after years he
met the young naval officer who was
detailed to command the prize. Then
he was the painted and spangled per-
former in u circus, the celebrated
clown, William B. Donaldson, and he
confessed that this was his real name.
Says his captor: "He had been sailor,
lounger, and pseudo gentleman of
leisure on Broadway, negro minstrel,
clown, slave captain perhaps the list
had better be closed; hut he had II
faithful, generous heart He was n
brave man, even though statutory
pirate.
The Cora was the last slave-ship
captured by the United States, and
the young officer who played so prom
ineEt n part in the affair was Lieuten-
ant Wilburn Hail. As soon rs Lieu
tenant Hall, who was in command of
the Corn, landed his prize in New
York, he cast his fortunes with the
Confederacy. After serving through
the Civil War he became one of the
American officers on the staff OF the
khediye OF Egypt. He is now the
American Consul at Nice.
Major Hall has written graphic
account of the chase and capture Of
the Cora for the Century. An extract
from his story follows:
'In President Monroe's administra-
ton, the United States and Great
Britain by treaty agreed to maintain
each Il squadron carrying at least
eighty guns, on the African coast, to
suppress the slave-trade, which to that
time had received 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-
casionally used by British men of war,
still they seldom exercised it against
| American vessels, and it became al
most the rule that American men of
war should perform the duty. This
fact came about because the slave
trade was largely carried on by Ameri-
can vessels. And strange as it may
seem, by way of parenthesis, the
American vessels were invariably fitted
out and despatched from Northern
ports, only one in many years imme-
diately preceding the war, having
| Southern ownership the schooner
Wanderer, which landed slaves or the
coast of Georgia; but these slaves
were at once gathered in by the United
| States Government, and sent back to
Africa on the steam -frigate Niagara.
Engaged III this duty the Constel-
lation was cruising ON the African
"' ~ Ia',a Wv ;,,tlain i. al'rt .at -
Modniro @ u nr ~" a'I C,nar;os 80 ~ -. ,lonho"s oo ~
~ ~ a., ;aIapl A., ~ b. b. ~ 9
Banin m ,N Aftor @ ' "nn af - thnso o ~ ;son W.
when off the Ambriz River, near the
Congo, in August, 1860, the calm gave
way to refreshing breeze. md the
Constellation, with all sauaresaiI to
royals, had just shaped her course for
st. Paul dc Loando. 1t was about 7
p. m, the sea was as smooth as a
floor and It beautiful moon lit the
waters with II spondor rarely seen.
The crew aud officers were all on deck
enjoying the refreshing change. Songs
were heard forward, messenger boys
were skylarking in the gangways, oili-
GERS were pacing the lee quarter deck.
Suddenly from the foretopsail yard
rang out the cry, '5ail no 7
"Instantly laughter ceased, songs
ended, men jumped to their feet all