User:Notropis procne/sandbox7: Difference between revisions

Another illustration in ''Black Cargoes'' (and reprinted in a New York Times review of the book) was taken from a [[Harper's Weekly]] magazine article, a wood engraving after a daguerreotype of slaves on the captured slave-ship, ''Wildfire,'' brought to Key West in 1860, well after the slave trade was [[Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves|prohibited in the United States]] in 1808. The legend in the book uses the phrase, "walking skeletons covered over with a piece of tanned leather". While the description seems applicable, the text of the Harper's Weekly article stated, "It is said by persons acquainted with the slave-trade and who saw them, that they were generally in a very good condition of health and flesh, as compared with other similar cargoes, owing to the fact that they had not been so much crowded together on board as is common in slave voyages, and had been better fed than usual". Apparently, this was due to the fact that the slavers had only been able to load 600 captives rather than 1000, the full capacity. Nevertheless 90 had died and at least 10 more died after the arrival (considered a small loss). In spite of their suffering, the author wrote that he was amused at "their strange looks, motions, and actions". It was anticipated that President Buchanan would transport them to Liberia, which the United States had established as a colony for freed slaves in Africa.<ref name="Harper's Weekly">{{cite magazine