"... in Augenschein genommen und für jetzt gesund befunden": die mysteriöse Landung eines farbigen Matrosen im Wremer Watt, 1819

Abstract

In 1819, in the village of Wremen on the mouth of the River Weser, a coloured American was arrested on suspicion of carrying yellow fever. Having been mistreated by his captain on the journey from Baltimore to the mouth of the Weser, the sailor had fled from his ship and set out for Hamburg. There John Brown - for that was the escapee's name - planned to sign on to another vessel. Lacking all knowledge of the route and the language, Brown had decided to follow the dikes along the mouths of the Weser and Elbe to reach his destination. In Wremen he was put into quarantine, but treated very decently. The detainee was rather economical with the truth when interrogated by the officials. Whereas the latter were primarily interested in yellow fever, the American’s chief concern was to cover up the circumstances that had led to his dilemma. He was afraid of being turned in to his captain. Despite this state of affairs, neither the officials nor the villagers regarded their involuntary guest as a cost factor to be alimented at their expense, but as a human being in need of their help. Accordingly, when he left they gave him a gift of money.