Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-01-14

into whose willing and tender care
he committed his motherless boy,
telling him Of how he been driven
to seek refuge for his child
from the curse Of slavery, which
had robbed him and his mother of
their rich inheritance. And then
almost penniless and heartbroken,
yet with an iron will, he went forth
into the world again, to breast the
blow Of circumstance, and grapple
with his evil star" and determined
to help to bring enIightment and
freedom to those in darkness and
bondage. In answer to Alvan
S.eWart's question, as to where he
had been, and how he had Jared
during the intervening years, the
hermit related the following Incl
dents of his life, and how he came to
| be living as a hermit:-"L Leaving
my little boy in your safe keeping,
came to New York, and was there
jISt in time to ship as mate on a
vessel going to Africa to transport
about Two hundred free and manu-
mitted Degrues, in the interest of
the American Colonization Society.
Portugal.
Note-Oo The ard Of March, $50. Coner ess
pa scd act by winch the President
was authorized % restore 10 their owl country
NY Africans capturt from American or tor
ciGn vessels attempting to introduce them into
the United > ties; aud to provide. ny the eStab
h,hment Of suit b government agency on
the coast for their subsistence an coufort. 1t
4 was determined to make the site Of the & vern-
meut GcnCy. that of the colonial also and to
/ incorporate tut3 the settlement all the Africans
+ dt hvered by men-Jt- war to the Governn ent
agent.
Having had considerable eXper-
fence as a sailor before coming to
Kentucky, and understanding navi-
cation, was competent and glad
to go, especially on The mission we
we're sent. Upon our arrival at
Monrovia. our place of destination,
our captain, who was taken i'll on
the way, died, and the first mate
being ILL.,, the present command of
the ship fell to me. We found the
little colony much reduced, from a
late attack by band of native war
rors. Mr.. Ashmun, the agent of
the colony, told US that the attack
was undoubtedly provoked because
of the slave hunting and kdnappirg
that vas still going On under tt e
lisguise Of the Portuguese flag.
They Suspecting the colony was a
decoy>W here their people were being
lured and carried over the waters
into slavery. With this knowledge
we sta, ted out on a voyage of il.
vesligaton ard adventure with the
slave traffic along the African coast
We had followed our search bat {
few days, when while lying
at anchor above the mouth of {
large river, We saw with our spy
glass away up the river, a vesse
moored to the bank, flying at it
masthead the United States flag
We heaved anchor and sailed to
ward this ship when all of a sud
den the flag disappeared, and anoth
er went up. 1t was the flag o-
Historical %ote--American vessels were pri
4 vately SO d III Hav ma, the American regtste Il
were retained and the vessels proceeded TO thu
. coast Of frica under AmeriC ncolors.rhe buy
eli generally stipLi ted thatthe American ca =
in,or ONE American citizen 10 repre- Sc mt him
should remain on boar I and til tact of IN
! / ansfer remain III abey nee until tn vessei a.
rived in Africa, The american captain retain
cd the command, TO nislead he commander
OF ,e British cruisers; but he gave ii up a
:, Oh as tn, slaves wtre received on board, SC
> a. not to expose himself to the penalty of p:rac
, Ii case Vi capture. The American flag ant
papers p detected them from Il right of searCl
, by the British c. uiSers--thc Portuguese fla
| and pap,Is sh, ded them from theIpenalties q
piracy If captured. They W rrovi cd W t
= double captains, double papers and doub,
flags
Our suspicious were aroused a
once that this ship was a SLAYER
> We came ashore near to the ship
and as MY mate and | stepped ol
= the gang plank to enter it; followed
by the rest Of our crew, the captain
o who stood in the way, said: n,
q visitors allowed on this ship, it is in
s fected with small pox! Oh sal,
n ], we'll take our chances Oh that,
$ surnising he was trying to work
a ruse on US.
S But you cannot come aboard,
t declared he.
e | am sorry said. | you are no
e willing to receive company, but W
a want to know why you exchange
IS flags. Come on beys!
t At my command, pistols ard SO
d bres we're drawn, and we press
i aboard. The captain and a lie,
Of his crew were all there wrr