The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-08-08
KEPT SLAVES AFTER 1877,
fomcr Surgeon of Navy Lived Like
King on TrOpic Isle

Indeed, q former surgeon i'm the Init
cu states navy was an extensive slave
holder and the administrator OF a vast
slaVe-WOrked plantation some wears
after Mr.. Hemcnway's death. The
story OF the fashion in which a Unit
cd States man of war visited the
former officers tropical retreat on
strange errand, is one Of the most
picturesque told by older officers in
the wardrOoms today.
News reached the navy departm ,nt
something more than thirty years aso
that an American schooner. seized hy
mutineers. had been purchased bv one
wilson, OF the Comoro Islands, and
was employed in the African slave
trade. The COmorOs, a group Of four
considerable and many small islands.
lie in Mozambique channel, midway
between the east coast of Africa and
the island Of Madagascar, between
latitudes II degrees and 13 degrees
south, and longitude 43 degrees and
45 degrees SO minutes east. They
have a perpetual summer climate, a
rich soil and population partly
Arab, partly negro and partly mixed,
with an autOcratic sultan as ruler.
Their total area is about 76O square
miles, and their population something
like $4,000. A range of mountains,
rising at one point to peak $500
feet high, gives relief from the ex-
treme heat Of the region for those
who can leave the Iowlands, though
life in the latter is far from intoI-
cradle for the wealthy planters. In
1912 France acquired one of the
group, and in 1886, shortly after our
expedition to the Comoros, all came
under her control, though the native
sultan continued to exercise local
jurisdiction.
Having reason to suppose that the
contraband vessel was at one of the
smaller Of the Comoro group, where
Wilson had a plantation, the navy de
partment gave orders that a man. of
war should call at the island, seize the
vessel, her tackle and apparel and
bring all away, using force if need be.
There must have been an intimation
that Wilson would resist and that he
could make a good show in a fight, for
the man-of war proceeded with great
caution. Having reached the island.
she landed a party to reconnoitre.
The party Of reconnaissance saw
naught Of the missing vessel, but
easily discovered Wilson's plantation
and Wilson himself. So far from
being warlike. he was most amiable
and hospitable. AS to the vessel, he
declared that it had not been engaged
in the slave trade and that it was
no longer in his possession.
What the naval officers found at
the Wilson plantation was a sort of
tropical paradise, says the Boston
transcript. Wilson had some thous-
ands Of acres, many slaves, a spacious
and comfortable house, and the lux
uries Of all climes He was an ex-
tensive grower Of sugar cane and his
other large crops Of various kinds
were large and valuable. Under the
protection Of his friend, the dark
sultan Of COmOro, he exercised pretty
near absolute sway in his own do
main. On his table were American
and English magazines and newspa-
pers. He sent steam launch many
miles across a bit Of the sea once a
month to fetch his mail. He had
baths and pleasure grounds and
horses and dogs. Scores Of slaves
worked the plantation, while others.
in scant costume, served the master
in the great, comfortable house. He
had even an icc-making machine and
he served his guests with juleps and
with interest to this day
by the officers who were privileged to
taste his food and wines
In spite of the agreeable reception
given by the nabob of this Oriental
domain, it became necessary for the
captain Of the man Of war to carry
out instructions as far as he was
able. He could not take the vessel,
because it was elsewhere and urjcr
the protection of foreign flag. while
those who had committed barratry
in sciZing her at sea were out of
reach. She had been a whalcr, how
ever, and Wilson owned that her
trying-out kettles were I'm his posses
sion in fact were used on the plan
tation for boiling sugar cane. 1t was
an ungracious task after drinking IA
mans cocktails and eating his salt to
dcSpOil him of what he had bought |