The Capture of a Slaver

Nonfiction, History, Canada
Cover of the book The Capture of a Slaver by John Taylor Wood, Booklassic
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: John Taylor Wood ISBN: 9789635267637
Publisher: Booklassic Publication: June 29, 2015
Imprint: Language: English
Author: John Taylor Wood
ISBN: 9789635267637
Publisher: Booklassic
Publication: June 29, 2015
Imprint:
Language: English

A true personal account of the capture of a slave-running ship by a United States gunship in the fleet assigned for the suppression of the slave trade. It is told in 1900 by John Taylor Wood, who, 50 years earlier, had been a young midshipmen on the United States brig Porpoise in the Gulf of Guinea off the coast of West Africa, at the mouth of the Niger River.

The captain and crew of the Porpoise sight a slave-running ship, give chase, fire upon it, capture, board, and take its captain and crew into custody, in irons and under guard. Wood describes: "From the time we first got on board we had heard moans, cries, and rumblings coming from below, and as soon as the captain and crew were removed, the hatches had been taken off, when there arose a hot blast as from a charnel house, sickening and overpowering. In the hold were three or four hundred human beings, gasping, struggling for breath, dying; their bodies, limbs, faces, all expressing terrible suffering. In their agonizing fight for life, some had torn or wounded themselves or their neighbors dreadfully; some were stiffened in the most unnatural positions. As soon as I knew the condition of things I sent the boat back for the doctor and some whiskey...."

Wood continues describing the voyage to return the captured slaves to the authorities of Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, where the United States had arranged for repatriation of emancipated slaves.

This story was originally published as "The Capture of a Slaver" in the Atlantic Monthly 86 (1900): 451-463.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

A true personal account of the capture of a slave-running ship by a United States gunship in the fleet assigned for the suppression of the slave trade. It is told in 1900 by John Taylor Wood, who, 50 years earlier, had been a young midshipmen on the United States brig Porpoise in the Gulf of Guinea off the coast of West Africa, at the mouth of the Niger River.

The captain and crew of the Porpoise sight a slave-running ship, give chase, fire upon it, capture, board, and take its captain and crew into custody, in irons and under guard. Wood describes: "From the time we first got on board we had heard moans, cries, and rumblings coming from below, and as soon as the captain and crew were removed, the hatches had been taken off, when there arose a hot blast as from a charnel house, sickening and overpowering. In the hold were three or four hundred human beings, gasping, struggling for breath, dying; their bodies, limbs, faces, all expressing terrible suffering. In their agonizing fight for life, some had torn or wounded themselves or their neighbors dreadfully; some were stiffened in the most unnatural positions. As soon as I knew the condition of things I sent the boat back for the doctor and some whiskey...."

Wood continues describing the voyage to return the captured slaves to the authorities of Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, where the United States had arranged for repatriation of emancipated slaves.

This story was originally published as "The Capture of a Slaver" in the Atlantic Monthly 86 (1900): 451-463.

More books from Booklassic

Cover of the book The Diary of a Provincial Lady by John Taylor Wood
Cover of the book Towards Morning by John Taylor Wood
Cover of the book Attraverso lo specchio by John Taylor Wood
Cover of the book Shadows in the Moonlight by John Taylor Wood
Cover of the book Texas Fists by John Taylor Wood
Cover of the book The Woman Who Rode Away And Other Stories by John Taylor Wood
Cover of the book La Vérité sur le cas de M. Valdemar by John Taylor Wood
Cover of the book Le Cour révélateur by John Taylor Wood
Cover of the book Un vampiro by John Taylor Wood
Cover of the book Advanced Chemistry by John Taylor Wood
Cover of the book Petite Discussion avec une momie by John Taylor Wood
Cover of the book Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion by John Taylor Wood
Cover of the book Cuentos de la selva by John Taylor Wood
Cover of the book The Blind Spot by John Taylor Wood
Cover of the book Les Pirates des prairies by John Taylor Wood
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy