View Document Frames
"The Slaver," New York Morning Herald, August 28, 1839.
THE SLAVER.--Further particulars..--There was considerable excitement in the
city throughout yesterday about the "suspicious vessel." She has been seen
so often, and at each time manifested so much piratical feeling towards other vessels,
that the people are beginning to get alarmed for the safety of their ships and friends.
She was seen again last Saturday off Montague by the brig Neptune, and it is hoped
that she has been captured ere this. If those on board had no intention at first
of becoming pirates, farther than to liberate themselves from slavery, their necessities
will compel them to resort to some rash act.
Yesterday we gathered the particulars respecting her capture by the blacks which,
are as follows: Her name is La Amistiad, and she sailed from Havana the 8th of last
month for St. Jago de Cuba, with a captain, crew, several passengers, and fifty-nine
blacks. They, together with the cargo, were owned by Mr. Cavrias, of Punto Punepe,
who, with Mr. Joseph Ring, his nephew, were on board as passengers. When two days
out from Havana, the blacks rose upon and murdered all but two of the whites on board.
These two were sailors, and escaped by jumping overboard, and in the long-boat reached
shore. The knives which they are reported to carry are what are called in Cuba Machetes,
and are used by the negroes in cutting the sugar cane. One of the sailors in leaping
overboard received a severe cut from one of them.
It is reported that she has three tons of money on board, and that the blacks have
now three cannon and a ferocious white fellow with large mustachios for Captain.
In a week hence, if she is not captured in the meantime, this slaver will be increased
into a very formidable piratical vessel, with a hundred men and "fixens"
to match.
