Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-25
CFrom the Washington Post)

Georgia.
CFrom the Washington Post)
Those who are familiar with the HIS
tory OF the Wanderer, the vessel whic,
IN 1859 landed the last cargo Of African
slaves in the United States. will be in
terested IN the following. UNPUBLISHED
fragments OF history of that memoi aple
event, related to-a Pos: reporte-. ,.y Reb-
resentauve c. l.. Bartlett. OF Georgia.
Apropos of this narrative the following
vessel is given. in order that the reader
nay better understand the facts given by
TIE Georgia member.
The Wanderer was built IA New York,
n 1856 or 1851. by Joseph G. Baylcss. for
MT. j. T. Johnson, wealthy member
Of the New York Yacht Club. Shortly
after the Wanderer was launched from
The ways Of Bayless's ship-yard, Johnson
sold II to q Captain W. G. Corris. who
retained possession Of the yacht until
about 1889. It was about this time that
Charles A. L. Lamar. OF Savannah, Ga,
q young man of high social position, and
e member Of one Of the wealthiest and
most aristocratic of southern families (be-
ing a relative Of L. @. C. Lamar, Secre-
ta-y OF the Interior, under Cleveland),
decided TO try the experiment Of bring.
ing cargo Of slaves from the west coast
Of Africa, landing them at some point
on the southern coast Of the United
Etates.
Lamar, a daring and adventurous
foung fellow. was tempted TO undertake
this risky enterprise. by the enormous
profits awaiting those who succeeded in
landing a cargo Of negroes in America.
without attracting the attention of the
eourts and officers Slavery had been
eutlawed for nearly half century, and
Fvch vas the vigilance of the British
French. and American war vessels in pa
trollinG the West African coast, and in
Running down suspicion-look.ng craft,
that few other than the most daring,
hot to say fooihardy. cared to assume
the risk of a slave voyage.
During the ten years preceding this
svent, the rapidly decreasing numter Of
slave captains, used to leave the west
coast with some 500 to 500 negroes, whom
they purchased at prices ranging from IS
to-s2a per head, paying for them In cloth
pot-meta1 muskets. rum, ETC. Each tr.I
they regarded as their last, for there was
no telling what minute they would b.
run down. and. as q result OF this epel
present danger. they endeavored to gain
L fortune in one voyage.
SLAVE DECK HORRORS.
Every foot of space on the SLAVE shiI
was crammed 10 suffoca ton with human
flesh. and that instrument of torture. tht
-slave deck was rigged up amid-ships
hto which they packed the negroes like
Rrd.nes in q box Out Of every so.
negroes they counted upon losing one
ourth. But even with this loss hey
we're certain. In the event they reached
he Brazilian or Cuban coasts in safety.
" ready sale of the cargo al prices
anging from 500 to 500 per head. From
his Ii is easy to form an idea Of the
Al. a C~a ,-l, Il
Having thus decided Lamar took into
his confidence Captain a. C. MCGEE. OF
Columbus. Ca: Mr. Richard Dickerson
of Richmond. Va, and Captain Egber'
Tarnum a former mail rider. and indian
fighter Proceeding to New York they
purchased the Wanderer from Corrie:
Joined the New York Yacht Club, put on
q great deal Of style: spending money
iaviShIy. and giving series of dinners
and parties which soon rendered them
extremely popular with the fashionable
Set of the metropolis.
Soon after this event Lamar orderco
Earnum to take the Wanderer to Charles
ton S. c.. telling his friends he intended
TO set out from that port on pleasure
cruise to China and return The same
report was industriously circulated. when.
few weeks later. they Joined Farnum
at the above-named port. and. in the late
spring of 1859. set sail for parts known
only to themselves.
The voyage TO the mouth OF the Congo
river. on the West African coast, occu
pied about twice the time needful, owing
70 the fact that Lamar had to steer. clear
of great many vessels which he had no
desire OF meeting. They reached thei1
destination In safety. however. entering
the Congo river unnoticed by the war
chips patrolling the coast which seem.
GA at the time to be absent on othel
business The anchor had barely settled
in the soft alluvium Of the rivers bed
Before Lamar and his associates were ne
gotiating with the native chiefs and halt.
caste Portuguese slave raiders for tn
delivery, at a point known nowadays as
Erazziville OF 400 or more negroes.
LAMAR'S PRESENCE OF MIND.
The negotiations we're barely concluded
when curious thing occurred, il!ustrat-
ing IN striking manner the wonderful.
elf-possession resourcefnlness. and pres
ence Of mind Of Lamar The meeting
with the chiefs and traders had just ad-
Sourned and the owners of the Wanderer
were stepping from the yawl TO the
Facht when en- English man-of-wars ap-
reared in Inc river. anchorinS only
few hundred yards from the SLAYER DID
Lamar commit suicide, or. surrender. or
give up the venture as iost?z Far from 1t
Eae was not that kind of man. The mo-
ordered the crew OF the yawi back TO
their oars. and with Farnum struck out
for the representative OF H. 3. NJ. on the
high seas.
Reaching the man of-war. he mounted
the ladder and proceeding straight to
the cabin. introduced himself to the of.
beers. conducted himself In manner SO
thoroughly agreeable that the ofhcers
would not hear to his returning until late
that night. To meet an educated re.
fined. and civilized gentleman, In that
wilderness of naked savages and soraia
slave hunters they declared was trcas |
30 rarely enjoyed that they proposed TO
make the hes, Of i, while II lasted. Next
day Lamar arranged dinner In honor OF
the British officers. which was given on /
board the Wanderer. He had completely
6isarmed their suspicious by stating that
as a gentleman Of wealth. he and some i
friends We're making pleasure cruise tc
India.
The dinner was great success Cham