Stormy weather resumed its original role in a dramatic re-enactment of the arrival of the Enterprize.

Rain and windy weather buffeted cast and spectators as Islanders commemorated the 175th anniversary of the arrival of the slave ship yesterday.

Many Bermudians can trace their lineage to the slaves freed from the American Brig after it was diverted to the Island in 1835.

The Enterprize was enroute from Alexandria, Virginia, to Charleston, South Carolina, when it was blown off course in gale force winds and had to seek re-victualling and repairs in Bermuda.

The ship had scant cargo and only three passengers but was transporting 78 slaves. Its arrival in these waters, on February 11, 1835, led to the emancipation of these men, women and children.

Less than a year earlier, slaves in Bermuda were granted freedom, on August 1, 1834 a date now known as Emancipation Day.

Six months later, the arrival of the Enterprize prompted the Island's Governor to allow each of the American slaves the opportunity to choose their fate, 72 of whom chose freedom.

Yesterday, Imagine Bermuda and the Corporation of Hamilton marked the historic anniversary of the arrival of the American Brig in Barr's Bay Park.

Four actors resumed the roles of the ship's captain, the Bermudian pilot, the collector of Customs and the President of the Young Men's Friendly Institution, which fought for the slaves' freedom with a writ to the Attorney General.

Jim Whipple played Captain Elliot Smith while Adrian Kawaley-Lathan took on the role of the unnamed Bermudian pilot who first greeted the ship and became aware of the enslaved cargo.

Collector of Customs Slaton was played by Nick Dill, while Gavin (Djata) Smith, Chewstick founder, was Richard Tucker, President of the Young Men's Friendly Institution.

The re-enactment of the story represented both historical points of view. As Captain Smith declares the 78 slaves are "property of persons in America", Mr. Tucker tells him: "Captain Smith I hope one day you will be able to understand, people are not property."

Spectators and cast continued the re-enactment in Supreme Court One of Sessions House, with 78 schoolchildren from Warwick Academy, Mount Saint Agnes and the Berkeley Institute each holding a placard naming one of the slaves from the Enterprize.

The courtroom session represented the hearing of February 1835 in front of the Chief Justice. It was written by Justice Ian Kawaley following a review of two historical sources the handwritten court record and report of the hearing printed in the Royal Gazette of February 24, 1835.

Those taking part included lawyer Kelvin Hastings-Smith as Chief Justice Thomas Butterfield, Boyd Smith as Richard Tucker, Peter Miller (Supreme Court Assistant Registrar) as the court clerk, John Cox as Hamilton mayor William Cox, Stephen Notman as Attorney General John Harvey-Darrell, Rotimi Martins as the first slave freed, and Princess Simmons as Matilda Ridgley, one of the slaves who opted to return to the US.

Among those attending yesterday's Enterprize commemoration were Governor Sir Richard Gozney and Hamilton Mayor Charles Gosling.

Imagine Bermuda founder Glenn Fubler said the event was "quite poignant". "We couldn't have asked for better weather," he added.

• See Page Four for an opinion piece by Glenn Fubler.