U.S. Navy captures American slave ship off the coast of Cuba with 507 African slaves aboard

The American vessel Wildfire had sailed from New York on December 16, 1859 and refitted as a slave ship in the West Indies.  The Wildfire returned from Africa with more that 500 slaves aboard and was approaching the coast of Cuba when she was captured by the U.S.S. Mohawk, one of the warships recently detailed to step up anti-slavery efforts.  Wildfire and its human cargo was towed to Key West and turned over to the U.S. Marshal there.  (By John Osborne)