The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-07-28
miscellaneous.
''The Negro $ leap"
PROM rHE ST. C us REvElLLE.

ton which men will sometimes perform.
when their all IL at stake II is situated in
the county Of GaIatin, on tie old road
which was formerly the grand thoronghfare
to the west. along The Ohio river, bef1re the
era OF steamboat navigation. In early days
that portion Of Illinois afforded comparative-
y safe refuge 10 those runaway slaves who
wrnded their way narih.
A range oc bills runs estward parallel
with the Ohio. on the ridge of which the
road have mentioned is traced, and TWEEN
~ years ago was mnchtravelled, particular
ly By those whose business compelled them
to pass through country which, at the
time, bore mot he highest character for
law, order and safety.
Through all that section of country an or
ganzed band Of marauders, Of every descrip.
tiOn, was spread, whose agents and spies
were TO be found in every class of society.
Did land speculator come from the Fast
his saddle bags burdened with specie, The
news OF his whereabouts and of his progress
was daily beralded from post to post, as reg
uIarly and invisibIy as the magnetic tele-
graph now conveys The word that some bold
villain has taken the 'morning rain, and
equally ready on the watch were the opera
tors Of this gang, awaiting the arrival Of the
coveted prize, as are now the police at the
railway station. Did slave escape from
the south, slraightway was the advertise
Incnt forwarded describing him, so that if
he should pass that way he might be picked
up, and skillfully cOncealeh-be transported
after the search had somewhat ceased, to a
different portion Of the country from thai
whence he haG escaped, and again he sold
or, if already in custody OF the legal Off
GERS, some grave, steady, respectable look.
| ing man oi the gang was forthwith despatch
ed TO claim him, aud by means Of forged pa
pers and false witnesses, TO bear him of
publicly to southern market. And. in
deed, frequently, boldly and openly, a whole
family ofthe dark -lued tribe would be car
ried off, without any other law than tho law
Of the strong.
1t was at this period that huge black
fellow arrived in lhr country have men.
toned, whose every appearance from the cas-
ua glmPses obtained Of him, indicated that
/ he was a valuable prize, and there was no
doubling his condij jion-that he was runa-
way was evident. He was unusually tall
strongly built, muscular, well proporinned
and even intellectual in his manner and ap.
pearance; and, although no clue could be
obtained as to the section Of country from
whence he had come, there was at once sci
on foot project TO kidnap him, for he was
a rare specimen. His goings were daily
wal lched, until he himself gained an ink
ling of the fate in store for him, il he fell ih
to the clut ches of the white man. He had
been safely, so far, enjoying the sweets OF
liberty for more than a year, and he had
sworn that never, living would be be cap
tured-and, from his appearance, there was
no reason to doubt his resnluteness of pur-
pose. He was cautious as a mink in his
movements, but the spies were on his track,
and traps had been set, time and again TO
ensnare him. - .-
At length, one bright morning in spring,
whilst he was out hunting, be was suddenly
surprised by the rapid galloping Of horses,
breaking through the underground Of the
/ timber, and lie became aware that the hell
hounds were on his track. Fear lent speed
10 his limbs, and then commenced a race
which was urged to desperation By the
on his part, and gold on he part Of his pur-
suers. Five well mounted men, as desper>
ate characters as ever lived. armed to the
teeth we're at his back, and, like blood.
I hounds, they followed hlm with savage de-
termination. Their object, however, was
not TO injurc him. unless in case OF necessi-
ty caused by resistance on his part, and
then they would be deaf to mercy.
On sped the negro, Slmon, and his ear
caught, between his painting resprations,
the crash of breaking limbs and branches,
the beat of the hOrses' leet, the oathS and
yes of the pursuers. as they shouted ont tc
him to stop aud yield himself-and mile az
ter mile he labored, whilst his speed rival
led the elk. He knew well his fate, il taken
and he knew that unless he reached the hills
he must be captured, even though he might
proloDg the chase all the day. He knew
that fresh horses would be put after him,
and at every cross-road, runners would start
out to intercept him; and his pursuefs knew,
that though he could battle them through
the timber, yet he must tire at last--and at
every gap the distance was shortening be-
tween them, for every clear place gave the
horsemen the advantage. Soon, therefore,
were his useless gun and equipments thrown
aside, and thus llghtened he kept on his way,
his speed unabaled.
On. on they sped, pursuers and pursued
on, on, for life on one hand, for spoil on the
other--stronger incentives never aroused
the energy of man; greater cflrts were
never brought forth in a confession, on,
and Slmon's breath came hard; his bosom
heaye1 and painted; the sweat rolled from his
forehead down his face in heavy beads
and trickled along his limbs in clammy
streamlets; his muscles, exerted for so long
to their utmost tension, became stitiened
and painful, his nerves were strained till
they tinged IN every limb, his eyes swan,
his leet Jagged heavily, his brain reeled and
agony pressed on his sonl--but he had
sworn that he would die before he would
yield. He heard behind hiAn the impfeca
tlons of his pursuers, not quarter OF a mile
distant; he could even see them, as they ur-
ged their jaded steeds forward; for they, too.
now discovered that it was not far to the
hills, where their object OF pursuit could
conceal himself, and their beasts would be
Of no service Onward with renewed Wig
or, sprang Simon, and as hope, revived
within him, his soul was inspired ogreater
efforts, and he had now but short distance
to compass, ere he would be safe.
But, horror! At this moment now re.
cruit sprang from by-road, and headed him
from gaining his hoped for refuge-coser
and closer pressed the pursuit, and louder
and stronger sounded the shouts OF the pur-
suers, as victory apparently crowned their