3-000-229 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

H.M.S. "Brisk", bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir Henry Keppel, closing with "The Sunny South" slaver, 1860. '...her Majesty's ship Brisk, Captain De Horsey...was running to the northward in the Mozambique Channel, a sail was reported as seen from the masthead. Steam was got up without delay...The Captain...had observed something suspicious...in the sudden alteration of her course...we closed her rapidly...a white package was thrown from her into the sea; and the experienced then exclaimed, "A slaver, and there go her papers!"...and then a voice hailed us "850 slaves on board!" She proved to be the Sunny South, of 702 tons, built at New York in 1854, and sold at the Havannah in 1859, valued at 20,000 dollars, and considered the fastest vessel in that port. She sailed from the Havannah, on the 5th of March, under the Chilian flag and name of Manuela...although there were 846 slaves on board, she was not at all crowded in comparison with other vessels so employed. In addition, she carried a crew of 40 in all, including a captain, mates, pilot, and a doctor. Her dimensions are - length, 154 feet 8 inches; breadth, 34 feet 4 inches; depth, 16 feet 6 inches. She was intended originally as a New York and Rio packet'. From "Illustrated London News", 1860.