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"The Spanish Slaver," New York Morning Herald, 26 August , 1839.
THE SPANISH SLAVER.--It is now settled beyond a doubt that the black, rakish, suspicious
sail seen by the Lafayette and Blossom pilot boats is the Spanish slaver recently
run away with from Havana. She has again been seen by Captain Henry J. Bullinger,
of the pilot boat John E. Davidson. Capt. B. attempted to capture her, but in consequence
of the number of men in the slaver, and they being well armed with muskets and cutlasses,
it was found impossible. We have, through the kindness of the pilots, obtained an
extract from their log book, which we annex:
AUGUST, 24, 4 P. M.--Montague Point, being N. 20 miles distant-spoke the schr. La
Armastad with about 20 negroes.--We asked if they wanted a pilot, and receiving no
answer we hailed again and inquired if they wanted to go to New York.--They said
in broken English no; but that they were going to some other country, pointing to
the N. E. They asked for water, but would not come for it. We then hoisted the American
flag, and hailed them the third time and told them to follow us--that we were going
to take them to New York. Upon this they rushed to the quarter deck and armed themselves
with muskets and cutlasses and hoisted the bloody flag at the peak. The schr. is
of Baltimore build, and is about 175 tons burthen. She is very low with green boot
top, black bends and one narrow white streak. She has a foretop sail which hung loose
in the gasket. The last we saw of them was at sunset, when they were steering N.
N. E.
N.B.--The J. E. D. saw the same schr. three days previous, 25 S. E. from Sandy Hook.
It appears that these black piratical wretches have been on our coast for some days,
and have undoubtedly robbed several vessels, and perhaps committed murder. When they
left Havana they had but few days provisions on board, and they have now been at
sea for upwards of six weeks; therefore it is plain that they must have either robbed
some vessel or murdered the few white passengers who were on board of her when they
left Cuba. They could not have sustained life without resorting to some such measure.
The steam frigate Fulton, Captain Parry, who left here last Saturday in pursuit of
her, returned yesterday, having consumed all her fuel in little over fifteen hours.
We believe she leaves again today, having received the necessary intelligence respecting
her whereabouts from Capt. Bullinger, in the mean time, however, the Wave may capture
her.
