The Legend of Ebo Landing
This Week
Tungee's Gold:
Writers Notebook: Duke Howard
Savannah Waterfront and the Legend
The idea for this historical novel came from an old slave tale, “The Legend of Ebo Landing.” I first heard the story at a Savannah waterfront bar while doing research and writing for my PBS Television Series, “Georgia’s Heritage.” The legend came from a story that tells of a number of West Africans that chose death rather than slavery. It is said that while a number of Ebo’s were debarking the slave ship they simply slipped into the water and drowned. The human tragedy got my attention and I followed up by going to St. Simons Island, the source of the story.
When I got to the island I asked some questions about the legend and was directed to an African-American woman known as the Voo Doo Lady. I located her house and introduced myself and was pleasantly surprised at the reception I got. After I explained what I was doing she led me on a walking tour of the island. Our first stop was a reed-covered estuary on the west side of St. Simons Island, which according to the Voo Doo Lady was the place called Ebo Landing, the scene of the actual tragedy. After that first stop my guide gave me a short history lesson of the place and we walked from one church and cemetery to another with the Voo Doo Lady talking and I taking notes.
At the end of the day I had only one nagging question – why? After a ton of research and ninety thousand words later I found the answer.
MEDIA RELEASE iUniverse
1663 S. Liberty Dr. Suite 300
Bloomington, IN 47403
For Immediate Release
Tungee's Gold
The Legend of Ebo Landing
by
Tom Barnes
Review Excerpt:
'With Tungee's Gold, I found myself eagerly reading, because it is such a compelling adventure – the kind of thing I remember from reading Zane Gray as a young man. You've got excellent character, a broad sweep of action – from gold fields to the high seas – and you've told the tale well by keeping the story in focus...'
Terry Kay author of 'To Dance with the White Dog.'
Tungee Cahill deposits gold in San Francisco bank in the morning, is shanghaied that night and wakes up on a Clipper Ship bound for Liverpool. The ship is rife with plots from mutiny to piracy. Tungee joins Captain Foster and they halt a bloody takeover of the ship. They make their way through the freezing rains and icy hell of Cape Horn, then up the east coast of South America to St. Katherine’s Island. However, at St. Kat the scurrilous ship owner issues new orders, and diverts the ship to West Africa for another slave run.
Despite a belligerent crew opposed to the slave run the ship sails on to West Africa where the Africans are herded on board. When the ship sets sail for America a British and American warship give chase, but Captain Foster elects to dodge into a heavy storm. When they come out of the storm some slaves are allowed to stay on deck. During several nights Tungee and others watch as the Africans participate in various rituals and incantations. Is it voodoo or witchcraft? Nobody knows, and by the time they find out, it’s too late. A tribal king called Kumi said, 'I may be prisoner now but I will never become a slave.' Using his presence and strong will, Kumi inspires a number of his people to follow his lead and make the ultimate sacrifice for freedom
About the Author:
Tom Barnes grew up in the South and studied English literature and drama at Middle Georgia College and the Pasadena Playhouse. After a hitch in the Navy, and a season with The Hurricane Hunters Tom did Theater and TV in New York. He has written documentaries for PBS and is author of The Goring Collection, Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone, The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Book is available at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online venues and bookstores
Writers Notebook:
Review by Duke Howard
For those of you who like the taste of powder, fire and smoke with their stories and enjoy the company of men who have little or no control over their own fate, come join the half-breed, Tungee as he is shanghaied off the Barbary Coast and sail with him and his mates;Captain Foster, the Black Moses, King Kumi; the slave trader, Jeff Turner, the Crimp and the Aussie Duck Man, Alf Talbot on the 1851 slave ship, MFC for a rousing adventure of blood and violence. Tom Barnes is a master story teller.
--Duke Howard, author of THE DAMNATION OF MERCY KILWICK.
Civil War Journal feature begins on this blog the week of April 12.
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com
Tungee's Gold:
Writers Notebook: Duke Howard
Savannah Waterfront and the Legend
The idea for this historical novel came from an old slave tale, “The Legend of Ebo Landing.” I first heard the story at a Savannah waterfront bar while doing research and writing for my PBS Television Series, “Georgia’s Heritage.” The legend came from a story that tells of a number of West Africans that chose death rather than slavery. It is said that while a number of Ebo’s were debarking the slave ship they simply slipped into the water and drowned. The human tragedy got my attention and I followed up by going to St. Simons Island, the source of the story.
When I got to the island I asked some questions about the legend and was directed to an African-American woman known as the Voo Doo Lady. I located her house and introduced myself and was pleasantly surprised at the reception I got. After I explained what I was doing she led me on a walking tour of the island. Our first stop was a reed-covered estuary on the west side of St. Simons Island, which according to the Voo Doo Lady was the place called Ebo Landing, the scene of the actual tragedy. After that first stop my guide gave me a short history lesson of the place and we walked from one church and cemetery to another with the Voo Doo Lady talking and I taking notes.
At the end of the day I had only one nagging question – why? After a ton of research and ninety thousand words later I found the answer.
MEDIA RELEASE iUniverse
1663 S. Liberty Dr. Suite 300
Bloomington, IN 47403
For Immediate Release
Tungee's Gold
The Legend of Ebo Landing
by
Tom Barnes
Review Excerpt:
'With Tungee's Gold, I found myself eagerly reading, because it is such a compelling adventure – the kind of thing I remember from reading Zane Gray as a young man. You've got excellent character, a broad sweep of action – from gold fields to the high seas – and you've told the tale well by keeping the story in focus...'
Terry Kay author of 'To Dance with the White Dog.'
Tungee Cahill deposits gold in San Francisco bank in the morning, is shanghaied that night and wakes up on a Clipper Ship bound for Liverpool. The ship is rife with plots from mutiny to piracy. Tungee joins Captain Foster and they halt a bloody takeover of the ship. They make their way through the freezing rains and icy hell of Cape Horn, then up the east coast of South America to St. Katherine’s Island. However, at St. Kat the scurrilous ship owner issues new orders, and diverts the ship to West Africa for another slave run.
Despite a belligerent crew opposed to the slave run the ship sails on to West Africa where the Africans are herded on board. When the ship sets sail for America a British and American warship give chase, but Captain Foster elects to dodge into a heavy storm. When they come out of the storm some slaves are allowed to stay on deck. During several nights Tungee and others watch as the Africans participate in various rituals and incantations. Is it voodoo or witchcraft? Nobody knows, and by the time they find out, it’s too late. A tribal king called Kumi said, 'I may be prisoner now but I will never become a slave.' Using his presence and strong will, Kumi inspires a number of his people to follow his lead and make the ultimate sacrifice for freedom
About the Author:
Tom Barnes grew up in the South and studied English literature and drama at Middle Georgia College and the Pasadena Playhouse. After a hitch in the Navy, and a season with The Hurricane Hunters Tom did Theater and TV in New York. He has written documentaries for PBS and is author of The Goring Collection, Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone, The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Book is available at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online venues and bookstores
Writers Notebook:
Review by Duke Howard
For those of you who like the taste of powder, fire and smoke with their stories and enjoy the company of men who have little or no control over their own fate, come join the half-breed, Tungee as he is shanghaied off the Barbary Coast and sail with him and his mates;Captain Foster, the Black Moses, King Kumi; the slave trader, Jeff Turner, the Crimp and the Aussie Duck Man, Alf Talbot on the 1851 slave ship, MFC for a rousing adventure of blood and violence. Tom Barnes is a master story teller.
--Duke Howard, author of THE DAMNATION OF MERCY KILWICK.
Civil War Journal feature begins on this blog the week of April 12.
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com
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Tom's 'RocktheTower' Blog
I do a variety blog and post every Wednesday. I am an actor, writer and hurricane hunter and my subjects are generally written about those fields. During Hurricane Season I do at least one story every
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