Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-05

/ ported by m2eherJ
her Of Mobile, who died 10 or 12 years ago.
| Before he died, however, he dictated the
history Of what was a most reckless and
foolhardy undertaking. The following ac-
count is taken from this dictated story by
James Weir, Jr., and published in the
Louisville Courier journal:
In 1858 law was passed making the
importation Of slaves q capital offense; con-
| sequently 1t became exceedingly hazardous
| to bring fresh cargoes of negroes into this
| country. At this time Maeher, WHO was
quite wealthy, was running a steamboat
| on the Alabama river between Mobile and
Montgomery. On one of his trips several
northern men were discussing this law and
| asserted that it would undoubtedly sup
press the importation Of slaves. Captain
Maeher laughed ut the idea and declared
that cargoes of negroes could be brought
into the United States without the slight
| est danger to the man or men bringing
them in. The argument waxed warm un-
Til finally Maeher brought it to an end by
boldly declaring that no himself would
within two years land a shipload of ne
gro slaves in some southern state.
Immediately on his return to Mobile he
| quietly matured his plans and set them in
| operation. He purchased the schooner
Clotildc, paying s35, 900 for the vessel,
and loaded her with lumber reliable
man was engaged who shipped as super
cargo, and the Clotilde cleared for st.
| Thomas and u market. After arriving at
st. Thomas the lumber was sold, and then
| the vessel sailed for Loanda, west Africa.
| Here lGO slaves were soon purchased, and
the ship then shaped her course for Mobile
Captain Maeher had given orders to a
number of his trusted employees to keep a
1 e ehnrr 0nk fnp -of ~
| with instructions to report the first It'd
ings Of her arrival Immediately to him.
Time went on, and still there came no It'd
ings of the Clotilde and her illegal cargo.
One Sunday morning Captain Maeher was
seated on the identical gallery where he
told this story. His attention was arrested
by the sound Of q horses hoofs upon the
hard clay surface of tho road. Instructive
| ly he seemed to comprehend the situation,
but before he could rise from his seat the
messenger was mt the gate. Dismounting
from the horse, whose sides, fleckcd with
foam, bore evidence of the hard ride the
messenger FASTENED to the gallery and ex-
citctlly announced in a scarcely audible
whisper, 1.-The niggers have comer'
Captain Macher received the startling
message without the least sign of trepida-
tion. He Immediately hurried to the city
This plantation was about four miles from
Mobile) and began active preparation for
landing the negroes out of reach of the
government. A tug was secured to tow
the vessel In. Macher's brother, the late
Captain Byrnes Maeher, who at that time
| commanded the steamboat Gar was in
structcd to fire up and proceed to the
mouth of the Spanish river, which de
bouches into Mobile, and there await the
Clotilde's arrival. Captain Maeher also
issued orders that supper was not to be
served on the packet Roger b. Taney, his
own boat. on her trip to Montgomery the
following Tuesday night until he boarded
tho boat at some point up tho Alabama
river. This was done for alibi purposes,
as will be seen further along.
Having thus laid his plans, he boarded
the tug and proceeded with all possible
headway to the Mississippi sound, where the
CIotilde was taken in tow and conveyed to
the mouth Of the Spanish river. The car
go Of negroes and the crew of the schooner
were then transferred to the steamboat
Car, which was in waiting. The Clo-
tide was then towed into Bayou Connor,
where she was set on fire and scuttled The
Car steamed up the Spanish river with
her cargo Of negroes and finally landed
them in a canebrake on the plantation of
John NJ. Dabney, on the Bigbee river A
few trusty men were left to look after the
negroes.
With the crew Of the Clotilde still on
board, the Czar returned down the Bighee
river and steamed into the Alabama river,
where she awaited the coming Of the Rog-
er b. Taney, Maeher's boat. Under cover
OF night Captain Maeher and the Clotilde' 8
crew were transferred to the Taney. The
crew OF the SLAYER were slowed away in
| unDCr rff ftx, hC, 1i<s3