262 ST. HELENA 



In 1848 the establishment kept up for them was as follows : — 



Cleric Mr. T. B. Knipe. 



Surgeon . . . C. H. Rawlins. 



Dispenser of medicines . . Mr. H. McDanicl. 



Superintendent of station and store- 

 keeper .... Mr. John Harris. 

 On one occasion of a slaver being brought in (she was about 

 100 tons), Bishop Ciray, of Cape Town, was staying at Plantation. 

 On hearing of her arri\ al he sent to ask that tlie slaves should not 

 \)C removed until he could see them. The |x>or famished creatures 

 were brought up (rem below and there they waited for two long 

 hours before the Bishop was able to come down. He wished to 

 give them water from his own hands, but it is said he was so over- 

 come by the sight which awaited him that he fainted. On landing 

 they usually recovered rapidly from the effects of their ill treatment 

 and confinement lx;tween decks. 



The Styx was noted for her conquests. I am told by an old 

 resident that she made thirty-two captures. The Conquest, 

 too, brought si.xteen here, and the Watcruttch was most 

 active. A monument is erected in the Government Garden 

 to the memorj' of all those brave fellows who lost their lives 

 while engaged in this work of rescue. The Waterwitch 

 brought tlic first consignment of liberated slaves. 



The Cyclops is spoken of by one of the old men still living, 

 and there are five I was able to photograph who came in 

 her — two men and three old women, who are now in the 

 poorhouse. The men, although over seventy, are still 

 able to earn a little, but the women are helpless, and almost 

 blind, being all of good age. 



The taller man is named Duke Wellington, the other 

 Blinker. Wellington says they were brought here in the 

 Cyclops, and that soon after they arrived some officers 

 came to Rupert's to choose servants, and, as he relates. 

 Captain George Woolet (?), St. Helena Regiment, took him, 

 Major Piggott chose Blinker, and Colonel Ross, officer, 

 chose Caesar. They lived in tents, and had as rations — 

 biscuit, rice, salt meat, and fish, i.e. at Rupert's ; but when 

 living in the mess-house they had food like soldiers. 



During the past two years many have died — Old Cappy, 

 who earned a living to the last by fetching watercress down 

 for the shipping ; Jack Fry Pumpkin, or John Janische 

 (his master's name) ; Toby Morrison — here again the mas- 

 ter's name — were for many yeai"s well known to all the 



