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FEBRUARY, 1861. DOUGLASS' MONTHLY. 411 [[line]] [[3 columns]] [[column 1]] living served with water, or even food, except the rotten yams that could be reached where they lay. At last Captain Ruiz ordered the hatches down, and swore he would make the run on our regular water rations, and take the chances of his stock. That night we caroused, and satisfied our thirst, whilst the negroes suffocated below. Next morning came a storm, which drove us on our course a hundred knots. Two days afterward, Ruiz and four of the men were taken suddenly ill, with a disease that baffled my medical knowledge. Their tongues swelled, and grew black; their flesh turned yellow, and in six hours they were dead. The first mate went next, and three others of the crew, and a black driver, whose body became leprous with yellow spots. I began to notice a strange, fetid smell pervading the vessel, and a low heavy fog on deck, almost like steam. Then the horrid truth became apparent. Our rotting negroes under hatches had generated the plague, and it was a malaria, or death-mist, that I saw rising. At this time all our men but three, and myself, had been attacked; and we abandoned the Gloria, in her long boat, taking the remnant of water, a sack of biscuit, and a rum beaker, with what gold-dust and other valuables we could hastily gather up. We left nine of our late comrades dead, and five dying, on the Gloria's deck. After rowing two days, we struck a current, and in three more were drifted to the island of Tortola, one of the Leeward Isles. We made a landing on the reefs, and were picked up by some fishermen. LOSS OF THE PONCHEETA. The author describes as follows the fate of the Poncheeta, with seven hundred slaves on board, just purchased at Badagry. The vessel was commanded by Antonio Mendez, an old slave smuggler: Our schooner was loaded beyond capacity; and the deck had to be fitted with temporary platforms, or shelves, as high as the taffrail. Above these, stiff netting was drawn, to prevent the shackled couples from leaping overboard, to commit suicide. In walking the deck, we sometimes trod on a hand or foot thrust out from the lower tier. Such was the condition of the Poncheeta's cargo, when we left the Bight. On our first night, there was a frightful battle among the slaves for room and air, although our hatches were off. The crew and overseers restored order by the use of whips and handspikes, but not until seventeen negroes had been choked to death, or so badly gnawed in their throats by their neighbors, that we were obliged to drown them. So tightly were the wretches wedge below, that the sailors had to drag the dead ones out by main pulling of their legs. About a week out we encountered a severe gale, which drove us furiously before it, all our canvas being taken in. I had, up to this time, kept to my resolution of abstaining from drink whilst on ship-board; but the close, sultry weather, and stench of the negroes, sickened me, so that I indulged that night pretty freely in potations of Jamaica spirits, until I dropped off to sleep. I was awakened by a crash, as if the skies were falling, and a yell like a thousand tigers. Springing from my bunk, near the after gangway, I heard Captain Mendez calling to his mates, whilst the men were running to and fro like madmen. Nothing was to be seen; no light apeak or abeam; and the night rainy, and as dark as a wolf's mouth. I ran toward the binnacle lamp, and found the helm swinging loose, and at that moment there came a vivid flash of lightning, by which I saw Capt. Mendez, with a face like his shirt. 'Save yourself, Doctor!' cried he, 'the brig's sinking!' I rushed to midships, and heard the negroes screeching on both sides; then back to the stern davits, where our men where lowering the boats. How I got in with the rest, I knew not, but ten minutes after this, I found myself with Capt. Mendez, and half the crew in one of our boats, the rain dashing on us. We rowed for about an hour before day appeared. [[/column 1]] [[column 2]] The gale had lulled, but the heavy rain was like a waterspout. All this time, we could hear the slaves screeching on board the Poncheeta. When morning broke, we saw her a-lee, her deck almost level with the water's edge. We did not dare to pull nearer, but lay by until she went down, a little over two hours after the collision that caused her to founder. She had been struck on the beam by a large vessel, which tore away her starboard rail and netting the whole length, crushing our chained blacks on their shelves, which occasioned the dismal shrieks we had heard. The Poncheeta sprung a leak, and filled gradually until she sank, with nearly 400 human beings manacled on her slave decks. One of our boats must have foundered also, with several of the crew. We were picked up by the vessel that had run us down, and which had lain to during the fog. I was an armed East Indiaman, the Mersey, bound for Zanzibar, and by her we were landed at Kahenda, on the Guinea coast. This book is filled with just such horrid realities as quoted above, which seem almost beyond belief, though corroborated by facts and statistics. [[short line]] 'A VOICE FROM HARPER'S FERRY.' - This is the title of a pamphlet just published by Osborne P. Anderson, giving a complete narrative of the events which transpired at Harper's Ferry, with incidents prior and subsequent to its capture by the noble John Brown and his men. Mr. Anderson is a young colored man, and the only man alive who was at the Ferry during the entire time, and is thus enabled to record the facts as they actually occurred. In his preface Mr. Anderson says: - 'Much has been given as true that never happened; much has been omitted that should have been made known; many things have been left unsaid, because, up to within a short time, but tow could say them - one of whom has been offered up a sacrifice to the Moloch, Slavery.' The other, being Mr. Anderson himself, he has undertaken to discharge that duty; and he has done it in a very modest and creditable manner. The narrative is published for his benefit, and no doubt will find ready purchasers. The Liberator contains an account of a recent meeting held in Boston by some of the most influential colored citizens of that city for the purpose of expressing their approbation and rendering aid to Mr. Anderson. Something like $100 was raised for his benefit. Mr. Anderson was in this city last week, and while here disposed of quite a number of his books. The pamphlet is sold for 20 cents, and may be procured at Hall's news depot. [[line]] THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY. - The February number of this popular magazine - the second number of the volume - has reached us. The articles in the present number are well worthy of perusal, especially the one entitled 'E Pluribus Unum,' said to be from the pen of Jas. Russell Lowell. Harriet Martineau, E. P. Whipple, Miss Prescott, J.G. Whittier, O.W. Holmes and Paul Akers have also written articles for this number. Terms, $3 per annum. Ticknor & Fields, Boston, are the publishers. [[line]] AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY'S ALMANAC. - We have received from Darrow and Brother, Agents for the Boston Tract Society's works in this city, a copy of this beautiful almanac for 1861 - price, 6 cents. Besides the usual matter found in such works, it contains a series of beautiful engravings and valuable reading matter. [[/column 2]] [[column 3]] CASSELL'S ILLUSTRATED WORKS. - The 22d part of the Illustrated Family Bible, and the 21st part of the Popular Natural History, have been received. We have noticed these valuable works before, and are happy to learn that they are becoming very popular and widely sought after. The parts cost 15 cents each, and the engravings, with which they are filled, are alone worth the money. Cassell, Petter & Galpin, 37 Park Row, New York, are the publishers, and their works can be obtained at all booksellers in the country. [[line]] TO AMERICA.* [[line]] BY A YOUNG LADY [[line]] Oh! Nation, great art thou, and mighty, A queen among the nations of the West; Wide are the bounds of they domain, Stretching from sea to sea. From the stormy to the peaceful shore They shadow is broad and long; The wings of thy eagle overshadow the earth. Princes and kings do thee honor, For thou laughest their fear to scorn. God hath opened his right hand upon thee, And thy hills and valleys shake with wealth - The purple wealth of grapes, And the yellow wealth of grain. Thy presses and thy barns are bursting with abundance, And milk, and wine, and honey, flow through all thy vales. Unto thee do they needy cry, And the famishing stretch forth their hands. Thou feedest the hungry nations, And knowest not that any have eaten. Tho coverest the naked of all lands, And knowest not that thou hast lost a garment. Who is like thee, Oh! Nation - Youngest, but most favored child of God! But a cloud hangs over thee, thou Land! It will burst upon thee in appalling fury. There has sounded a cry through thee, Land! Through the length and the breadth of thee. It was borne on the wings of the wind - Yea, the lightning was its carrier: 'Woe, woe to the oppressor! 'The wicked shall not always triumph. 'Wrong is not right, and it shall not always prosper. 'The needy shall not cry in vain, 'Nor the oppressed be utterly forgotten.' The Lord reigns - let the Nation tremble! For that nation, and that people Which serves Him not shall perish. The Lord is the Avenger of the feeble, and the slave. Oh! Nation, His hand is against thee; Is it to chasten or to destroy? Thy sins are many and foul; The cry of them has gone up on high; Like a cloud doth thy wickedness cover thee; Uncleanness, oppression and blood! Thou art mighty in power, but vile; Thou art fair and blooming on the outside, But there is a hideous, stinking sin within; Thy beautiful garments cannot hide thy sore. His eye is in it; the Lord hath a controversy with thee - And what art thou, Oh! Nation, in His hand? He can dash thee to atoms as glass; He can rend thee asunder as a garment; He will crush thee, and grind thee to powder If thy people go on in their sins. Let them repent; let them bow before him; Let them cry aloud for mercy, before mercy be gone forever. It may be that the ruin will be turned away - That the wrath of the Lord will be forgotten - If the people repent - if they forsake their sins - If they 'unbind the heavy burdens, And let the oppressed go free.' For God delighteth not in vengeance - For the Lord is good and gracious, And of wonderful compassion Toward the children of men. [[line]] *Written ten years ago. [[/column 3]]
