Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1859 — A Slaver Captured and Burnt. [ARTICLE]

A Slaver Captured and Burnt.

\V ashington, February 9. The Navy Department is in receipt of official advices from the coast of/Africa, announcing the visit, search, seizure and burning of an American vessel by a British cruiser. The following is a statement of the affair by Peter Calindia, one of the crew of the burned vessel: “I shipped for the American brig, Rufus Soule, Captain Anderson, at Maranzas, on the 9th of July, and sailed, as I understood, for Fernando Po. Just sighted Cape De Verde Islands, and the next land we made was the African Coast, near Bando Point. Soon after we saw a steamer coming toward us, and she sent a boat. The Captain ot the steamer Viper, and another officer, ciime aboard. They asked for papers, ami mustered the crew and questioned all about where we belonged. J was at the wheel, and heard the Captain of the Viper tell Cap tain Anderson that he would give him one hour to make up his mind, and if he did not deliver up his vessel he would take her in tow, and the Captain returned to his own vessel, leaving the other officers with ns. In half an hour the order ivni given for the

'English to open the hatches. I saw then, I for the first time, that our flag had been hauled down. The English officer waived his handkerchief to the other, and the Captain of the steamer came on board. The hatches were then opened and he ordered us to get our clothes ready to go on board the I steamer. Afterward they brought from the j brig all her sails and small stores. The | brig was set on fire about 7 o’clock rn the I evening, and was burning all night. Inthe I morning several shots were fired at her before going down. I heard some of tiie crew of the steamer say she was burned because they had no men to send away in het, and that they had orders to burn one of ever^ 1 three vessels taken. VVe got under way and were landed on the beach of Kabendn.” The correspondence between the <'ommander of the .1 incennes and the Captain of the Viper shows that the American flag was i flying at the time of the seizure, amFthat the Captain threw his papers overboard [ when called on to show them. This cirj oumstance leaves little room to doubt that I she was a slaver.