Ships with large sails cross the sea, with small rowing boats alongside. Wood engraving.

Capture of a Slaver off the Coast of Cuba on 22 March 1858. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 15 May 1858. Reference Read the ILN

THE SLAVE-SHIP "EMILIA." THE accompanying Engraving of the slave-ship Emilia, captured off the north coast of Cuba, on the 22nd March last, by her Majesty's ships Styx and Jasper, is from a sketch obligingly forwarded to us by an officer of the Styx. Having information from a ship previously boarded that on a certain day a slaver would leave Havannah, the Jasper was sent to cruise in the direction of ships leaving for the Gulf of Florida Channel. At daylight several long glasses were sweeping the horizon; many sail were in sight. The least suspicions among them, a full-rigged ship, corresponded to the description given of the slaver The Stysx was off at full speed, and gradually gained on the ship. After a race of twenty miles it was within long range of the Styz's largest gun; a blank cartridge was fired as a signal to show colours and heave to; but such warning was not sufficient for the stranger. The Jasper was also chasing from the west ward. A shot from her dropped close to the slaver's stern. Now within easy range the Styz sent a shot alarmingly close, which made the chase show Spanish colours. The captain thought whilst the wind continued there was a slight hope of escape, and did not heave to and haul down his colours until several shot from the Jasper and the Styx had dropped around her. The Jasper'a boat boarded, and found sufficient evidence at once to take possession. It appeared the vessel had been fitted out at Savannah, sailed at midnight on the Sunday previous, having cleared from the Customs with eight hundred casks of rum for Marseilles, which casks in reality were filled with water, the upper tier being coloured to deceive the authorities The ship, which is between six and seven hundred tons, was built in France; refitted and newly coppered at Havannah, laden with food for slaves, and complete fittings for 1200, with £7000 sterling for their purchase. She had a crew ot forty men, engaged at a sum of 900 dollars each, should the voyage prove successful. Several spoke broken English, though all of them were Spaniards and Portuguese. The prize, under convoy of H.M.S. Jasper, left for Port Royal, Jamaica with three hearty cheers.

Iconographic Collections