On the morning of the 12th of June, owing to the prevalence of strong
currents and light winds, with a heavy swell, the 'Bonetta' had
drifted so close to the land between Manna and Gallinas, that at 4
A.M. it was deemed prudent to anchor. A few hours after daylight a
boat was seen pulling for Gallinas. Immediately sending another in
chase, they were both soon alongside the brigantine, now under weigh,
and the boat proved to be one from a slaver in the offing, sent in to
make arrangements for the cargo.
By information derived from this boat's crew, it appeared that their
vessel would stand out for a time, but that on a certain day she
would be off Little Cape Mount. Acting upon this information, a
sharp lookout was kept, and on the morning of the 19th, at daylight,
a schooner was in sight. The wind being very light she was scarcely
visible from the deck; Mr. Smallpage (midshipman) being therefore
detached in the gig, after a pull of nearly 15 miles he succeeded in
capturing a schooner, claiming the protection of no flag, with all
fittings necessary for the slave-trade. It was called the 'Tragas
Millas.'
The next prize was descried at daylight on the 28th of June, having
Cape Mount Bay under her lee. Her captain preferred trying to cross
the bows of the 'Bonetta,' to the chance of being embayed;
accordingly they neared each other on opposite tacks, each carrying
studding-sails. As it was suspected from his object that the chase
was a superior sailer, a cannonade was opened upon her, and so
effectually, that after four shots she hove to. The prize's crew was
immediately removed, though scarcely in time; one shot had passed
completely through her, and tumbling right over, she nearly capsized
the boat, which was bearing the last of the crew. This vessel, the
'Andorimha,' Brazilian, fully equipped for the slave-trade, had first
put into the most southern part of the coast on the 5th of May, but
was chased from thence by a steamer. On the 3rd of June she again
put into Ambriz, but a second time escaped, after being chased.
Finding this part of the coast too well guarded, she made a voyage of
about 1,500 miles, and sent a boat into the Pongos to arrange the
cargo again. She was chased, and running from Charybdis this time
fell upon Scylla.
On the 10th of August, after a run of about seven hours, and firing
three blank-cartridges, the 'Bonetta' captured a schooner, the
'Alert.' She was under no flag, and had recently been bought for Don
Jose Luiz, the factor at Gallinas; for whom, besides a full equipment
for the slave-trade, she had a quantity of wine and other articles.
On the 5th of September H.M.S. 'Sealark' chased a schooner beyond the
limits of her station, when about 3.30 P.M. she was descried and
taken possession of by the 'Bonetta.' She proved to be a vessel
called the 'Louiza,' and her supercargo (who passed for one Don Jose
Segui) was one of the most notorious slave-dealers on the coast. His
name was Theodore Canot, a Florentine by birth, but American, French,
or English, when either suited. If all the horrible murders said to
have been committed by this miscreant are true, he must have been the
most atrocious of mankind. While a factor at Cape Mount, almost a
hundred human beings are said to have fallen victims to his
avarice--nor were all these negroes, but many of them white men.
The last vessel taken on the northern division was captured, in fact,
by the 'Sealark,' but virtually by the 'Sealark' and the 'Bonetta.'
In September, on her passage to Sierra Leone, the 'Bonetta' chased a
brig; while making sail, about noon, a man fell overboard, and after
lowering a boat and saving the man, she made sail again, when H.M.S.
'Sealark' was observed in chase also. A fine breeze now added to the
interest of the scene. The 'Sealark' and chase were some distance
apart on the port-tack. Coming up with them at two, the 'Bonetta'
tacked and opened fire at extreme range, and kept it up with shot and
shell till four. At seven, after the 'Sealark' (by change of wind)
opened fire, the brig wore round and hove to windward. She proved to
be the 'Achilles,' with a double slave-deck, equipped for the
shipment of a thousand slaves, and hoisting no flag.
The captain of this vessel was the same who had made the successful
voyage in the 'San Francisco,' and three out of four thousand dollars
cleared by that voyage he had laid out on the 'Achilles,' and he now
lost all.
CAPTURE OF THE 'CATHERINE' SLAVER, BY H.M.S.
'DOLPHIN,' CAPTAIN R. H. DUNDAS,
1839.
The system pursued in order to elude the vigilance of the British
cruisers is clearly exemplified in this affair. H.M.S. 'Dolphin'
fell in with the 'Catherine' on the 13th August, 1839, off the coast
of Africa, about 20 miles from the harbour of Quipo. She gave her
chase, and compelled her to bring to by firing several shots. The
'Dolphin' boarded her, and found that, though she was sailing under
American colours, she had the necessary planks for a slave-deck, and
all other equipments usually found on board a vessel engaged in the
slave-trade. The cargo consisted of tobacco and spirits; her crew,
of six American seamen and 25 Spaniards. No slaves were found on
board, however, but a negro boy, said to be the son of an African
prince, whom they had shipped to be used on the coast of Africa.
Among other papers on board, was the following letter of
instructions:--"The main thing for you to do on the voyage is, to be
ready, in case you are boarded by a man-of-war, to show your log-book
(which must be regularly kept from the time you leave here), your
ship's papers, your charter-party for the voyage, your ship's roll
and instructions; and you are, in that event, to make all concerned
with you American sailors according to your roll; all the others are
to be passengers. You are to be very careful that, in any
cross-questions, you do not commit yourself. Always stick to the
same story. When the vessel is discharged, you must at once cut your
register in two pieces; one piece you must endorse, direct, and send
to Messrs. Thomas Wilson and Co., Baltimore; the other piece you will
bring with you, and give to me when you return here. You must be
very particular about that, and do not let any time pass after the
cargo is out, before you cut the register in two pieces; and be
careful to keep them separate: throw one piece overboard if you are
obliged to do so by being boarded by a man-of-war." The 'Catherine'
had been fitted out at Havannah, cleared there, and the necessary
papers obtained through the office of the American vice-consul.
CAPTURE OF BRAZILIAN SLAVER 'FIRME,' BY THE BOATS
OF H.M.S. 'DOLPHIN,' LIEUT. LITTLEHALES,
ACTING-COMMANDER; UNDER THE COMMAND OF MR. AUGUSTUS
CHARLES MURRAY, MATE, AND MR. JOHN F. REES,
SECOND MASTER,
1841.
The particulars of this successful and gallant enterprise, for which
both the above-named officers were promoted, were as follows:--
At daylight, on the 30th May, 1841, the 'Dolphin' being under easy
sail off Whydah, a brigantine was observed on the lee-bow. All sail
was immediately made in chase; but as the stranger increased her
distance, the cutter, a 20-foot boat, with nine men, including the
officer, and the gig, with six, were despatched at half-past six
o'clock, under command of Mr. Murray and Mr. Rees, to endeavour to
come up with and detain the chase before the setting in of the
sea-breeze. Both boats being soddened from constant blockading,
pulled heavy, and the crews had been employed during a squally, rainy
morning in trimming and making sail; but after a harassing pull of
two hours and a half under a hot sun, they came up with the chase,
the gig being rather a-head. The brigantine bore down upon her,
opening a sharp and continued fire of musketry, which was returned,
when both boats, after steadily reloading under her fire, cheered,
and boarded on each quarter. The sweeps of the brigantine were
rigged out, which prevented their boarding by the chains, thereby
rendering it difficult for more than one or two to get up the side at
a time.
Mr. Murray was the first on board, and though knocked back into the
boat with the butt-end of a musket, which broke his collar-bone, he
immediately clambered up the side again, in which act his left hand
was nearly severed at the wrist with the blow of a cutlass. Another
cut was made at his head, which he parried, cutting the man down.
The bowman of the gig was shot through the heart while laying his oar
in, and the bowman of the cutter in getting up the side. After a
resistance of 20 minutes the vessel was captured, most of the crew
running below, firing their muskets as they retreated.
Mr. Rees had previously proved himself a most zealous and active
officer, particularly in the destruction of the slave factories at
Corisco, by the boats of the 'Wolverine,' Captain Tucker.
VOYAGE OF THE 'DORES,' A SLAVER, CAPTURED BY H.M.S.
'DOLPHIN,' FROM ACCRA TO SIERRA LEONE, UNDER
COMMAND OF LIEUT. AUGUSTUS C. MURRAY,
From August 12th, 1840, to January 5th, 1841.
The 'Dores,' a schooner of about 60 feet in length and 15 in breadth,
had been taken at Quittah, in June, and sent in charge of the
'Dolphin's' gunner to Sierra Leone. Six weeks afterwards she was
found about 20 miles below Accra, having performed scarcely 30 miles
of her passage, and lost almost all her prize crew, including the
gunner, from fever. Mr. Murray, who had but just recovered from
wounds received in the action with the 'Firmé,' was then put in
command of her, with a crew of two men, two boys, and a prisoner boy,
the only one who had survived the fever.
His orders were to proceed to Sierra Leone, and the indomitable
perseverance with which he adhered to them, through formidable
dangers and difficulties, together with his care of the men under his
command during a voyage of 146 days, are well worthy of being
recorded.
The only cabin which was at all habitable was eight feet in length,
five in height at the centre, and three at the sides, the breadth
decreasing from eleven to two and a half. It was entirely destitute
of furniture, swarming with vermin, and before the end of the voyage,
the fumes of the rotting tobacco with which the vessel was laden,
clinging to the beams, formed a coat nearly an inch in thickness.
This, with an awning of monkey skins, manufactured by themselves, was
the only refuge for the young officer and his men. The fourth night
of the voyage was ushered in by the most fearful squalls, which
gradually freshened till about two in the morning, when a tremendous
storm came on and obliged them to bear up under bare poles; the seas
washing over the little vessel, and the wind blowing in the most
terrific manner until about seven, when it moderated and fell calm.
The schooner was then observed to float much deeper than before, and
on sounding, nearly three feet water were found in the hold. The
pump was immediately set to work, but it hardly fetched when it broke
and became useless. This was repaired by about sunset, and in two
hours afterwards the vessel was cleared. They then made sail and
tacked, steering for Sierra Leone, till, on the morning of the 14th
of September, they sighted land just below the River Sestos. Finding
that they had but three days' provisions left, the commander
determined to make them last for six, and stood on in the hope of
weathering Cape Palmas. This was baffled by a tide that set down
along shore; but on the 20th of September, they anchored off Cape
Coast Castle. Having no provisions remaining, the governor supplied
them directly with sufficient for forty days, and having refitted,
the schooner put to sea again on a close sultry morning, which was
succeeded by a violent gale, lasting three days. About two o'clock
one afternoon, a rakish-looking brigantine was perceived standing
towards the 'Dores,' and judging her to be a slaver, the young
officer called his crew together, and having loaded the muskets and
got the cutlasses ready, they silently awaited her coming up,
determined to defend themselves. To their great joy, when she got
within two miles and a half of them, a strong breeze sprang up, which
placed the schooner dead to windward, and in the morning the
brigantine was out of sight. Their sails were now so worn that they
were obliged to lower them, and drift about for a whole day to repair
them. Having neither chronometer nor sextant, and only a quadrant of
antique date, often ten, and even twenty miles out of adjustment, the
position of the vessel could only be guessed. The men behaved
admirably during this weary time, employing themselves in cleaning
their arms, fishing, or making their clothes. The rain generally
fell in torrents till the 4th October, when the day closed in with
very heavy appearances. All preparations were made for the coming
gale; all the sails were lowered down but the fore stay-sail, and
everything lashed and secured. The fore stay-sail was kept up to
place the schooner dead before it. At about five in the evening the
gale began; it became dead calm, the atmosphere close, and all around
dark. After about half an hour, a sound like heavy thunder was heard
in the distance, and through the gloom a bank of foam was seen
hastening towards the schooner; in a few minutes the stay-sail was
stowed, and the wind caught her, gradually freshening until it burst
upon her in all its fury: the rolling sea broke in upon her, and
completely filled her upper deck; but the side bulwarks were open,
and the sea found vent. Having battened his crew down below, Mr.
Murray lashed himself to the deck, and steered the vessel through the
storm, which continued with heavy thunder and torrents of rain till
about two in the morning, when, completely exhausted, he fell asleep,
and was aroused by the crew (who having knocked once or twice without
reply, believed him to have been washed overboard), hammering at the
sky-light to get out. This gale so strained the schooner, that the
water gained to two feet a-day; and, to add to the disasters, one of
the crew was ill for a fortnight. From the 10th of October till the
4th of November, when land was again discovered, the 'Dores'
continued her course for Sierra Leone, experiencing the whole weight
of the rainy season. It now became evident that she could not stem
the current; and that in the course of many days she had not made
more than four or five miles. Mr. Murray then determined to try
again to reach Cape Palmas, by standing along the land, and thus
nearly incurred a new danger from the natives, who assembling on the
beach, armed with pikes and clubs, as night drew on, prepared to
attack the schooner should she run on shore. Happily a slight breeze
sprung up, which gave her steerage way, and enabled her to draw off
the land. No resource remained but to shape her course again for
Cape Coast Castle to obtain provisions, their stock being exhausted.
The governor made every effort to prevail on Mr. Murray to relinquish
the undertaking, which now appeared so hopeless; but he was resolute
in staying by the charge intrusted to him, and calling his men
together, he gave them the choice of going on shore to await a
passage down to the 'Dolphin.' With one consent, they replied, that
they would never leave him; holding to the old feeling of a true
seaman, never to leave his officer at a time of difficulty till death
parts him. Their provisioning was just completed, when a fatal
accident diminished the number of the crew. They had been bathing
after their day's work, and one of them, a black, was still in the
water, when he was seized by a shark, and so fearfully injured that
he died before he could be got on board. The weary voyage
recommenced, and, as before, their chief diversion was fishing. The
sharks, skipjacks, dolphins, and bonetas which were caught were
counted by hundreds, for they literally sailed through a sea of fish.
Two parrots had been added to their crew, and were a great amusement,
becoming so tame that they would obey their master's call, and follow
him afterwards through the streets like dogs. The 9th of December
was marked by a serious disaster. Seeing a huge shark alongside,
they had fastened a boneta as a bait to a piece of small line, and
made a running bowline in the end of the peak halliard with the fish
towing a little ahead of it; the shark immediately saw and swam after
it: they were already on the bowline to run him up the side with his
head a little out of water; gliding silently along, not two feet from
them, he came up to the bowline, which was held wide open, while the
bait was quietly hauled ahead until he was far enough through it,
then giving a sudden jerk on it, they closed it just behind the two
side-fins and tried to catch a turn with the rope; but, quick as
lightning, the shark gave a terrific plunge and tore it through their
hands, when Mr. Murray unfortunately got in the middle of the coil,
and as the men had all let go, it had got a half-hitch round his leg,
and in an instant he was drawn up and over the gunwale. Catching at
the peak halyards, which were belayed close to him, he held on with
his only sound hand as he was flying overboard, the men also seizing
him by the arm. Before he could be extricated, the limb was severely
injured and torn. The only remedy which could be applied was bathing
it in oil. In the meantime the 'Dores' progressed, though very
slowly; she had become much more leaky, the cargo was completely
rotten, and the stench drove them all on deck; nor could they heave a
particle of it overboard, for then the vessel would have capsized, as
she had no ballast in. The sails were perfectly rotten, so bad that
the vessel was often a whole day without a stitch of canvas set when
the wind fell light, that they might be repaired with monkey-skins,
of which there was a good stock on board. The fourth month closed,
and the schooner had not yet performed a voyage of ten days, from
seven to fifteen miles a-day being the progress lately made; but now
the current seemed to favour her, for a change of forty miles a-day
was observed in the latitude, and the hearts of officer and men grew
lighter, notwithstanding their miserable plight, always wet to the
skin, and unable to change their clothes for days together. Two
terrific storms were still to be encountered, and at the commencement
of the second Mr. Murray sent the men below, and remained alone on
the deck, which he never expected to leave alive. The heat of each
flash of lightning was felt as if from a fire; the rain falling in
torrents, leaked in every direction through the deck, and the
schooner was fast filling with water. At length the rain ceased, and
the lightning became fainter, when they made sail again, pumped out,
and proceeded till they had made sufficient northing for Sierra
Leone. They then bore up east, and on the 31st December, the colour
of the water showed that they were nearing the land. On this day
they kept their Christmas, and many were the hearty toasts they drank
to those at home. It was not till the 6th January, 146 days from the
commencement of their voyage, that they anchored off Sierra Leone,
where it was fully believed that they were lost. Here Mr. Murray
found his promotion awaiting him for the capture of the 'Firmé,' and
was at once invalided home.