We all learned in school that slavery was abolished by President Lincoln at the conclusion of the American Civil War. Thats true, and it isnt... One hundred eleven years ago this week, the San Francisco Examiner published a series of articles written by my great-grandfather, William Huntley Brommage. WHB was an accomplished sailor, having traveled the world for more than 6 years before settling in California. When rumor of a blackbirding ship in port sprang up, the Examiner which desired to expose and destroy the new and iniquitous industry that is being followed in the Pacific Seas, sent WHB to gather information. He secured a position as a crew member on the Montserrat and was quickly made Quartermaster. He smuggled three cameras onboard and was in a position to be in the thick of the action. After six months at sea, during which time natives from southern Pacific islands had been convinced, coerced, and sometimes kidnapped and delivered to almost certain death in the sugar cane fields of Guatemala, the Montserrat returned to San Francisco. Within days the detailed accounts were published. The Examiner editorial stated: One of the greatest pieces of newspaper work that ever came under our observation is that of Mr. Brommage, who shipped before the mast on the slaver Montserrat ...on her recent blackbirding expedition in the South Seas, representing at the same time the Examiner. Ive heard people claim that history is boring. Not so! History is full of stories of heroes and villains, adventures and danger, and good people that do what they can to make the world a better place. [Way to go, Pop!]
Posted on: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 03:27:53 +0000
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