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October 1860 October 1st at St Paul de Loando/ arrival of the Store ship Relief At daybreak, the U.S. Store Ship Relief was discovered lying at anchor, off the point. At six o’clock she got underway and stood in, and at half past seven a.m. she came to an anchor, inside of it. She is loaded with stores, and is from the Charlestown Navy Yard. We got a large mail bag from her; I got some letters and papers, which I am very thankful for. After breakfast all hands were very busy in getting up our anchor and chain which we left here the last time we were here. At twelve o’clock the anchor was cat headed and the decks was washed down. At two bells all hands were piped to dinner. My boatkeeping day. At three p.m. the gig went ashore with the captain and returned at sundown , after which all hands swung clean hammocks. We are going to take in wood, water and provisions while we lie here. W.A.L. To “cat head” or “cat” an anchor was to haul the anchor’s crown snug against a large timber (the cathead) projecting from that side of the bow. Then the upper part of the anchor was swung up against the side of the ship and lashed there, “fished.” This secured the anchor, preventing it from swinging into the side of the ship when the ship was under way. The newspapers (from July and earlier) devoted much coverage to the Italian war, including Garibaldi’s triumphant entry into Naples. Considerable ink was also devoted to the balls, receptions, and other activities involving the Japanese delegation, whom the men of the Constellation had already encountered when the Niagara stopped at St. Paul de Loando back in early August. 154 October 1860 October 2nd 1860 St Paul de Loando/Pete Campbell the Slaver/ we have got the Captain of the Yacht Wanderer This morning we commenced to take in wood, water, and provisions. We have still got the Spanish captain and crew, also the American passenger of the barque, on board of us. They are going to be sent ashore here, [except] two of them have shipped with us. The passenger, who (by the way) is named Pete Campbell, is a very comical fellow, he is about 5 feet 8 inches in height, of a stout frame, and a very good looking man. He has an eye, like an eagle’s, which pierces through you when he looks at you. I say he is a comical man on account of his propensities for making fun. He has sailed out of New York as mate, and he says he was a passenger in the barque, but there is not a shadow of a doubt but what he is either her captain or in some way connected with the vessel. But the crew stick together like bricks and they all tell one story. At eleven a.m. the captain of the Mystic came on board of us, when the slaver’s crew were brought before him. The Mystic boarded the Cora the day before she was taken. He identified the Spaniard as being her captain; he also gave us the startling news that he is the—or was the—captain of the celebrated Yacht Wanderer, of which there has been so much talk about. His name is Latham. He was immediately put in irons. He will be sent home in the store ship. He is a very gentlemanly looking man of a light complexion; he is master of several languages. The rest of the barque’s crew will be set at liberty tomorrow . They feel very bad about their captain. He says himself he is not what they represent him to be, and he is confident of being released when he gets to the United States. The yacht Wanderer was indeed a celebrated case. The Atlantic slave trade had for decades involved importing slaves to Brazil or Cuba, with few if any being brought into the United States, which American law made too difficult and dangerous. Wealthy Charlestonians financed the Wanderer’s slaving voyage partly out of the usual desire for profit but also as a challenge to the laws against importing slaves into the United States. The elegantly outfitted yacht sailed from New York in June 1858 on what was purportedly a gentlemanly tour to Africa. At an appropriate time, the gentlemen crammed aboard nearly five...

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