SIX MONTHS ON A SLAVER IN 1860
The ship _Thomas Watson_, a smart looking vessel of about four
hundred tons burden, lay at anchor off the Battery, New York harbor,
one day in June, 1860, having just arrived from New London,
Connecticut, where she had been fitted out and received her crew,
who had shipped for a three years’ whaling cruise. Some of the
sailors, when they came aboard, were a bit mystified by the clean
and neat appearance of her decks and bulwarks—for whalers usually
are dirtier than a “lime-juicer” and the smell of oil pervades every
part of the vessel. About an hour before sunset the wind freshened
to a smart breeze and the mate came on deck and ordered the windlass
manned and hove the anchor to a short stay, after which a signal was
made for a tug and soon the ship was on the way to Sandy Hook.
Meantime the wind had increased and the tug casting loose from the
ship’s side took the tow-line, out ahead. Sail was then made and the
wind was in such a quarter that soon the tug could not keep the
tow-line out of water more than half the time and when the Hook was
reached and the line was cast off, the ship ran over it and the crew
could not haul it in without checking headway. This the captain
would not permit and so gave the order to cut the line.
After the ship had been at sea nine or ten days, all hands were kept
on deck in the afternoon to practice making and shortening sail, for
most of the crew were landsmen and never had smelled salt water
before this voyage. As soon as this was thoroughly learned, the men
were assigned their stations in the boats and great pains taken to
teach them the proper handling of the oars. When the latitude of the
Azores was reached a lookout was stationed aloft and directed to
keep his “weather-eye open for blows,” and this humbug of looking
out for “blows” was persisted in until the ship arrived off the
coast of Africa and the farce of whaling could no longer answer any
purpose.
Among the crew was a young sailor named Edward Manning, who had
signed articles under the fictitious name of Edward Melville. He
afterwards wrote an account of his experiences during this voyage,
which was published in 1879[50] and from this narrative the
following account has been condensed, as it preserves an excellent
description of life on board a slaver during the last days of
slaving, with intimate details not to be found elsewhere.
-----
Footnote 50:
_Six Months on a Slaver_, by Edward Manning, New York, 1879.
-----
It was not until after we had done with cruising off the Azores
Islands and had taken our departure for other parts, that our
suspicions were aroused that the whaling business was merely a
blind. The first evidence came to light after the crew had been set
to work breaking out the hold, and it appeared in the shape of huge
quantities of rice, hard-tack, salt beef, pork, etc., in quantities
large enough to feed a regiment for a long time. We also found a
great amount of light pine flooring. For what purpose it was
intended we could not then imagine, but it will be seen, later on,
that this was a very useful part of our outfit. The ship had no
regular “between-decks.” A small deck had been built directly under
the main-hatch and it was called the “blubber-room.” The blubber was
supposed to be sent there for “mincing.”
For weeks the sham of whaling was carried on and, whenever a blow
was cried out from aloft, all boats were called away. The master of
a _bona fide_ whaler could not have been more anxious to secure his
fish than our captain appeared to be. The strict discipline of a
whaler was also kept up and no favors had been shown in the way of
grub. We still had only our allowance of salt beef, pork, hard-tack,
and beans.
[Illustration:
CHASE OF THE SLAVER “GABRIEL,” JULY 6, 1841, BY H.M. BRIG “ACORN”
From a colored lithograph, after a drawing by N. M. Condy, in the
Macpherson Collection
]
Up to this time, however, we had not achieved much as a whaler, two
or three porpoises being the net catch of fish, and they were
harpooned from the bow. The blubber that we stripped from them,
after being minced and tried out, yielded but an insignificant
quantity of oil—not enough to make the try-pots even smell oily.
When not in the boats the work of breaking out the hold still went
on with vigor. After a large quantity of rice and hard-bread had
been shifted to the lazaret, the other stores were stowed up even
with the deck of the blubber-room. This was about five feet below
the main-deck. The pine flooring, which aroused our curiosity when
it first came to light, was now laid smoothly down on top of the
stores, thereby making a fair-looking floor. When we commenced
breaking out the forward part of the hold it was found to contain
chiefly large oil casks filled with fresh water. After stowing them
in like manner as we had done the stores, namely, even with the
blubber-room, we laid the pine flooring on top of them, and then had
a smooth floor, fore and aft. This was the second tangible piece of
evidence that our “whales” would not be taken out of the “mighty
ocean.”
The crew generally seemed to be well pleased at the new phase the
voyage had taken and were anxious for the time to come when the ship
would be well filled with “blackfish” oil, as they termed the
negroes, and her bow pointed toward the States. I did not share in
their satisfaction at the changed aspect of affairs, for I had
scruples about being made an outlaw in this summary manner and I
foolishly expressed my sentiments openly. I thus brought on myself
the ill-will of the captain. Later on, after the voyage was ended
and while I was waiting for a passage in a Mexican schooner from
Campeachy, Yucatan, to New Orleans, he swore that I should never
leave the beach alive. This, however, was all brag. I knew him to be
a coward and it did not intimidate me in the least.
Nearly three months had passed since we took our departure from
Sandy Hook and during all that time, with the exception of breaking
out the hold, there had been nothing unusual to change the
monotonous routine of daily work. But I judged now, by the whitish
appearance of the water and the orders given to the lookout to “keep
his eyes wide open,” that we must be approaching land. The captain
also passed a large part of the time on deck, night and day, and
whenever a sail was reported from aloft, he would jump into the
rigging, spy-glass in hand, and intently watch the approach of the
stranger. If the course she was sailing would bring her within
hailing distance, we at once avoided her by changing our course. Two
or three times the skippers of different vessels manifested a desire
to communicate with us by following in our wake, but, our ship being
a smart sailer, they were soon convinced that there was no chance of
overhauling us.
One night we had received orders from the captain that the whole
watch should keep a sharp lookout for land ahead and just at
daybreak the cry of “land-ho” was heard from a man stationed on the
foretop-sail yard. The captain and mate at once went up to the
maintop-sail yard, where they remained nearly an hour, scanning the
horizon in the direction where land had been reported. When they
returned to the deck it was noticed that the captain’s demeanor to
the mate had taken a decided change for the better. Perhaps he had
plainly told the latter what he intended to do, after which he no
doubt thought it prudent to treat his subordinate with a little more
respect, considering that he had taken the responsibility of making
him an outlaw without his consent.
At three o’clock or thereabouts, that afternoon, a small boat was
descried by the lookout. It appeared to be about two or three miles
distant and, as near as could be made out, her crew were pulling
toward our ship. When this was reported to the captain he directed
the man at the wheel to steer for her. We soon overhauled the boat
and found her full of negroes, whom I afterward learned were
kroomen. These kroomen were black as coal tar and perfectly naked.
They were sitting on the gunwales of their boat and propelling her
with paddles. Standing up in the bow was a powerfully built negro
holding in his right hand a bright-red rag which he kept waving to
and fro. The crew kept time with their paddles to the motion of this
rag and at every stroke they gave utterance to curious sounds which
much resembled the noise made by a flock of crows. Right amid-ships
of the boat we could see a white man, of dark complexion, whom we
afterward knew as “the Spaniard.” He was straddling a cask and by
his vehement gesticulation seemed to be urging the kroomen to do
their best.
The maintop-sail was now braced aback and a ladder was put over the
ship’s side. As soon as the boat had reached us our friend of the
cask mounted the ladder. Upon gaining the deck he rushed toward our
skipper and threw his arms around his neck, shook his hand again and
again and kept up such a constant fire of words that no opportunity
was given the latter to open his mouth. The Spaniard finally
recovered somewhat from the excitement of the meeting, after which
the captain invited him into the cabin.
As they went below orders were given to the kroomen to come on board
and to make the boat fast astern, giving her plenty of scope by
using a line from the ship. After this we were directed to “fill
away and stand in closer to the beach.” We ran toward land as far as
was safe, when the ship was again hove-to. The boat’s crew consisted
of nineteen or twenty kroomen, all large and muscular fellows. They
were all naked, not even having on a hat to protect their heads from
the rays of a sun that would have melted the skulls of us white men,
had we not had them well covered. Each one had a string of cowries
tied round his ankles and wrists. These, as I supposed, were used in
lieu of money for bartering. Two or three of them could speak a
little broken English. This they had probably learned from the
sailors of the English men-of-war frequenting the coast.
After a brief consultation our visitors selected one of their number
to act as spokesman. He at once made good use of his knowledge of
the English language by begging for something to eat. This we
supplied. After their hunger was appeased they commenced begging,
through their interpreter, for old shirts, hats, tobacco, and
everything else they could see or think of. Some of our men went
below and brought up a lot of old hats, shirts, etc., which they
offered to exchange for the cowries worn by the negroes on their
ankles and wrists. The kroomen seemed loath to part with these at
first, but the sight of a red flannel shirt was too tempting an
object for the leader (the knight of the red rag in the boat) to
resist and he soon succumbed. After this it was an easy thing to
strike up a trade with them. For an old shirt I secured a small
string of cowries, which are still in my possession. It was a
ludicrous sight to behold them strutting up and down the deck in
their new attire. None was completely clad. One fellow had on a
sou’wester and a short shirt; another, only a pair of overalls; and
another, a pair of old seaboots and a straw hat. This last was the
most extraordinary toilet I had ever seen.
The captain and his Spanish friend now came on deck and on beholding
the fantastic appearance of the kroomen, gave vent to a tremendous
roar. The boat was hauled to the gangway and her funny looking crew
ordered into her and after giving our skipper another affectionate
embrace the Spaniard took his departure. The maintop-sail was once
more filled away and we stood out to sea, braced up sharp on the
wind.
About this time our grub began to improve. The salt-horse kid was
now accompanied with pickled onions, canned meats and other
luxuries. Meanwhile “Bungs,” the ship’s cooper, was kept busy making
small kids and as fast as he finished a lot we spliced rope handles
in them. Away down in the run, with many things piled on top of
them, we had some time before brought to light about forty of the
same suspicious-looking kids. Later on it will be seen the use they
were put to.
After our departure from the African coast we cruised about for a
period of two weeks and during that time not a word was spoken by
our captain which would even lead us to infer that the vessel was
there for the purpose of carrying off a cargo of negroes. Of course
there could be no doubt of it—that we felt sure of; but what his
reasons were for not imparting some information on the subject at
this stage of affairs, was a mystery we could not solve. Even if the
men had the will to remonstrate, they were powerless to do anything.
There was not another person on board who had sufficient knowledge
of navigation to take charge of the ship and he knew it. The mate of
a merchantman is supposed to be a competent navigator, but in this
instance the rule did not hold good. Our mate knew less of
navigation than I did, for I could figure out a day’s work by
dead-reckoning and that was more than he could do.
The whaling humbug was played out now. The reporting of “blows” was
still carried on, but no boats were ever after lowered for this
purpose. During this whole two weeks I doubt if we were at any time
more than ninety or a hundred miles distant from the coast, for the
distance run off was generally recovered at the end of every
forty-eight hours, by sailing the other way.
The cooper finished making his kids and with those found in the hold
he mustered about sixty. All our provisions and water were handy but
the hold was very much lumbered up with a large quantity of shooks
and staves. These were finally hoisted to the deck and lashed along
the bulwarks.
One night, shortly after this work had been done, the yards were
squared and the course altered. The man at the wheel was cautioned
to be very careful with his steering and the captain remained on
deck all night. Sleep was out of the question in the forecastle and
the watch below lay down on their sea-chests. Those who were able to
think were no doubt wondering what the next day would bring forth;
for, ignorant as they were of navigation, they had sense enough to
know that, with a fair wind, the ship could not be more than a few
hours in reaching the coast. I could see that they were anxious and
perhaps a little frightened, for they all knew there was a gloomy
outlook ahead should the ship be taken with a load of negroes on
board. Confinement for several weeks in a prison on this sickly
coast was not a pleasant thing to contemplate.
At last the long, dreary night came to an end and, as I expected, at
the break of day the cry of “land-ho” was heard from aloft. At that
cry the captain exhibited openly his nervousness or cowardice.
Calling to the mate in a very shaky voice he directed him to take
the spy-glass, go aloft to the main-royal yard as quickly as he
could, and take a look all around inshore, and if he saw anything
that had the least appearance of a vessel to report it immediately.
He then directed the second mate to see that all hands were on deck
and to have them ready for quick work. As it happened, we were
already there, and as anxious as he, no doubt, for a few hours would
decide our fate.
The wind being light, the ship’s progress was slow, and it was fully
two hours before the land opened out sufficiently to tell how it
looked. The part of the coast we were approaching appeared to be
uninhabited, with a dense thicket two or three hundred yards back of
the beach. As we came nearer I could see a long, low shed, just on
the outskirts of the thicket facing the water. During all this time
the captain had been nervously moving about and every five or ten
minutes hailing the mate to inquire if he saw anything yet. On
receiving a negative answer, he would mutter audibly: “It’s strange.
She ought to be there.”
After the mate had been aloft nearly three hours, he suddenly cried
out,
“Sail-ho!”
“Where away?” said the captain.
“Right ahead, and close to the beach, sir,” responded the mate.
Orders were now given to the second mate to get both anchors ready
to let go, with a range of twenty fathoms on each chain. All hands
went at it with a will and the business was soon despatched.
“Can you make out her rig and has she any flag or signal set?”
yelled out the captain to the mate.
“She is schooner-rigged and has something flying at the main, but I
can’t make it out,” was the reply.
[Illustration:
CAPTURE OF SPANISH SLAVER “DOLORES,” APR. 4, 1816, OFF THE CONGO,
BY H.M. BRIG “FERRET”
From a colored lithograph, after the painting by W. J. Huggins, in
the Macpherson Collection
]
I now went aloft to the foretop and, looking toward the beach, I saw
the vessel reported by the mate apparently lying at anchor. While I
was aloft my chum passed me with a white signal flung over his
shoulder and as he started up the topmast rigging I asked him what
he was going to do with it.
“Bend her on to the signal halyards and stand by to run her up.”
The signal halyards had been rove but a short time previously and
the ends made fast in the cross-trees.
“I think that signal is plain white, sir, and there is a boat
pulling off from the beach,” sung out the mate.
“All right,” replied the captain: “run up the signal.”
“Ay, ay, sir,” answered Frank, and a moment later, the white signal
waved from the fore-truck.
The land opened out rapidly and I could now see the long, low shed
quite plainly. It looked as if it had been constructed by sticking
poles in the ground and using brush from the surrounding thicket for
the roof. This shed, I afterward learned, was called a “barracoon.”
When the boat reported by the mate was some four or five hundred
yards from the beach, her crew ceased paddling and awaited our
approach. The captain hailed the mate and told him to come down from
aloft and after he had reached the deck we commenced taking in light
sails, preparatory to coming to anchor.
We soon overhauled the small boat and our friend, the “palm-oil
trader,” stepped on board and gave our captain another affectionate
kiss. He was very much excited and I inferred from his actions that
he desired the ship brought at once to anchor. The captain seemed to
think differently, for he continued to run her in and did not anchor
until we were dangerously near the breakers. The sails were allowed
to hang in the buntlines, not half hauled up, and even the royals
did not have the turn of a gasket around them. It was surprising
that the ship did not drag her anchor, with so much sail for the
wind to act on. She lay hard aback and kept the small scope of chain
out as taut as a harp-string.
“Let everything hang as it is,” sung out the captain to the mate,
“and send all hands into the hold to put down the flooring. Don’t be
particular, but bear a hand.”
We went below and commenced to execute this order. The “palm-oil
merchant” danced up and down the deck like a lunatic and every
minute or two poked his head down the main-hatch and ordered us to
“hurree uppe.” No such driving was necessary, however, for we had
sense enough to realize that our anchor was down in a dangerous
place and we worked with a will. We soon had the flooring laid; not
very smoothly, it is true, but well enough to answer the purpose for
the present.
“Man the boats, men! Step smart now, my lads!” was the next order.
We tumbled into our boats and shoved clear of the ship. We had
pulled but a short distance when a large surf-boat passed us,
crammed full of naked negroes—men, women, and children. She was
manned by kroomen and they were using paddles to propel her. They
were all jabbering at once in their monkeyish lingo and every few
minutes I could see a paddle raised and brought down on the head of
some unlucky negro.
When they had reached the ship I cast my eye ahead to see where we
were going. I found that we had arrived within fifty or sixty yards
of the beach. Five or six strokes more would have put us in the
breakers, when the order was given to lie on our oars. Looking
toward the barracoon, I saw a long line of negroes walking in single
file, toward the beach, where a surf-boat was ready for launching.
After a number of them had gathered around the boat she was shoved
out far enough to float, the crew standing in the water up to their
waists and holding fast to the gunwales on each side, in order to
keep her bow to the breakers. The negroes were then seized, one by
one, and tumbled in promiscously. After loading her full, the crew
jumped in and seized the paddles.
This manoeuvre had to be executed quickly and it required
experienced hands to make it successful. The least sheer of the boat
would have brought the breakers quartering on the bow, when there
would have been danger of her being knocked broadside to them. Once
in that position, nothing could have saved her from being rolled
over by the heavy surf then running and the negroes precipitated
into the sea where possibly more than half of them would have
perished. She was, however, brought safely out of the surf and her
course directed toward our boat. The mate now gave us orders to
receive the negroes and carry them to the ship. He cautioned us to
take in our oars the moment the surf-boat reached us and then to
seize the paddles and stand ready to knock the negroes over the head
if they should all attempt to jump into our boat at once.
This warning was timely, for no sooner had she gained our side than
the rush began. We did our best to keep them back by using the only
argument they could understand, namely, hard knocks over the head.
We were nearly swamped, nevertheless, by a number of them getting on
one side of our boat as they piled into her. After they were all in
we shipped the oars and started for our vessel, the surf-boat
returning to the beach for another load. We made slow progress, the
boat being so overloaded that it was impossible to take a fair
stroke without chafing the backs of the negroes or striking them in
the face with the oars.
When we finally reached the ship they were passed up the ladder
until they came within the grasp of two swarthy Portuguese,
stationed in the gangway. These men, who had come from the shore in
the first boat, hauled the negroes up on deck. The poor creatures
were much scratched and bruised by this rough handling.
At the same time we had constantly to watch the simple blacks, to
prevent them from putting their hands on the outside of the gunwales
where there was great danger of getting them smashed against the
ship’s side at every roll of the boat.
After discharging our freight we started for another load, which we
obtained in the same manner and we landed them safely on board. In
this way we went back and forth until the last negro was put aboard
the ship, when the boats were hoisted. During the time we had been
thus engaged, the large surf-boats from the beach, although loaded
to their utmost capacity with negroes, had, strange to say, made
their way, in every case, through the breakers without losing a man.
When we arrived on board everything was in confusion. The negroes
had been put into the hold without the least regard for stowage.
Consequently, they were literally piled on one another; and the
unsteady motion of the ship, combined with the foul air and great
heat, made the place simply horrible. Naturally, they were nearly
all dreadfully sick at the stomach. The women had been put in the
steerage. The ship had what sailors call a high poop-deck—that is,
the cabin had been built on the maindeck. The forward part had been
partitioned off and the staterooms removed as far as practicable,
leaving almost a clear deck to the dividing line. This we called the
steerage. The wind circulated freely through it; therefore, it could
be called a Paradise compared with the hold. Hence, the women fared
much better than the men.
Now that our cargo was secured, we hove short the anchor and made
sail, the ship lying in the wind at the time. Then, after hauling
the head-sheets to windward and bracing up the head-yards on the
opposite tack to the one we intended to cast, the anchor was hove
up. But the ship would not fall off, and commenced drifting astern.
This would not do for we were already too close to the beach and our
captain gave the order to let go the anchor—the only safe thing to
do under the circumstances. The Spaniard, however, opposed it and
when he heard the chain rattle out through the hawsehole he flew up
and down the quarterdeck like a wild man, crying out, “Oh, no, no,
captain! English! English!” Then seizing a rope’s end he made
unpleasant motions with it about his neck—meaning, no doubt, that
there was danger of getting their guzzles squeezed should the anchor
be let go. We now took the end of a six-inch hawser through the
after-chock and, carrying it forward, made it fast to the chain
close to the water, after which the hawser was bowsed taut aft. In
the meantime, the second mate had unshackled the chain at the
thirty-fathom shackle and, leading the end out clear for running, he
stood by to let it slip.
Everything being ready, the order was given to slip the cable and as
the chain went out the hawse-pipe the hawser was bowsed in aft. As
the strain increased on the hawser the ship’s head fell off and as
soon as the canvas would draw we put it on the ship. We soon had the
pleasure of seeing the vessel go ahead instead of making sternway;
and we could consider ourselves fortunate in escaping with only the
loss of an anchor and hawser. The remainder of the day we devoted to
feeding and watering the negroes. We also threw overboard all the
shooks and staves lashed on the maindeck, after which we had more
room. It was now time to set the watch for the night; so nothing
more could be done for the comfort of the negroes until morning.
I omitted to state that the two Portuguese, who had assisted in
hauling the negroes over the side, returned to the beach in one of
the surf-boats after the cargo had all been taken on board.
Early next morning preparations were made to get a meal ready for
the negroes. One of the try-pots was filled about three-quarters
full of rice and two of the most intelligent of the blacks were
appointed cooks, the cooper acting as superintendent. While this was
being done we went down into the hold to see how they had fared
during the dreadful night that had just passed. Their haggard looks
bore evidence of the misery they had undergone. Pent up in such
close quarters and inhaling such a terrible stench, it was
miraculous that one-half of them had not perished. We found five or
six dead bodies which were at once hoisted to the deck and consigned
to the deep. There was no pretence of any religious ceremony. Just
as they were, naked and forlorn, they were tossed overboard and for
a long time we could see the bodies floating in the wake of the
ship. I could not stay below long for the stench almost suffocated
me. On reaching the deck I heard the captain say that at eight bells
the negroes must all be ordered up on deck to mess and while they
were thus employed we should thoroughly cleanse the hold.
Just before seven bells the captain notified the crew that there
would be no more forenoon watches below, for we were so short-handed
that no one could be spared from duty during the day. We were also
told that, purely as a matter of safety, all hands ought to remain
on deck in the daytime, lest the negroes might feel their power when
they saw how weak in numbers we were. We could say nothing against
this arrangement, for it looked reasonable enough. We must be
satisfied with eight hours’ rest every other night, or perhaps even
with less; for, should it be necessary to shorten sail, all hands
would certainly be required on deck.
The crew breakfasted at seven o’clock and at half-past seven we
turned to and commenced operations by sending the negroes on deck.
After the deck was filled so completely that there was scarcely room
enough to give us a chance to feed them, we found that a great
number would have to remain below and mess there. They were now
divided off into messes and the kids were filled by the cooper and
his cooks with the rice, which they had all ready, and smoking hot,
by this time. The kids were passed around to the messes and, in
addition to the rice, each man was allowed two sea-biscuits. Very
few of them had any inclination to eat, but the Spaniard, who took
exclusive charge of them, seized a rope’s end and raised their
appetites by showering blows on their bare shoulders. The poor
negroes, being thus forcibly compelled to eat, quickly stuck their
two forefingers into the hot rice and, taking up some, put it into
their mouths. It being very hot they rolled it about with their
tongues and their eyes looked as if they would burst from their
sockets before it was cool enough to swallow. After two or three
meals they learned to cool it before putting it into their mouths.
This feeding consumed nearly three hours; the hard usage they had
received, combined with the nausea caused by seasickness, making it
difficult for them to swallow or to retain any food on their
stomachs. After the kids were removed, a tin pot, containing about a
quart of fresh water, was passed to each one of them.
Before proceeding farther it would, perhaps, be well to describe the
negroes. The kroomen were in every respect superior to the others.
Large and well-built, with every appearance of robust health, they
would undoubtedly bring the highest price in the market. They could
all understand the Portuguese language and hence were invaluable to
the Spaniard as interpreters. On the plantation where our cargo had
been confined, prior to the time when they had been sent to the
barracoon, the kroomen acted as bosses over the others. On board the
ship they were armed with whips and given authority to abuse and
beat the common negroes whenever they felt like it. It seemed to me
that they felt like it much oftener than was necessary and took an
actual pleasure in doing it.
On the backs of all the kroomen a letter had been branded and some
also had their front teeth filed to a sharp point. Their complexions
varied, some being very black and some a bright bronze color. Those
whose teeth were not filed had beautiful sets. They were as white
and lustrous as pearl and as regular and perfect in every respect as
if they had been artificial. The kroomen were much better
proportioned than the other negroes; their noses were not so flat
nor the lips so thick. I suppose they all had names in their own
dialect, but the effort required to pronounce them was too much for
us, so we picked out our favorites and dubbed them “Main-stay,”
“Cat-head,” “Bull’s-eye,” “Rope-yarn,” and various other sea
phrases. These men did certain parts of the work and at night kept
order and silence in the hold. The business of feeding the negroes
was entrusted to them. We merely superintended the operation and saw
that each received the proper allowance and no more. We never had
occasion to punish them, as they faithfully performed the work
allotted to them. They even formed quite an attachment to certain
members of the crew, who furnished them with clothes and tobacco.
Give them a pipe and tobacco and the measure of their happiness was
full. No apprehension of trouble in the future seemed to interfere
with their present comfort.
The other negroes numbered about eight hundred and included all
sizes and ages—from infants at the breast to men and women of forty.
Many of them were branded with curious devices. In some cases the
whole body was covered with marks—not even the face being excepted.
A large number, also, had the front teeth filed, like the kroomen,
and when they opened their big thick lips they looked hideous. They
were devoid of all intelligence, not even having as much sagacity as
a Newfoundland dog. They were also arrant cowards; one white man
being sufficient to intimidate and manage a hundred of them. The
women were the pluckiest and had they all been of that sex we should
probably have had a mutiny on board before the ship had been at sea
two weeks. They numbered about two hundred and were stowed in the
poop, as I said before. They were, with a few exceptions, all fine
specimens of their race, physically. Five or six of the younger ones
were hopelessly sick—consumption was, I believe, the complaint. They
made more noise at night than all the males together. While on watch
I often saw the Spaniard, whip in hand, bounce in among them and
fiercely cut out right and left. This treatment would have the
desired effect, for that night at least.
We had about fifty or sixty negro boys on board, ranging from six to
fourteen years of age. They were all sound in body and enjoyed
excellent health. The little fellows made no trouble at night, the
awful looks of the kroomen acting like magic in suppressing any such
tendency.
[Illustration:
THE CAPTURE OF THE SLAVER “BOLODORA,” BY H.M. SCHOONER “PICKLE,”
JUNE 6, 1829
From the colored aquatint, after the painting by W. J. Huggins, in
the Macpherson Collection
]
Before sending the negroes below, the hold had to be thoroughly
cleaned and a system devised for keeping it so. The Spanish captain,
as he finally came to be called—no other name having transpired
among the seamen—divided most of the kroomen into gangs and
partitioned off the hold, each gang having a part of it to keep
clean and a number of negroes to attend to. Those that remained were
stationed on deck, to do whatever was required of them.
After these preliminaries were all arranged the work was commenced.
In a short time the hold was thoroughly scrubbed out and the
flooring laid down evenly, which made it much more comfortable to
lie upon. Just forward of the fore-hatch, two spare try-pots had
been lashed. They took up a great deal of room that was needed for
other purposes and as they were a superfluous luxury for this kind
of whaling, we got the captain’s permission to try our strength on
them with a top-maul. After a great many blows had been given, we
finally broke them into pieces small enough to handle and then
tossed them overboard. The hold was now greatly improved and the
negroes were sent below with a better prospect of being able to live
there. Windsails were set at each hatchway and kept trimmed, and
when there was any wind a refreshing air was distributed throughout
the hold.
The Spanish captain, who was our mainstay in regulating the negroes,
was an exceedingly ferocious man among them. Our own captain said of
him that he had run eight cargoes to the Island of Cuba and had
never once met with an accident. Having had such an extensive
experience in the business, he must have thoroughly understood the
best and safest way of handling them. When the number of negroes on
board is compared with that of the crew (there were only eighteen of
us), it will be seen that orders in regard to them, whether for
punishment or anything else, had to be promptly executed and without
the least appearance of fear. So great was their terror of the
Spaniard that I verily believe he could have controlled the whole of
them single-handed. Yet I never saw him practice any deliberate
cruelty with the exception of two or three instances to be mentioned
hereafter.
Among the little girls he was a great favorite and I cannot recall a
single instance when he punished them or caused it to be done by the
kroomen. During many a hot, sultry day, when the awning was spread
across the main-deck, he would permit the little ones to gambol and
play under it, often exerting his fancy to assist their childish
amusements. He would frequently take small strips of calico,
eighteen or twenty inches in length, tie them in the rigging, and
then start a race, giving each an equal chance, to see who could
secure one of the pieces. This was a prize to the lucky one, and she
was regarded with envy by those who failed to secure a strip. The
calico was afterward put to a practical use in the way of aprons.
The Spaniard was also well skilled in medicine and by his
intelligent treatment of the sick saved a number of lives.
As soon as the negroes were sent below after their first meal, he
arranged for feeding them in the future at regular intervals. At
eight o’clock in the morning breakfast was to be served. Then the
kids were to be rinsed out, filled with salt-water and one passed to
each mess, the members of which should be made to wash their hands
and faces. After this, every man, woman, and child was to be allowed
one quart of water each. The same programme was to be enforced at
the afternoon meal, which was to commence at three o’clock. At first
it required nearly three hours for each meal, but after a week’s
practice the time was reduced to about two hours.
On the first day, when we had finished feeding them in the
afternoon, it was six o’clock, the time appointed for all the
negroes to be stowed away for the night. After the deck was cleared
we went below to see that the kroomen arranged them properly.
Commencing forward, we made the first man lie down, head to
windward, facing toward the bow, and the knees slightly drawn toward
the chin. Another one was then placed alongside, with his breast
touching the back of the first and his knees bent at a similar
angle. In this manner we stowed them, in tiers, the length and width
of the hold. The kroomen were allowed the privilege of reclining as
they chose, but it was their duty to keep the others in their proper
places. When daylight came the negroes could change their positions
to suit themselves.
At five o’clock every morning we commenced to wash down the
maindeck, which was also the signal for the cooper to call his cooks
and prepare the food for the negroes. After scrubbing and scraping
until seven o’clock, the watch on deck would call the watch below
and all hands go to breakfast. We were allowed half an hour for
breakfast, after which the negroes had to be sent on deck and
arranged in their proper messes for the meal. In the course of a
week’s time we had them nicely regulated and after that there was no
further trouble.
The Spanish captain now selected from among the kroomen his medical
assistant. This negro went by the name of “shikko”—signifying, in
their dialect, doctor—and he was very useful in helping his master.
The shikko having found a great many sick below, the Spanish captain
immediately held a consultation with the captain of the ship which
resulted in a hospital being extemporized under the top-gallant
forecastle. All the invalids were conveyed there and received prompt
treatment. Dysentery, caused largely, no doubt, by the change of
diet and water, was the principal and most fatal disease that
attacked them. After lingering a long time, and suffering greatly,
the first patients all died. Two or three cases of smallpox broke
out, which received prompt treatment; but these also were fatal. It
was providential that this loathsome disease did not spread. Had it
done so, God only knows what would have been our fate. There
occurred one remarkable case which the captain called the coast
scurvy. The man sick with it swelled until his whole skin was
transparent. No medicine gave him any relief and his sufferings were
terrible to witness. He lived fully two weeks in dreadful agony
before death relieved him. There was a case of palsy among the males
and that the Spanish captain could do nothing for. When the poor
victim took the water-cup in his hand it would shake very much and
this pleased the negroes so that they would shout and laugh at an
immoderate rate. Sometimes an application of the whip was necessary
to quiet them.
Only one birth occurred on the passage. A woman was delivered of
twins—one dead and the other living but a few hours after birth.
When the negroes were all below and stowed for the night, one of the
watch was stationed at each hatch to guard it for two hours. At the
expiration of this time he was relieved by another and so on until
daylight. While on this duty the men were armed with native African
swords or knives which the Spanish captain supplied. They looked
like large rusty cheese-knives and, in my opinion, the only thing
they were good for was to bang against the combings of the hatch.
When the negroes were noisy the watch would yell out something which
sounded like “Yock ho!” This always acted like magic for on hearing
it they would quiet down instantly.
The crew expressed a wish for revolvers, to protect themselves in
case of a sudden attack in force, but the Spanish captain said the
sight of these rusty old knives would have inspired more fear than a
dozen revolvers, the bulk of the negroes not even knowing the use of
a pistol and hence having no fear of it. I thought that story would
do to “tell to the marines.” The crew, fully armed with revolvers,
would have been a formidable force and in case of a misunderstanding
with the after-guards, would have held the balance of power. We
carried our sheath-knives belted around the waist, which is
customary with sailors, until our captain gave us a sensible hint to
put them out of sight when among the negroes or the latter might
take a notion to grab them.
The hatches had never been put on, the hold being open night and
day. After we had been out four weeks some of them became so bold at
night that they would disregard the orders of the kroomen and come
to the hatchway. A slap over the head with the flat side of the
sword, given by the man on watch, was something they could better
understand and it never failed to be followed by an instant
disappearance on the part of the offender.
One morning a krooman reported to the Spanish captain a negro who
had resisted his authority during the night. The offender was
hustled upon deck, stretched out at full length, face downward, and
tied to the ring-bolts. One of the kroomen now commenced lashing the
poor creature over the back and when he flagged another took his
place and renewed the beating. The negro was grit to the bone and
made not the slightest outcry. Not until life was almost extinct did
the Spaniard order him released. It was the latter’s wish to draw
blood, but the negro’s hide was so tough it could not be done by
thrashing.
There was a large and corpulent woman in the steerage whom the
sailors called “Miss Porpoise” and, judging by the grin that was
always on her countenance, she seemed to be happy and contented with
her present quarters. One day she appeared anxious to look over the
rail and to gratify her desire some one gave her permission to do
so. I was suddenly startled by the shrill cries of a female and on
looking aft I saw the Spaniard lambasting “Miss Porpoise.” He was
holding her by the wool with his left hand and she was bawling at a
tremendous rate. After he had given her a sound thrashing a nail was
driven into one of the beams in the steerage, when a piece of
ordinary twine was tied around Miss Porpoise’s arm and secured to
the nail. He called to an interpreter and told him something which,
on being translated, had a pacifying effect on “Miss Porpoise’s”
nerves, for her bawling at once ceased and she tried to avoid his
eye.
It afterward transpired that this excitement was caused by “Miss
Porpoise” trying to jump overboard. She nearly succeeded, as her
body was half-way over the rail before the Spaniard saw her, and he
was just in time to seize her legs and haul her back. We watched her
after this, but she never broke the twine by which her arm was held.
It was not a very secure way of putting her in irons but it
nevertheless answered the purpose.
For several weeks after leaving the African coast, in consequence of
light winds and calms, the vessel made but a poor run, so that there
was every prospect of a long passage. About this time the allowance
of water was reduced. There was no change made in the allowance of
food, for we had an ample stock on board. On the contrary, the
negroes were fed better, a certain quantity of pork and beef being
given them twice a week. Good care and plenty to eat made a marked
improvement in their appearance, at which the Spanish captain was
proportionately pleased. A fine healthy negro would bring a much
higher price than a puny, sickly one; therefore, to feed them well
and take good care of them meant an increase of doubloons to the
owners. Up to this period we had lost but about twenty and this
mortality was caused principally by dysentery. When the wind was
light during the day the maindeck awning was spread and the negroes
in the hold were allowed to come up and stretch their limbs. This
was a great relief from the intense heat and foul air of the hold
and was no doubt the cause of saving a number of lives.
One afternoon the weather clouded up and by six o’clock it rained
hard. We had made preparations to catch all the water we could by
spreading the awning, leaving the crowfoot-halyards slack so it
would settle down in the centre. The rain continued off and on until
midnight by which time some eight or nine large casks had been
filled. This stroke of good luck was thoroughly appreciated.
Among the ship’s stores, stowed aft in the lazaret, were five or six
barrels of New England rum. The sailors all knew of its being there;
for, at the time we were breaking out the stores, two or three
barrels had been unearthed and some of them had got a taste by
sucking it through a straw when the officers’ backs were turned.
When the negroes were taken on board, the crew supposed an allowance
of grog would be a sure thing for the balance of the voyage. In this
they were mistaken for not a smell did they get except what they had
stolen. The old man appropriated it all to himself and managed to
get dead drunk every day by 4 P.M., after which he would retire to
one of the spare boats on the poop-deck and sleep off the effects.
He made this a regular business, leaving the ship in charge of the
officers. The Spanish captain remonstrated with him and pointed out
the bad example he was setting the crew. Arguments had no effect,
however, for he continued to drink until the cargo was disposed of.
One afternoon an occurrence took place which came near resulting
seriously. Just before arriving at the sleepy-drunk stage he always
manifested a very ugly temper and usually relieved himself by
cursing the men. During the earlier part of the afternoon mentioned
the wind had died out and the ship was becalmed. The yards were
squared and the courses hauled up to prevent chafing. The captain
came on deck and gave orders to set the studding-sails. This was
useless, as there was no wind and the officers told him so. He then
began to swear at the officer of the deck and told him to go below,
after which he bawled out to the men to reeve the gear. Having had
plenty of work all the forenoon and scarcely any rest during the
previous night, they were not in the humor for such unnecessary
labor and, as they took the gear in hand to reeve, there was much
audible growling. The captain had just rum enough in him to forget
the kind of a voyage the ship was on and he cursed and threatened to
trice up the first man he heard growl.
This was too much to take from him and the men threw the gear on
deck and made a move toward him. Very opportunely for the old man
the Spanish captain came on deck and took in the situation at a
glance. Placing himself between the ladder that led to the poop and
the men, he vehemently gesticulated and said, “No, no! Bad—very
bad!” He called the officers and told them to tell the men not to do
anything rash, for the captain was drunk and did not know what he
was doing. It was some time before the men could be pacified and
induced to go forward. I think the captain must have been sensible
of his danger, for, drunk as he was, he had the prudence to go below
instead of lying down in the boat as he had done on former
occasions. This was a good lesson for him. He never again threatened
to trice us up and his orders were not embellished with so many
disgusting oaths as heretofore.
About this time the negroes were given their first bath. They were
hustled upon deck and arranged in tiers, standing. The hose was now
attached to the head-pump and a lively stream squirted over them.
They laughed and chattered good-naturedly while receiving this
ducking. After being confined in the hold all night the cool
sea-water must have been very refreshing.
Nothing else of consequence transpired during this part of the
voyage unless it was the appearance of a sail which was sighted from
aloft one afternoon about five o’clock. As soon as the stranger
could be made out from the deck the captain was anxious to determine
the course she was steering. On a nearer approach it was evident
that she was heading toward our ship. We did not, however, alter our
course until we were absolutely certain that she would come close to
us, for this running off caused too much loss of ground. But we had
finally to do it or the stranger would soon have been within hailing
distance.
About the seventh week of the voyage from the coast there was a fine
breeze blowing and the ship was making splendid time. I began to
soliloquize as follows: If this glorious wind holds on ten or twelve
days longer we must make land somewhere. It is nearly time, too,
that the negroes were disposed of, for it does not require a very
bright pair of eyes to see that they have not quite so much fear of
the white man as they had when brought on board. Latterly it has
been a difficult matter to keep them quiet during the night and many
a rap on the hatch has now to be given before they will pay
attention and cease their noise. The kroomen, also, have become
bolder and sometimes an order given to them has to be accompanied
with a crack of the whip, so little inclination do they show to
move.
On Monday afternoon the negroes were sent on deck, as orders had
been given to fumigate the hold. We took small tin pots filled with
tar and marline-spikes heated nearly red-hot and, spreading
ourselves throughout the hold, we commenced operations by sticking
the hot irons into the tar, when a dense smoke followed. This we
continued to do until the smoke became suffocating and we had to
return to the deck for air. The hatches were put on and not taken
off for two hours. This tar-smoke sweetened and purified the
atmosphere below completely. After the smoke was let out we found
that the sickening odor, which had before been so strong, was
completely eradicated.
[Illustration:
CAPTURE OF THE SLAVER “EL ALMIRANTE,” FEB. 1, 1829, IN THE BIGHT
OF BENIN, BY H.M. BRIG “BLACK JOKE”
From a colored aquatint, after the painting by W. J. Huggins, in
the Macpherson Collection
]
It was a dangerous way to fumigate, I thought, for had the tar
ignited when it boiled over the tin pots and was running down
between the casks and dunnage, it would have been difficult to save
the ship from destruction by fire. In that case the loss of life
would have been appalling; all the negroes would certainly have
perished, either by fire or water. No accident happened, however,
and I think all felt relieved when this necessary but dangerous duty
was over.
On Wednesday morning of this same week one of the crew, while on
guard-duty, discovered that a part of the flooring, just abaft the
fore-hatch, had been taken out. Thinking that the negroes were up to
some mischief, he secreted himself forward of the hatch, and,
elevating his head enough to peer over the combing, awaited
developments. In a short time he saw a large negro crawl up to a
water-cask and try to get the bung out. He hammered around it with
his fist, in the same way we usually did with a mallet or
marline-spike, to loosen the bung and after getting it started
removed it with his fingers. He then ran into the cask a thin stick,
about three feet in length and drawing it quickly out, caught the
water in the palm of his hand as it ran down. This he continued to
do until he became satisfied, when the stick was passed to another
who quenched his thirst in the same manner. Finally, the man
watching at the hatch concluded that this had been carried on long
enough and marking the fellow who had removed the bung, so as to be
able to identify him when the gratings were removed in the morning,
struck the hatch with his sword and frightened the negroes off.
Before they were sent on deck he went below to find the culprit and
the stick. The man was easily found but the stick was not. It had,
no doubt, been hidden under the flooring, and it would have been a
big job to find it. The board over the cask had been returned to its
proper place and if they had not been caught in the act it would
never have been discovered.
After breakfast the affair was reported to the Spanish captain. He
caused all the kroomen stationed in the forward part of the hold to
be brought before him at the mast and by the use of his interpreter
endeavored to find out if they knew anything about it. They were
ignorant of the whole affair, not having seen or heard anything of
it. The Spaniard believed they lied and flew into a great passion
and threatened to do all sorts of terrible things to them if they
did not expose the guilty ones. No threats could intimidate any one
of them sufficiently to make him turn informer; they were obdurate
and he finally dismissed them by slashing out right and left with
his whip.
The culprit was now brought before him when he gave orders to the
kroomen to lash him to the ring-bolts in the deck. After securing
the poor wretch so that it would be impossible for him to move a
limb, the order was given to the kroomen to proceed to business.
This they did by beating him with their whips, putting forth all
their strength in delivering the blows. The punishment continued so
long that I thought the man would have died under it; but his
endurance was wonderful and he only uttered a few groans. When the
beating was finally discontinued the Spaniard stooped down alongside
of him and taking a razor out of his pocket, opened it and cut long,
straight gashes in the flesh. Afterward he took a flat piece of
wood, resembling a ruler, and beat gently all around the wounds
which had the effect of making them bleed freely. Having
accomplished this he ordered the “shikko” to get a pot full of brine
out of the harness cask and apply it to the bleeding wounds. When
this was done the poor negro could suppress his anguish no longer
and groaned aloud. After being kept in this awful agony for ten
minutes he was released from the ring-bolts and put in double irons.
The captain of the ship and all the crew witnessed this inhuman
punishment and I will give our own commander credit for having more
heart than the Spaniard for he told him he was too severe on the
negro. The crew were all bitterly incensed against the “d— Dago,” as
they called him, and gave vent to their feelings by calling him “a
bloody cannibal” and expressing a desire to serve him the same way
to see how he would like it.
This was the only negro punished in this manner. I think if it had
been attempted again the captain would have interfered and if he had
not the men would have prevented it. The unfortunate victim of the
Spaniard’s cruelty did not recover while on board and was still very
sick when landed.
When the negroes were again watered we received orders to give them
a full allowance—about a quart. Perhaps the captains were afraid
thirst would make them desperate at night and thought it would be
better to allow them a little more water than to have them steal it.
One afternoon the captain called for “Chips” and me and instructed
us to rig a stage over the stern and scrape off the ship’s name,
adding that we were “now bloody pirates and should sail without a
name.”
Although the wind had been light during the day and the sea was
smooth, yet, after getting on the stage, we found we had a difficult
and dangerous task to perform. The swell was quite heavy and as it
struck the vessel’s stern it lifted it high out of the water. When
the wave reached the bow the motion was reversed. This is what
sailors call “kicking.”
The stage was let down too far, which nearly cost us our lives; for
at the first moment the vessel lifted it swung in under the counter
and we had barely time to give it a swing out when the stern
dropped. Had we lost one second’s time in doing this we should have
been smashed as flat as a pancake. As it was we received a ducking
and it required all our strength to hold on and save ourselves from
being washed away. After raising the stage we finally succeeded in
scraping off the name. We were now outlaws and would be a prize for
any vessel strong enough to capture us. The ship might be taken but
the captain swore that the negroes never should. In case of such an
emergency he would “walk them all overboard and send them to hell!”
The voyage, however, was soon to be ended, for the fine winds we had
experienced during the past two weeks had brought us near to the
Island of Cuba. Every thread of canvas that the ship could carry had
been spread, which made her jump through the water like a racehorse.
My whole thoughts were centered on this breeze and if it moderated a
little, down went my spirits; but if it increased, up they would go.
Many a day when the negroes were on deck I have thought how easy a
matter it would be for them to overpower us and send all hands to
Davy Jones. What a great difference between them and the Chinese
coolies! One-third as many coolies would have long since despatched
us all had they been allowed on deck without being ironed as the
negroes were. The racks in the steerage were full of spare harpoons
and lances and they would have been formidable weapons in the hands
of an enemy. Ordinary common sense on the captain’s part should have
taught him the necessity of having them removed, in the first place,
to some part of the ship less accessible to the blacks. This was not
done, however, until after they had stared the negroes in the face
for five weeks and the kroomen were noticing them more than was
thought good for our safety.
Sunday morning dawned bright and clear with the wind still fair and
blowing fresh. It was time that the ship was made to look more like
a merchantman for we were now getting in the track of West Indian
vessels. It was by no means improbable that the unusual appearance
of a whaler in these waters would arouse suspicion and the commander
of some man-of-war might be notified of the fact and have a desire
to investigate us. The ship was painted black with the exception of
a narrow yellow ribbon running around the hull. This was painted out
but the appearance of the vessel was not much altered. Two of the
whale-boats were taken in on deck and the davits unshipped and hove
overboard. We had now four boats on deck, taking up considerable
room; if the ship had been supplied with gallows or bearers, two of
them could have been put out of the way. As they were a nuisance on
deck and interfered with the working of the ship, the captain
ordered them to be scuttled and thrown overboard. A large number of
harpoons and lances, a fine chest of carpenter’s and cooper’s tools
and a great many other things were also sent after them. The captain
gave no reason for this wholesale destruction of the ship’s
property, probably considering it no one’s business.
On Monday there was a strong breeze and the royals had to be furled.
The ship being so crank, on account of insufficient ballast, the
quantity of canvas that was carried careened her to such extent that
on leaning over the weather-side one could almost see the keel. This
made it very uncomfortable for the negroes in the hold and at every
heavy lurch they would fly to leeward faster than was safe or
pleasant. The stiff breeze had also raised quite a heavy sea which
made a large number sick. This diminished their appetites and when
the food was served out in the afternoon very few of them would
touch it. The Spanish captain swore that they should eat, anyhow,
since the trouble had been taken to cook the food; and he made the
poor darkies swallow it or take a lambasting.
The captain expected to make land late this afternoon or the next
morning. The lookouts were doubled and instructions given to watch
for high land and a small craft. I think it was about noon, or a
little later, when the man on the lookout forward suddenly sung
out—“Land-ho!” The captain happened to be on deck and he at once
went aloft where he remained for some time. On his return he engaged
the Spaniard in conversation. The ship’s course was not altered and
we rapidly lessened our distance from the shore.
Shortly after this the cry of “Sail-ho!” from aloft startled us. We
anxiously watched the approach of the stranger, which we soon made
out to be a small sloop standing for us. Both of the captains
watched her movements intently. The strong breeze soon brought her
close to us, when our fore-royal halyards were let go. As the yard
settled down it was answered by the slacking down of her peak. This
seemed to dispel all doubt in the minds of the two captains and the
ship was hove to immediately. The peak of the sloop’s mainsail was
hoisted when she came within hailing distance and luffed up in the
wind. The Spanish captain now hailed her in his own language and
after a short conversation with the sloop’s skipper we were ordered
to man the starboard boat. This was promptly done and we lowered her
and pulled alongside of the sloop. Her skipper jumped in and we
brought him to the ship. He remained some time in conversation with
our captain, the Spaniard in the meantime writing a letter. This he
gave to his visitor, together with some verbal instructions, after
which we carried the latter back to his sloop. As soon as we had
shoved clear of his vessel’s side he at once made sail and stood in
for the land.
After the boat was hoisted we filled away the main-topsail and stood
off shore. This disappointed all hands for we expected that the
negroes were to be landed and to now see her head turned seaward was
a great disappointment. It afterwards transpired that the skipper of
the sloop had been on the lookout for us for some time, to deliver
instructions. We also learned that arrangements had to be made to
send out a couple of small craft to receive our cargo. These vessels
were to lay outside of the cruising ground of the men-of-war that
patrolled this part of the coast. We were to lay off shore, as much
out of danger as possible, until Saturday morning, by which time we
must come back to the position we had left.
Word had been passed to feed the negroes in the hold for it was too
late to have them sent on deck; besides, it would not be prudent to
have too many of them in sight while the ship was on such dangerous
ground. Fortunately the cook had not neglected to have their food
prepared so there was no delay on that score.
I had the wheel at this time and there was not another person on
deck with me except the ship’s cook. The wind continued to increase
and gradually hauled to the northward so far that I could not keep
the ship on her compass-course without the sails lifting. I bawled
out three or four times to the cook, but he must have been making
such a noise with his pots and kettles that no human voice from aft
could reach him. I had her off three or four points when the wind,
in a sudden squall, veered nearly north and knocked her sails almost
aback. I quickly hove up the helm and the ship, not having had time
to lose all way, slowly fell off and the sails filled. The wind was
so strong that she careened until the lee-rail was under water. The
waves now rushed down the hatchways, washing the negroes, flooring,
and everything movable down to leeward and creating an intense
excitement among all hands. A few minutes afterward the captain and
crew crawled upon deck, when the ship was at once put under
close-reef and hove-to. It now blew a strong “norther.”
The gale lasted until sundown the next day, after which it moderated
enough to set the top-gallant sails. I was glad to see it subside
for the sake of the poor negroes, who suffered greatly from the
pitching and rolling of the vessel and the want of pure air. The
hatch-hoods had to be kept on during the gale to prevent the water
from going below and this materially interfered with the ventilation
of the hold. The following day we had pleasant weather and when the
ship was on her course the wind was about abeam. As we had been
driven off shore a long distance, it was necessary to set all sail
to enable us to reach the rendezvous by the appointed time, which
was the next morning.
The crew joked among themselves about the ludicrous condition of
things generally in the hold when the gale first struck the ship. It
seems that they had finished the feeding and the water-tubs had been
filled and placed in convenient locations for serving out, when
suddenly, and without any warning, they were pitched head-over-heels
to leeward and nearly mashed by the piles of negroes that tumbled on
top of them. The water-tubs, too, went flying in the same direction,
spilling out their contents and barking a good many shins. It was
some time before the sailors could extricate themselves from under
the negroes, fright so completely paralyzing the darkies that they
were incapable of moving a limb.
Frank, my chum, told me that the “niggers turned as white as chalk.”
I make a little allowance, however, for his excited imagination. The
captain fared no better than the common sailors, for he was knocked
down and a score of negroes tumbled on top of him. He afterward
observed that they smelled “worse than rotten codfish” and the
effluvia was harder to stand than all their weight.
During the afternoon the last porker, out of a dozen taken on board
before we left America, was slaughtered and a “whack” sent forward
in the shape of a sea-pie. We had quite an affection for this little
pig and felt sorry when he was so cruelly slain. After the cargo was
shipped he was released from his pen and allowed to roam about the
main-deck. Being thus brought in contact with so many men he became
very tame and had “acquired considerable knowledge,” as the cook
expressed it. Some of the sailors taught him a number of tricks the
best of which was jumping through a hoop. This the porker became
expert at and could accomplish his feat without touching a leg to
the hoop. They also taught him to come when whistled for. He was
considered a member of the starboard watch for when that watch was
called he was sure to turn out from under the windlass and snoop
around on deck until they went below again, at eight bells. When the
sea-pie came forward we did justice to his remains thus proving that
our love for him was strong,—even in death.
All hands voluntarily remained on deck all night and took lookouts
below and aloft, for we were again getting close to the island and
in the track of vessels. No light was allowed in the cabin and the
binnacle was covered over with a canvas hood—a small hole only being
left open through which the man at the wheel could see the compass.
For some reason the negroes became very much excited and made a
great deal of noise and all the threats of the Spaniard had no
effect in quieting them. Had any vessel passed near us I think the
people on board would have been astonished at hearing such a bedlam
of sounds. Two or three lights were reported by the men on lookout
but we easily avoided them.
[Illustration:
THE SLAVER “L’ANTONIO,” WITH OTHER BLACK CRAFT, LYING IN BONNY
RIVER
From a colored lithograph published in London, in 1841, in the
Macpherson Collection
]
The night finally came to an end as even the longest one must and we
prepared to give the negroes the last breakfast they would ever take
on board. Orders were given to consume as little time as possible in
feeding them and in obedience to these instructions we were not
over-particular and hurried matters all that we could. In
consideration of its being the last meal we gave them a blow-out on
water by allowing every one all he could drink. This meal was served
in the hold, not a negro being allowed to put his head on deck, the
kroomen not excepted. We then swallowed a hasty breakfast ourselves,
after which a stage was rigged to put over the side. This was
afterward used in transferring the negroes. During all this time the
lookouts had continued their vigilance but no sign of any small
vessels could be seen on any part of the horizon. At four bells (ten
o’clock) land was made out from the foretop-gallant yard. The
captain now considered the ship close enough in and had her hove-to.
A little before twelve o’clock a sail was reported inshore and to
the westward of our ship and a few minutes later another one was
made out in about the same position. The captain now took the
spyglass and went aloft where he remained fully an hour watching the
strangers. During the time we made out the two vessels to be
schooners.
When the captain returned to the deck the Spaniard accosted him, and
advised that the ship should be filled-away at once and her course
shaped for the schooners as near as the wind would permit. The
captain was inclined to keep the ship where she was until a nearer
approach of the strangers would enable him to see that everything
was all right but the Spaniard scouted his fears and said even if
they were not the vessels we expected we would have ample time to
get out of their way. The captain then yielded the point and had the
yards braced up sharp and the vessel hauled to the wind. When sharp
on the wind we were only a point to leeward of the schooners. The
wind was slowly moderating and it was necessary that we should make
our ship do her best to lessen the distance from the schooners
before it died out and left us becalmed in a dangerous place.
By two o’clock they were near enough to signal, when the fore-royal
yard was settled down and a few minutes later we hauled down the
flying-jib. Every eye was now intently watching them and if our
signals should not be answered, adieu to our hopes for to-day. After
being kept in suspense for ten or fifteen minutes the welcome answer
was made. It was received with three rousing cheers which fairly
made the old ship tremble.
It being now certain that schooners were our expected allies, orders
were given to clear up the decks and get everything ready for
transferring the negroes. I was glad there was something to do for
it was a relief to have my thoughts diverted from the schooners for,
while watching them, it did seem that an eternity of time must
elapse before they could reach us. Lines were placed on both sides
of the ship, fore and aft, to be in readiness for heaving when they
approached near enough.
After an hour and a half had passed the schooners were quite close
to us and the order was given to take in all light sails and clew-up
the foresail and mainsail, after which the main-topsail was braced
aback. By this time one of them had come within hailing distance,
when the Spaniard challenged her and received a satisfactory
response.
“Stand by the lines to lu’ard!” sung out the captain.
She now rounded-to on our lee, when a line was thrown to her. It
fell short but this blunder was repaired by one of the schooner’s
crew throwing a line to us which was caught and the end passed
forward to be made fast so she could be hauled up to the waist.
Before it could be secured the other schooner luffed-to under our
stern and hove a line to her consort which was caught and made fast.
“Dick of the Mizzen” had now secured the first line and we sung out
to the schooner’s men to haul in. Hardly had a fair strain been put
on it, and the men were lying back for another good pull, when, to
our great disgust, Dick’s granny-knot slipped and the end went
overboard. Before another line could be thrown to them the schooner
dropped astern.
Dick now got a cursing from all hands and the mate was so
exasperated that he gave him three or four vigorous kicks and warned
the poor fellow to keep his thick head out of his sight or he would
be the death of him.
“Better luck next time!” sung out the captain. “Five or six men
stand by the lines and the rest get the stage over the side.”
This was promptly done and ladders were also put down the hatchways
for the negroes to mount when the order should be given. We lost
considerable time before we again had the schooners alongside. This
time a more competent person made fast the line. One of them was
then hauled under the stage when word was passed for three or four
of the men to go below and start the negroes up the ladders. Others
were stationed in the waist to assist them over on to the stage. A
large valise was now passed from the schooner to the ship and taken
charge of by our captain. It was filled with doubloons, I afterward
learned.
As fast as the negroes reached the deck they were given a crack with
the whip to make them move more quickly and then shoved over the
side on the stage, from which they had to jump to the schooner’s
deck. It took an hour to clear out the hold and then came the
women’s turn. I thought it would be difficult to make them jump from
the stage; but they did not seem to mind it and succeeded very well.
“Good-bye, Miss Plum Duff,” said George, giving that lady a slap as
she went over the side. “I’ll never see your like again.”
“Good-bye, Desdemony,” said “Dick of the Mizzen.” “Won’t you leave
me a lock of your hair?” Dick had not strictly obeyed the mate’s
order to keep his thick head out of sight.
Many such remarks were made by the men as the women passed over the
side and as they were successfully landed on the schooner’s deck a
loud “well-done” saluted them. The kroomen were the last to leave
and as they passed over they were given tobacco and old clothes.
Every negro being reported out of the ship, the order was given to
cast off the lines and fill-away.
While we had been engaged unloading the negroes, the other schooner
had hauled alongside her mate and taken on board about one-half of
them. Both vessels were filled with negroes and the problem how to
prevent their woolly heads from being seen by a passing vessel,
should one get near enough, I left for the Spaniard to solve.
Just as we braced up, the Spaniard sung out from the schooner’s deck
for us to send him some hardtack. The captain ordered four barrels
thrown overboard, taking an oath that he wouldn’t lower a boat for
the devil himself! He perhaps thought hardtack soaked in salt-water
would do the darkies no harm.
Sail was made on the schooners and their bows pointed toward the
land. We also put every rag of canvas that would draw on our ship.
Our progress was slow, however, the wind being hardly strong enough
to keep the sails full. The captain gave orders to throw the kids
overboard and after this job was done he wanted the pine flooring in
the hold taken up and piled aft. The mate said it was getting too
dark below to work and it had better be left until morning. This was
decided on and I went forward to the top-gallant forecastle and
watched the receding schooners until the shadows of night enveloped
them. Sometime later, looking in on deck, I saw the men seated
around the try-pots eating their supper.
“Well, boys,” said George, the cook, who had come forward to pick up
some chips the cooper had left after preparing the last breakfast
for the negroes, “we have been nearly six months on a slaver.”
“We ain’t out of the slaver yet,” said someone.
“It don’t make any difference. We are now on a legal merchantman or
a whaler,” replied George.
“That’s so, George,” spoke up Frank; “but it would puzzle the devil
to tell which one of the two.”
The ship was run to Campeachy, Yucatan, and anchored on the banks
off that port. Prior to this we had thrown overboard all the pine
flooring that had been used during the passage from Africa, after
which chloride of lime was generously sprinkled throughout the hold.
No amount of this disinfectant had the effect of totally eradicating
the peculiar odor that infected the hold and we finally decided that
nothing but fire could purify it perfectly.
The crew would no longer remain by the ship, although the captain
was urgent for them to do so, but went on shore and secured board in
the city of Campeachy. They behaved as most sailors do when they
have any cash in their pockets and as they had been liberally paid
in Spanish doubloons, they fairly “took the roof off the town.”
After being in Campeachy about three weeks we embarked in a Mexican
schooner for New Orleans, where we arrived in January, 1861. The
most intense excitement prevailed in New Orleans at the time, and I
had doubts of being able to get north, should my departure be
delayed. I therefore came at once, by rail, to New York. Shortly
after I made a voyage to China and on my return to America I entered
the navy as a volunteer officer, where I remained until after the
close of the Rebellion.
NOTE.—The ship _Thomas Watson_ was built at Baltimore, Maryland,
in 1848, and measured 348 tons. In 1858 she carried a New York
registry with J. A. Machado, owner or consignor, and Captain
Elliott, master. In 1861 she was recorded as owned in Russia and
Captains Higginson and Allen, were masters. She is said to have
been the first American vessel on which Confederate colors were
hoisted in England and this was reported to have occurred while
the ship lay in the dock at Liverpool. After a short career as a
blockade runner, she met her fate on Stony Reef, near Charleston,
South Carolina. While attempting to get into the harbor she was
chased by the blockading cruisers and ran on the reef. Her cargo
was made up of salt, blankets, flannels and a few other things and
on the 15th of October, 1861, she was burned to the water’s edge
while lying aground on the reef.