Chapter XVI: Six Months on a Slaver in 1860 (2)

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.

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.

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.