Not long after the Amistad's departure from Cuba, Sengbe led a mutiny against the ship's crew. The July 2, 1839 revolt began when the ship's cook, Celestino, made Sengbe and the others believe they would be killed and eaten when the ship reached port. Not knowing Celestino's gestures were a poor attempt at a joke, Sengbe wanted to act first. He found a nail and used it to open the locks of his companions' chains. Free of their shackles, Sengbe and Grabeau - a fellow captive - searched for weapons to use in self-defense. They found sugar cane knives: blades that were two-feet long attached to steel handles. Using these machete-like weapons, the Africans killed Captain Ferrer and Celestino. Grabeau convinced Sengbe not to kill the two Spaniards who had "bought" the Africans - Ruiz and Montez. The captives needed someone on board who could sail the ship back to Africa. Because the sun had been at his back on the trip from Africa to Cuba, Sengbe knew that the sun had to be in front of him on the trip home. To fool the Africans, Ruiz and Montez sailed the ship east of Cuba during the day, when the sun was up, and west toward Cuba, when the sun was down at night. The Spaniards hoped they would be rescued by British anti-slave patrols. When no rescue occurred, the Spaniards set sail up the U.S. coast. In late August, 1839, several of the Amistad captives were on shore near Long Island Sound, trying to barter for food. Conditions on the ship were atrocious and most folks were starving. They were spotted by a naval officer, Lt. Thomas Gedney, who boarded the ship with his colleagues. The navy officers were shocked by the conditions on board and found Ruiz and Montez who told their story. At the time, 54 Africans were still alive, including the four children. A federal cutter brought the Africans to New London, Connecticut. Spain wanted the Africans returned for punishment. Huge political issues were at stake, as far as Spain was concerned. If the Amistad mutineers were unpunished, what would happen if other slaves rebelled?  | GO TO STORY INDEX |  |