U.S. Steamer Mohawk
Key West
June 8 1860
Sir
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your order of May 21.
When I have stated to you, the main circumstances, bearing upon the condition of a slave ship, at the time of capture on the coast of Cuba, you will perceive that you have directed me to that which is impracticable.
The negroes are packed below, in as dense a mass as it is possible for human beings to be crowded; the space alloted to them being in general, about four feet high between decks, there of course can be but little ventilation given; these unfortunate creatures are obliged to the calls of nature, in this place, tubs being provided for them, and here they pass their days, and nights, amid the most horridly offensive odors of which the mind can conceive, and this under the scorching heat of the tropical sun, without room enough for sleep, with scarcely space to die in, with daily allowance of food, and water, barely sufficient to keep them alive.
The passage varies from forty to sixty days,and when it has appeared in its most appalling forms; the provisions and water, are nearly exhausted, and their sufferings are incredible, even at the risk of being prolix. I must present this care to you Sir, in its strongest bearings; as I am confident, you would not have given the order, if aware of the calamitous consequences it would entail on these poor creatures. Two cases which have occurred within the past fifteen months, and which have come to my knowledge, will illustrate the sufferings of the African, and the character of those who carry on this traffic.
This one was a Barque which in March 1859 arrived at Saguna La Grande; she left the coast, with 1200 negroes on board, when she reached Sagua, there were but ninety alive, and of these five died while being taken on shore.
The second recent case, was a Barque which in February last effected a landing somewhere at the Eastern part of the Island. She had left Africa, with upwards of one thousand, having a long passage, the water was running short, and when within two days of Cuba, two hundred negroes were thrown overboard at night, that there might be enough water for the remainder, these are it is true, extreme cases, but nevertheless dreadful facts.
In cases of capture, however mitigated the sufferings of the rescued negro he is still in the crowded and filthy pen, with an insufficient supply of food, and water; and attempting to carry him to a northern port, would be merely adding so much to his miserable condition.
Notwithstanding the comparatively good condition of the cargo of the "Wildfire", I very much doubt, whether one fourth of them would have survived a passage to Boston; as in bringing them to this place, we were exposed to sudden change of only 5° of temperature, the thermometer falling from 81° to 76° yet they suffered from the cold, and of those who have died since arriving here, the majority were from affections of the lungs. In the execution of your order, the contingencies of provisions, water, the state of the cargo, must all bear on the subject, and the weather too, must be taken in consideration; for a slave vessel cannot be secured for a gale of wind, the hatches cannot be closed.
Under all of these circumstances, Sir, I will do the best I can, in carrying out your wishes, but hope to hear from you, such modification of the order as will not carry the negroes north of Chesapeake Bay.
I am very respectfully
your obedient servant,
T. A. Craven
Lieut. Commanding
Hon. Isaac Toucey,
Secretary of the Navy
Washington D. C.
[return to T. A. Craven letters]
