"KEY WEST, FLORIDA, May 20, 1860.
ON the morning of the 30th of April last, the United States steamer Mohawk, Lieutenant Craven commanding, came to anchor in the harbor of this place, having in tow a bark of the burden of about three hundred and thirty tons, supposed to be the bark Wildfire lately owned in the city of New York. The bark had on board five hundred and ten native Africans (out of 615 put onboard), taken on board in the River Congo, on the west side of the continent of Africa. She had been captured a few days previously by Lieutenant Craven within sight of the northern coast of Cuba, as an American vessel employed in violating our laws against the slave-trade. She had left the Congo River thirty-six days before her capture."
Two other ships loaded with slaves that month were captured in the same way off the coast of Cuba, the barks William (513 slaves) and Bogota (411 slaves) both out of New York. The slave trade in Africa was slowed due to the British blockade, which made buying slaves cheap. Cuban sugar boom was at its height and the prices for slaves there soared, so the chances for high profits for Northern shippers was well worth the risk.
New York Times....
KEY WEST, Thursday, July 26, 1860.
The last of the African slaves were sent on board the ship Star of the Union, on the 19th inst., and she sailed the same afternoon for Sinon, Africa. The number placed on board was 385, constituting what was known as the cargo of the unknown or "unnamed" French bark. The total number delivered over to the three vessels for return is 1138, the balance of the original number have died.
A good deal has been said about rescue, and other means for the recovery of these people. But nothing of a very tangible character evinced itself, other than the arrival of some half a dozen persons from Cuba and elsewhere -- who looked and talked gravely upon "the law," in such cases made and provided. Most of the legal luminaries being absent, I have not been able to learn how tar their views have been supported by local opinions; but, as to a coup de main, we have no doubt that the polished steel bayonets of the guard awoke some wholesome regards for their personal safety, and these scions of chivalry thought it prudent to return unscathed, than carry their wounds in the rear. The solitude of the trackless ocean, or untrodden prints of our broad domain, are not more complete than the late residence of the negroes. The buildings stand, but the loud and dimming sound of voices -- the chanting and singing and dancing, and even the fierce expressions of anger are all gone -- the weary sentinel -- the challenge, relief guards -- the smoke -- giving note of busy preparation of food -- the corn mill, and even the stocks are all deserted, and silence reigns throughout. The story about the bark Adela being burnt is all untrue; her crew were paid off in Havana, and belonged to the Montauk, having landed a cargo of slaves.
The steamer Mohawk, Capt. CRAVEN, is again in port, having been cruising on her station on the Northern coast of Cuba. The new rendezvous for slavers and slaves, Anguilla Key, was visited -- several coasting vessels were about. The Mohawk picked up a boat adrift, evidently belonging to a Spanish fisherman, from twine, &c., being found therein, Lieut. DUNCAN arrived here with an elegant brigantine, no name, found off Anguilla on the 22d inst; no one on board. She was a slaver, and doubtless landed her slaves while the Crusader was chasing a bark; the breakfast for the negroes was in the galley, still warm. This is a new phase in the game -- an English island the successful depot for slaves in transit to Cuba. There are three vessels now lying in Havana, having successfully landed their cargoes. There are a good many rumors about the negroes who left here in the ships for Africa -- but I shall await something tangible.
The Spanish schooner San Jose. CORTEL, from Cardenas to Matanzas, was blown off and drifted up towards Cape Carnaval, where she anchored, and the schooner G.G. Baker, capt. BERNARD, from Philadelphia on her way to Texas, placed a navigator on board and brought her down here. This was settled by the Spanish captain paving $300.
A little steamer called the Barossa left here on the 21st for Jacksonville. This was the boat which was to have played a part in the foray contemplated on the African depot.
The total number of slaves landed here was 1,432; died 294; shipped to Africa, 1,138. SCARLET.
----------------------
July 24, 1860
More on the story...
The Charleston Courier of the 18th has late intelligence from Key West. The Courier says:
"A passenger by the steamer which brought our advices expressed much surprise relative to the story in the papers of the rescue of a portion of the negroes at Key West, and of their being carried off. He assured us positively that there is not a particle of truth in the report. Every negro brought into Key West so far has been accounted for by the United States Marshal, who is a vigliant officer. There was an intimation that such an attempt would be made, but the slightest. fear was never entertained that it would be successful. A strict guard was kept up day and night, consisting of a police force of the citizens and a detachment of United States Marines, and, in addition to this, a United States man of war was in port most of the time, so that none but the most foolhardy would attempt a rescue under such circumstances. After the intimation alluded to was given, the guard was doubled, and four field pieces were mounted on a small garrison erected for the purpose, two of the pieces pointing towards the sea, and two towards the town. A picket fence was also erected around the sheds containing, the Africans, and sentry-boxes raised at proper distances near the inclosure. The first cargo bound for re-shipment to Africa was taken on board a vessel chartered for that purpose, on the 3d of July, and sailed a few days after. The second vessel arrived at Key West on the 13th, and had her cargo on board by the 14th. After completing her cargo, the ship attempted to get out to sea, but was detained by a calm. Our informant further states that .the scene witnessed on the Africans taking their departure was, truly heart-reading. They begged upon their knees, threw themselves down, and by signs, in every possible way, communicated their repugnance to going back. Such as had picked up a new English words, spoke for themselves and the rest, asking the Physician and Marshal to allow them to remain, and let the citizens do whatever they wished with them. No man could have witnessed the departure without feeling that it was a great wrong and an act of inhumanity in spending them back to their own country. And the negroes had the intelligence to comprehend it. It was also stated positively that two, at least, of the negroes who, had been captured on the brig; Echo and returned, were among the number brought into Key West.
F.J. MOERNS, United States Marshal for the Southern District of Folrida, has informed the Department of the Interior of the arrival at Key West on the 28th ult. of the ship Castillian, one of the three vessels chartered by the American Colonization Society, for the purpose of transporting to Liberia a portion of the Africans held in custody by him. On the day of his arrival he delivered 376 Africans, and on the day following 24 more, making a total of 400. The Gas???ilian left that port on the 20th of June. The other two chartered vessels had not reached the port at the time of writing, and he awaited their arrival with great anxiety. The mortality among the Africans continued without abatement, principally from the cargo of the bark William, the second vessel captured by the cruisers. The whole number of deaths up to date, of both sexes, was 280.
Under the head of "Suspicious," the key of the Gulf records the arrival of twelve seamen, taken from a schooner off Croaker's Reef, as follows: "The smack Princess arrived here on the 11th inst, with twelve seamen taken from schooner off Croaker's Reef, who represent themselves as the crew of the bark Adela, of New-York, from the Brazils for New-Orleans, which they say took fire off the eastern channels of the Bahamas, and was abandoned by them; that they were subsequently picked up by a Spanish coaster and taken to Matanzas, from whence they took passage in the first mentioned schooner for this place. But their stories do not agree. Perhaps the most plausible story is, that they are a part of the crew of the ship Montague, which lately landed a cargo of Africans to the eastward of Matanzas.
---------------------
June 2, 1860
More on the story...
The Key of the Gulf, of the 19th instant, gives some interesting particulars of the Africans lately landed at Key West. It says it is really a gratifying sight to observe the happy countenances and changed appearances of the cargoes of the Wildfire (New York) and Williams, brought into our port by the Mohawk and Wyandotte. At every disadvantage they are comfortably housed, and fed and clothed -- and the unfortunate sick, if not rescued from death, have at least the dark abyss bridged over by comforts and care, to which they have been strangers. Every means of enjoyment is afforded them; and it is gratifying to see so many happy faces in the pursuit of pleasure. Among the Wildfire's cargo there is a young mother, with a babe about six weeks old. She soon became an object of interest among visitors, and in a very short time both mother and child were suitably and comfortably clad. The babe soon sickened and died -- and as we saw the mother bending and weeping, and kissing its inanimate form -- wailing in plaintive song, and responded to by numerous mourners around the corpse -- we felt that love was beyond all conditions of pride or place, and that many might rejoice and be flattered in their self love, if they would be missed as much as the dead babe was by its mother. It was laid in a handsome coffin, and a procession of seventeen went with it to its last abode. Low chauntings and loud wails of grief would break forth, and when at last the spot was reached, they became as silent as the narrow house which would contain all the heart prized so much. The little coffin was placed in the grave, each threw in its handful of earth, and amid the deepest sorrow they returned in silence back.
The same paper gives the following incident: Among the rescued from the bark Wildfire, is a middle-aged woman and three children. She seemed quiet and subdued in manner, and excited no special attention, other than that she had a part of her family with her. Her great hope was to meet the others from whom fate had separated her. On the landing of the Williams' cargo she, with others of the first arrival, peeped at the fence which separated the new comers from the old. Quick maternal instinct discovered one, two, three and four among the crowd, whom she claimed as her daughters. She gave vent to her joy, in the loud language of song, and the children hearing the familiar air of home, c[???]ught sight of the singer, in whom they found their long-lost mother. The meeting was one of tumultuous joy; shouts rose from three hundred voices, in the gladness of a simple mother, and with her four daughters entwined in each others' arms, the mother took them with her to meet the long-separated, of whose fate each party was in utter ignorance.
The depot is thus described:
The buildings erected on Whitehead Point for the accommodations of the negroes brought in by the Mohawk and Wyandotte, gave to that part of the island quite a town-like appearance. Fronting the shore, and distant about one hundred and fifty yards from high water-mark, they go down each day and bathe therein. This in itself is a means of great personal comfort, besides being a healthful exercise. The depot is two hundred and fifteen feet long by forty-four wide, divided into nine large rooms, so that the sexes are separated, as well as children from those of larger growth. In these spacious and well ventilated rooms they can eat and sleep, and during the heat of the day repose from a vertical sun. They are fed in squads of ten, seated around a large bucket filled with rice and meat, each one armed with a spoon to feed with. Thirty-gallon tubs stand in the centre of each room, and they are permitted to help themselves freely to water. This for the well.
The Hospital is 107 feet long by 25 wide, and contains at the present time 180 patients. There are afflicted with ophthalmia, some 60 -- many totally blind; with dysenteric, dropsical and rheumatic" afflictions, as well as diseased lungs. Some 23 have died, principally from those so attenuated and worn out that it was a marvel they lived as long as they did. The ophthalmia cases of the Williams are numerous; but those in which the eye is whole are improving under the active treatment which their case demands. The Hospital is under the charge of Drs. WHITEHURST, SKRINE and WEEDON.
On the 16th inst., Miguel Macias, Leonardo Castillo, Salbadore Ajbarer, Ignacio Silva, Manuel Barceiro, Juan Lopez, Jose Vila, Juan Faustia, Silvestre Moreira, Antonio Covas, and Jose Blanco, of the bark Wildfire, were brought before Judge MARWIN, under a writ of habeas corpus, and a motion made for their discharge, which, upon thorough investigation, lengthy argument and deliberation, was refused, the Judge deciding that should no further evidence be adduced against them than has already been brought out, they might be bailed -- the two first-named in the sum of $1,000 each, the others in the sum of $400 each.
In common with many others, we have been of the opinion that it was possible, as it is very desirable, in consequence of the smallness of the jail and the heat of the weather, for these prisoners to be tried immediately; but on inquiry of the District-Attorney, we are fully satisfied that time is necessary for him to obtain testimony for a proper prosecution, which the law requires.
The Judge declined construing the law of 1820, making the Slave-trade piracy, but intimating that he should dissent from the recent opinion of Judge Magrath, of South Carolina, and that he was now of the opinion that, when the negroes came on board of an American vessel on the Coast of Africa they were free, though they were slaves in Africa, which is in accordance with the opinion of Judge Story, in the case of the United States vs. Battish, 2 Sumner Rep.
The prisoners were remanded to custody, and have not as yet found bail.
District-Attorney Tatum for the United States, and S.J. Douglas, Esq., for prisoners.
[Of the slavers brought into Key West, the Wildfire, William, and Bogota were seized under the acts of 1794 and 1800, and condemned by Judge William Marvin. They were sold at public auction, and the proceeds were split between the US Treasury and the crews of the Navy cruisers who captured them.
The Captains were jailed at Key West, but allowed bail – the seamen for $450, and the Captains, $1,000. Eventually charges were brought against Phillip Stanhope, and the crew of the Wildfire, and Washington Symmes (alias William Weston), Master of the William. They were initially indicted under the act of 1820, but eventually tried under the Acts of 1800 and 1818. The Grand jury found “no true bill” against Stanhope and crew, and a verdict of “not guilty” against Symmes. Despite being caught red-handed, they were freed.]
___________________
David Upton