Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-03-30
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Baltimore Saturday Vsiter.
History Of LOOtank, a Kidnapped African
A TRUE NARRATIVE.

In the autumn Of 1893, when an instruction of
the whole coored population took place in the Is
land of St Domingo, and was followed by the CON
f1agration Of Cape Francois, the wealthy metrop-
oils of that rich Island, the white inhabitants, III
order to save their lives from the general massa-
ere that was threatened, fled precipitately from
their homes and sought All asylum on board the
vessels then lying in the harbor. Finding that
neither themselves nor the shipping were safe in
the port, they hastily put to sea with such vaua-
bIes as they had been able to save. Many Of the
inhabitants of the Island being immensely wealthy
brought with them large sums in gold and jewel
ry,.which enabled them to subsist until they could
obtain access to other means OF support; but some
saved nothing except the clothes they had on. A
bout the month of August or September of that
year, considerable number of these fugltives,
composed of every age, sex and condition, arry-
ed at Baltimore, in more than one hundred vessels
mostly armed vessels of marque under the French
fiag--France being at that time at war with Great
Britain.
Among those emgrahts was young French
gentleman named Boyer, without any family eX-
cept an African boy, to whom ne appeared much
attached. and was very kind. The boy was OF a
mild, amiable countenance, -had been literally
tatooed on his cheeks and arms-was the son OF
an African Prnce-and as he stated, was lldnap-
ped before he was ten years old.
This gentleman took lodgings at respectable
boarding house then kept by Mrs. E in Mar
ket street, few houses east of Saint Pau's Lane.
The boy acted as a sort of valet lie chambre to
him, and might frequently he seen walking after
him, in his peregrinatons about the city, being al
ways, as well as his master, neatly dressed.
1t so happened that about three or four years
after the arrival of Mons. Boyer his affairs re-
quired his return to the West Indies, and he left
Baltimore with the intention of visiting the Island
of St. Domingo, expecting howevsf to return al
ter a brief absence. Not desiring to take this boy
back as he might be forcibly detained there, he
left him in charge of Mrs. E, who as every
one knew, was humane, kind and most benevo-
lent lady, with directions that she should take
good care of him until his return, and with re-
quest, that should any fatal accident befa him,
the boy might be liberated when he attained the
age of twenty-one years. He was then judged to
be about eighteen years old.
Nothing w9s ever heard from Boyer, after he
sailed; the vessel in which be embarked, having
it was supposed, foundered at sea, and all on
board perished
While residing in Baltimore, Mons. Boyer had
formed an intimate acquaintance with a French
lady Of surprising beauty and rare personal attrac
tions, and with whom there is no donbt he left the
means of comfortable support, until he would re-
turn, but time rolled on-these means were ex-
haused-and no tdings came from him, so that
all hopes Of his ever returning were abandoned,
and the lady became housekeeper to another
Frenchman, who then kept jewellers shop at
the corner of Market Street and St. Paul's Lane.
This gentleman finding his affairs not prosperous,
soon afterwards left her and removed to New Or
leans-atter which, nothing is known of him.
The boy in question was now become OF
the age when it was understood he would be mau-
mitted. While he continued with Mrs. E.,
good care had been taken of him, and she was
now DESTROYS to set him free according to the dl-
rocton of his master, and she so informed the
writer Of this narrative.
The lady, however, to whom have heretofore
referred, had by this time become somewhat EN-
barrassed in her money concerns, and looking
round for means to relieve herself, she cast he
eye upon this hoy, and forthwith put in a claim tC
MN as the widow u Boyer, to whom, she alleged
she mad been married: accordingly she sent con
stable TO seze and take possession of him. Thu
boy being privately informed Of her intention, file,