CHAPTER IV

PREPARATIONS FOR CLOTILDE’S VOYAGE

In 1858, Mobile had been for almost a century and a half one of the important Gulf coast ports. Picturesquely situated at the head of a lagoon-like bay, the craft of many nations dropped anchor in her waters. Somewhat past the heyday of youth, her buildings mellowed by time and her streets shaded by trees, she wore an air that was calm and comfortable, and her homes and public buildings bespoke a settled prosperity. Survivors of primitive and pioneer life might be seen about the streets; some Indians lingered on and with baskets strapped across their shoulders sold _filé_ and sassafras about the streets, while white-covered “Chickasaha” wagons, drawn by from six to twenty oxen, came slowly and laboriously down Spring Hill and St. Stephen’s roads, bringing staples from the interior to the Mobile markets. The district near the river and towards the northern part of the town was given over to commerce and occupied by cotton warehouses--low-lying, monotonous structures of brick. The river boats carried on a brisk trade and Mobile’s export to foreign countries was large. Life about the wharves which was usually busy--and often gay--became very stirring during the latter part of 1858 and 1859. It drew upon itself the attention of the United States Government, elicited a special proclamation from the President, and a vigilant watch by United States officials.

In the early fifties, during one of Nicaragua’s chronic revolutions, General Walker had been invited by the democrats of Leon to unite with them against the aristocrats of Granada. Many Alabamians joined him in this expedition and shed their blood for the cause. Walker gained supreme power, but his glory was short-lived. The opposing forces united and compelled him to leave. In 1857, President Buchanan recognized him as President of Nicaragua, and addressed him as such. His adventurous exploit met with general acclamation. But when Walker announced that Nicaragua would be open to Southern colonization, admitting slaves, it was like flaunting a red rag before a maddened populace; the abolitionism of the North, already unrestrained in its fanaticism and jealous hatred, backed by Northern commercialism caused a rapid reversion of feeling. Walker, the erstwhile hero, was denounced as a filibuster, and Southerners were accused of attempting to establish a Southern Republic along the Gulf of Mexico that they might spread slavery and reopen the slave traffic.

In 1858, Walker prepared to make good his previous claims. The collectors of the ports of New Orleans and Mobile were ordered not to clear vessels for Nicaraguan ports, before first communicating with the Government of Washington. Vessels carrying passengers and receiving every protection of the Government still sailed from Eastern ports to San Juan del Norte. Mobile and New Orleans felt the trade of the South to be seriously crippled by this discrimination. In a special message, the President denounced the “leaders of former illegal expeditions who had expressed their intention of open hostilities against Nicaragua,” and particularly against one “who is now at Mobile, which has been designated as the rendezvous and place of departure for San Juan del Norte.” He enjoined all the Government officers, “civil and military, to be active, vigilant, and faithful in suppressing these illegal enterprises.” This message was received with indignation throughout the whole of the lower South. Mobilians gathered in groups about the streets and on the new post-office steps, and excitedly discussed the President’s proclamation. They were in sympathy with Walker and many were contributing funds towards the expedition. Espousal of his cause became an issue in the mayoral election. Further excitement was generated by the attitude of Judge Campbell, his charge to the grand jury, and his emphasis of the President’s order for officials to be “vigilant, active, and faithful.” Citizens regarded this as espionage and as a personal affront to their fellow townsman, Robert H. Smith, collector of the port. The discovery of a Government spy--one General Wilson from Ohio--and a minion of Judge Campbell--who was seen “sneaking about the wharves and warehouses of the city, to find something contraband of Abolition interest and Abolition policy,” provoked the citizens to further anger. “As a next step we shall have our servants paid to report the words which drop from us at the table.”[18]

Rebellion was already rampant in the South. The temperament of Southern men was unfailingly daring--adventure appealed to their imaginations and risk was a game to be played. In the midst of this excitement, an expedition was preparing, money was being contributed, and the schooner _Susan_ fitted out. Harry Maury, socially and financially prominent, was in command. When ready to sail she was refused clearing papers, but Maury weighed anchor and sailed down the bay, preparatory to joining the fleet. The revenue cutter _McClelland_ pursued, brought her to, and boarded her and demanded her papers. Maury said he did not expect to receive them until he reached the fleet. The captain of the _McClelland_ then claimed the _Susan_ as a prize for the Government; Maury refused to consider her as such. Lieutenant White was placed aboard with orders to take her to Dog River Bar and to hold her there as prize. Maury nonchalantly replied that he did not object to White remaining aboard as his guest. The next day both vessels sailed about the bay, but the captain, under orders from the custom-house at Mobile, warned Maury that if he attempted to sail away the _Susan_ would be sunk. At dark the captain ordered both boats to drop anchor for the night. About eleven o’clock, a heavy mist arose, the _Susan_ weighed anchor and slipped noiselessly away, carrying aboard Lieutenant White. The _Mobile Register_, voicing the sentiments of the citizens, wished for the voyage “that the breezes be prosperous and the fates propitious.” When two hundred miles out in the Gulf, Lieutenant White was transferred to the bark _Oregon_ and sent back to New Orleans, where he stated that he had received every courtesy while aboard the _Susan_. He reported that she carried besides her crew, two hundred and forty men, Minie balls, and Mississippi rifles. The _Susan_ was wrecked on a coral reef off Honduras. The subsequent adventures of her men is a thrilling narrative. They were received by the governor of Bay Island, who upon hearing of their predicament sent them back to Mobile in Her Majesty’s steam-sloop _Basilisk_.

With the birth and fruition of such adventures, Mobile’s river-front naturally became an exciting place. About this time a group of men were one day standing on the wharf discussing the efforts the Government was finally making to suppress the slave trade, the vigilance which was being exerted, and the impossibility for a vessel equipped for such a purpose to evade officials. There was some betting--a favorite pastime of the day--and Captain Tim Meaher, a steamboat builder and river-man, who was standing near, wagered that he could send a slaver to the coast of Africa and bring through the port of Mobile a cargo of slaves. The wager was taken up and the stakes were large. This is the tradition which is given in connection with the _Clotilde’s_ voyage. It may have been true or it may have been invented to give color and palliation to what proved to be the last cargo of slaves brought into the United States, but it is certain that this was only one of the voyages made under the auspices of the Meahers and Captain Foster. Of these there are still rumors among the older people, and the widow of Captain Foster, innocent and trustful, hoped until her recent death to get from the United States about thirty thousand dollars which would have been Foster’s share in the _Gipsy_--a slaver which with her cargo was captured by Government officials and which was valued by those interested in her at four hundred thousand dollars.

There were three of the Meaher brothers--Tim, Jim, and Burns. They were natives of Maine, and possessed the New England love of the water and taste for the slave trade. Captain Foster was born in Nova Scotia of English parentage. His people were all seafaring--sailors, captains, and builders of boats--and possibly his proclivities were also inherited. These men were interested in a mill and a ship-yard at the mouth of Chickasabogue, three miles above Mobile. The _Clotilde_, the _Susan_, the _Gipsy_, and other boats which were engaged in the river trade, in filibustering expeditions, the slave trade, and as blockade-runners during the Civil War were built there. The _Clotilde_, because of her fleetness, was selected to make the voyage to the slave coast. She was the personal property of Foster and had been designed and built by him.

[Illustration: Drawn by Emma Roche.

Poleete.]

Once arriving on the African coast there was little trouble in procuring a cargo of slaves, for it had long been a part of the traders’ policy to instigate the tribes against each other and in this manner keep the markets stocked. News of the trade was often published in the papers. The Meahers and Foster could have sought nothing more enlightening or to their purpose than an item published in the _Mobile Register_, November 9, 1858: “From the west coast of Africa we have advice dated September 21st. The quarreling of the tribes on Sierra Leone River rendered the aspect of things very unsatisfactory. The King of Dahomey was driving a brisk trade in slaves at from fifty to sixty dollars apiece at Whydah. Immense numbers of negroes were collected along the coast for export.” Foster, with a crew of northern men, sailed directly for Whydah.