Six Months on a Slaver: A True Narrative (1879)

By Edward Manning

"The horrors of the voyage...the woeful sufferings of its living freight are truthfully pictured by Mr. Manning, who was a sailor on board...the last slaver ever fitted out in the United States." -Boston Evening Transcript, March 29, 1879

"Edward Manning...afterwards wrote...an excellent description of li

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bookcrop
• Release date: Jun 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088167601

Book preview

Six Months

on a Slaver:

A True Narrative

(1879)

Edward Manning

(died December 23, 1919)

Originally published

1879

Contents

PART I. THE VOYAGE OUT.

I. OUR DEPARTURE.

II: WHALER OR SLAVER?

III. THE ENGLISH MANOFWAR.

IV. THE PALM-OIL MERCHANT.

V. THE SCHOONER AND THE SIGNAL.

VI. RECEIVING THE CARGO.

PART II. THE RETURN VOYAGE

I. THE FIRST NIGHT.

II. THE KROOMEN.

III. SANITARY AND OTHER ARRANGEMENTS.

IV. THE DEATH OF STEVE.

V. DRUNKENNESS OF THE CAPTAIN, AND OTHER INGIDENTS.

VI. PUNISHMENT FOR STEALING WATER.

VII. DISRATING THE MATE AND ERASING THE SHIP'S NAME.

VIII. THE LAST WEEK OF THE VOYAGE.

IX. DISCHARGING THE CARGO.

PART I. THE VOYAGE OUT.

I. OUR DEPARTURE.

STROLLING along a well-known street in New York, one day in June 1860, with a young friend, who aspired to he a sailor, and who had made one short voyage to Europe as a beginning, he asked me how much longer I intended remaining on shore. Frank and I had been chums for some time, and I informed him that I was then looking for a ship, and would soon have to find one, as I had not a shot left in the locker. He remarked that he would like to ship with me, and suggested that we should try a whaling voyage for a change. Having no objection, I proceeded with him to a well-known shipping office in the same street, and we despatched the business at once by shipping for a three years' cruise. The next morning we called at the office, and were told to hold ourselves in readiness to leave in the steamboat that evening for New London, Connecticut, the port where our ship was fitting out and receiving her crew. We embarked on the steamer at the appointed time, and arrived at our destination late the same night. On landing, we were received by the shipping master’s agent and conducted to a boarding house, where arrangements had been made for our reception.

The subsequent day, having previously ascertained our vessel's name (the Thomas Watson), and the wharf where she could be found, my chum and I went down to gratify our curiosity by taking a look at the ship. She proved to be a smart-looking little vessel of about four hundred tons register, as near as I can remember, and appeared to be in excellent condition below and aloft. I particularly noticed the clean and neat appearance of her decks and bulwarks, for I had been led to believe, from remarks made by some of my shipmates who had been on whaling Voyages, that all whalers were dirtier than a lime -juicer, and had a bad smell pervading every part of them. In a few days after our arrival at New London we received orders to go on board, bag and baggage. After stowing our effects in the forecastle, we were told to turn to and secure everything for sea. By afternoon we had everything snug, the anchors cock-billed, and a range on each chain all ready to let go, if necessary. Not long after we had got the ship in order a tall and fine-looking woman came on board, and engaged the captain in conversation on the poop-deck. This lady was said to be one of the principal owners of the vessel; and, if so, she must certainly have felt some anxiety just then, as afterevents will prove. Shortly after her arrival on board a tug steamed alongside and hauled us out in the stream, where we came to anchor.

But hardly had the ship tautened the chain when the word was passed to up anchor. This order was promptly obeyed. We expected to go to sea at once, and were somewhat mystified on learning that our destination was New York. It seemed strange that the ship should be sent so far out of her true course to get to sea; and had I at that time possessed a little more power to think, I should certainly have paid more attention to rumors circulating among the crew, to the effect that no clearance could be obtained at the port of New London, and that the vessel had to be sent to New York for the necessary papers. Another suspicious circumstance I might also have taken more note of had I been older, and more experienced, namely, the close attention paid to us by a United States revenue cutter, which kept our ship constantly in sight, and never ceased her vigilance until we anchored off the Battery. When we arrived at New York it was nearly eight bells (eight o'clock), and time to set the anchor-watch. After making our marks, I found that I was elected to keep watch from four until six o'clock the next morning. I lit my pipe and turned into my bunk, and after a short smoke fell into a sound sleep. At eight bells I was aroused by the unwelcome call of Come, Ed, show a leg-your watch! I turned out and relieved my shipmate, when he informed me word had been passed to let the old man (the sailors' name for the captain) know if a breeze should spring up from the westward during the night. It was some time in the latter part of my watch that the wind hauled to the westward, and by six o'clock freshened up to a smart breeze.

When it first changed I had notified the captain. He came on deck, took a look at the weather, and then went below again, without giving me any orders. Half an hour had probably elapsed when he again made his appearance. The mate came on deck with him, and gave the order to call all hands. As fast as the men came up we manned the windlass and hove the anchor to a short stay, after which a signal was made for a tug. In a short time one steamed alongside and made fast to the ship. The anchor was now hove up, and we started on our course for Sandy Hook. In the meantime the wind had increased in force, and the tug, casting loose from our side, took the tow-line out ahead. We then made sail; but