Page:The American Slave Trade (Spears).djvu/228

CHAPTER XVIII

STORY OF THE AMISTAD

A Cuban Coastwise Slaver that may have been Used to Smuggle Slaves into the United States — On the Way from Havana to Puerto Principe the Slaves Overpowered the Crew, and Started Back to Africa, but were Beguiled to Long Island — Judicially Decided that Slaves Unlawfully Held have a Right to Take Human Life in a Stroke for Liberty.

On August 26, 1839, the United States brig Washington, Captain Thomas R. Gedney, was engaged in surveying the water between Gardiner's Island and Montauk Point, L. I., when a schooner was seen at anchor well in shore near Culloden Point. There were a number of people on the beach with carts and horses, and a boat was passing to and fro between the stranger and the shore.

Apparently here was a smuggler at work in broad daylight, and Captain Gedney at once sent a boat, with six armed men, in charge of Lieutenant Richard W. Meade and Passed Midshipman David D. Porter to investigate. They found her "a Baltimore-built vessel of matchless model for speed, about one hundred and twenty tons burden, and about six years old. On her deck were grouped, amid various goods and arms, the remnant of her Ethiope crew, some decked in the most fantastic manner in the silks and finery pil-

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