Willshire was approached by Riley 's master Sidi Hamet with the purpose of ransoming Captain Riley and some of his crew .
An American national , Riley 's ship had been wrecked off the Western Sahara coast in August of that year and he and his crew enslaved .
Willshire was approached by Riley 's master Sidi Hamet with the purpose of ransoming Captain Riley and some of Riley crew crew .
An American national , Riley 's ship had been wrecked off the Western Sahara coast in August of that year and he and his crew enslaved .