The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-14

killed somewhat more than a hundred,
took $50 prisoners and vanished.
Perhaps Washington Irving is re-
sponsible for the widespread belief
that h early Dutch OF New Amster-
dam were men of little spirit, no tenn
per n wholly devoid Of ruder pas
sions. such as revenge; hat they
always were kindly. sympathetic folk.
slow to anger. prsferring comfortable
pipes n ~schnapps to swords and
muskets. BE that as ii may. in 1913
the self-same Dutchmen laid aside
their pipes and schnapps long enough
to send an expedition against Indians.
who were so careless as TO keep on
living across the East River. within
the territory now enclosing Brooklyn.
Flushing, Oyster Bay, Coney Island
and lands adjacent thereto. They
sailed away across the tempestuous
East River. landed on Long Island.
marched across IL to a greater or
less distance. met some savage.
killed a few, took others prisoners and
returned home, there to he joyfully
welcomed by those who had stayed
safe ashore within the walls of the
fort.
As an evidence Of their complete
happiness and in the exuberance OF
childish spirits the people seized the
captives and proceeded Systematically
to torture them to death. one was
hacked TO pieces with knives. another
al flayed alive. strips of his flesh
being sliced from his living body. af-
ter which he was chased by n mob
1 - - y-IAt 10, ,An IAn.s.. -t..a, IA-A
some i'll advised Dutchman spoiled the
game by cutting off his head.
Toward the close Of that seven
zenith century there were 15C dwell
ing houses within the city's limits.
with a population of $500 whites and
$50 negroes, including both slaves and
freedmen. II was at about this time
that New York city's slave market
became regularly established.
Originally it was intended to be
merely an ordinary market house and
was erected just above what Is now
N1-S9 Wall street; but later it grad
ually assumed the character of "A
place of meeting for slave during the
period when their masters had no
use for them. All negro and Indian
slaves available for hire were in
StruCtcd to take up their standing"
in the market house "in order To he
hired, whereby all persons may know
where to hire slaves Is occasion shall
require, and all masters discover
where their slaves are hired
In the earlier days of the city this
spot was a great slave market. and
advertisements in nearly all the little
weekly papers contained offers of men,
women and children who were for sale,
as well as offers of reward for those
who had run away. For Example. an
advertisement in the New York
weekly Post Boy, August 7. 17i9,
reads as follows Just imported from
Africa INC to be sold on board sloop
Rhode Island at Mr.. Schuyler's wharf,
"A parcel Of likely men and women, also
boys and girls"
From the Post Bon. July 20, 1870:
Just arrived from Africa "A parcel II
negroes consisting Of men, nm
boys and girls. to be sold on board brig
York, William Merciers. commander.
Most Of them have had the smallpox. -
From the Past Boy. July %. 1870.
To be sold on board the hrigantinc
Elliot, Paul Miller, master, from
Africa, at Van Zant's wharf. a parcel
of young, healthy. new n, grocs, men,
women, boys and girls, from 10 to 20
years old, at low prices" Summer
bargain rates, as II were.
In addition to buying and selling
slaves the b%enightcd inhabitants
of the New York of such days passed
laws permitting themselves to seize
the children Of Indians for debt and
that "A custom of bondage was in
may be inferred from an advcr-
tist ment in the Post B0y which an
nounced that "a likely girl whose ser
vice has ten years To run IL offered for
sale" Another advertisement. pub
lished September 80. 1854, reads as fol-
lows:
Just imported on the ship Anne
and Elizabeth, Capt. Peter Crawford, a
considerable number of German pas
sengers. chiefly young people unmar-
ried. Their time to be disposed uf by
Phillip Livingston or said master"
The price Of slaves varied from time