Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-10-21
A nANpITTI ROUTED.

gentleman residing upon Broad Creek, l"
mi. coun,v. about 8 miles from town, having a
Grw dsys since. given an intimaiion to CaP'. ;.
n. Gibbons. Inspector Of This Borough, that :
number of Runaway Negroes were eoneea'ea
in covert in the woods o. that neighborhooo,
whence they sailed forth during the night, ano
committed depredations upon the corn neioa'
pota,o-patChes, hog. pens, Sc. Of the farmers !"
the vicinity, he determined to explore !her
baunts and bring them to justice. According
~, Yesterday morning, attended ny severa' o.
our police officers, among whom the Messrs'
Cherry, Guy. and three others, Capt U'coo"'
pr oceeded TO the suspected rlace, ana ai'ialne
his party into squads, diligently examined '"s
recrssrs Of the woods. The squad composed
of Mr.. Guy and Mr.. Demsranville. upon afrV'
ing a, the extreme end of Nimmo's ROM, ais>
covered the ends of Two pieces Of scanning
proiee ting out Of the ground, at the top OF a
hank several feet above the level Of the Beach,
which was thickly covered with leaves. oPo"
striking the bank with stick, the hollowness
IF The sound indicated the want Of solidity, and
mon closer examination, and removing the
leaves. they discovered scultle or door which
evidently led 10 an apartment in the bank. This
UNEXPECTED invasion Of their retreat, aroused
the tenants, who in bois'erous tone, forbade
The entrance OF their unwelcome visitors, on
main of death, one of thr.n fercey brandishing
long knife to defer the omcers ITO" TIC"
purpose.
Mr. Guv presented his musket and threaten
ed 10 FIRE upon the negro who had The khiie, II
he a,tcmpted resistance. The fellow then drop.
ned the kniIe and seized large piece Of WOO q
re,erating his threats OF violence If they per-
sisted in entering. Unapprised of the number
Of the inmates, Mr.. Guy awaited the arrival Of
the whole party for whom he had made sig
nal. The whole of the officers having come
I'd. surrounded the entrance Of the cave anc
demanded the immediate surrender OF the oc-
cupants. After many stou: resolutions to re-
sist 10 the last, appalled, by the numbers opp"s..
ed to them, and seeing them in the very act Of
firing, they, very prudently, determined TO give
themselves up, and both (for there were then
only two ensnls to this subterr aneous abode
were secured s conducted to the Borough jail.
Upon entering the cave, they found quite d
commodious apartment, regularly excava'ed III
the bank, and prepared for an abode OF some
permaneuce, beng ceiled within, and stored
with fresh and sailed pork, several bushels Of
potatoes, and corn, some green peppers and o.
Their articles Of sus;enanoe. The apartment vas
also furnished withssome cooking utensils and
crockery ware, ard two sleeping hunks These
were removed 10 house in the neighborhood.
One of the negroes named jim, is the pio-
oer,y of Mr.. VIM. 5. Lacoste, Of this town, who
acknowledged that he had been tenant Of this
cave since March last The other had lived
with Mr. Robert Saunders in Princess Anne
county They confessed that they had lived by
ailiaging the netghbors during the night, new.
er vent ring GU, in 'heday. tits believed they
had other associates, but hey would no: admit
il. Several female dresses were also found IN
he cave, which they confessed they had LAX take"
Norfolk Beacon,