Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-05-05
The Fugitive Freemen Re-captured
From The Washington Union.

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We have just had an interesting interview
with H. c.. Williams, Esq, who, at the re-
quest of several citizens OF Georgetown, joi-
ned a volunteer party, and was elected their
commander to proceed down the river in the
steamer Salem, Captain Baker, to capture
the sloop Pearl, of so tons, of Whitehill,
N. j., owned by the master. edward Say
ers,) Caleb Aranson, and another; which
said sloop had left the steamboat wharf, be-
low the Long Bridge, about 9 o'clock on
Sunday morning last, but in consequence of
getting aground, did not pass Alexandra till
sunrise.
The party consisted Of about thirty in num-
Der, besides the crew of the steamer, which
left the wharf of Georgetown about l o'clock,
P. M. Below Fort Washington they met
the Mount Vernon, whose g%entlemanly Cap
tain (Rogers) could give no information of
the "Pearl," as it had probably passed Aqua
Creek before he came out. The wind being
fair, the Pearl made a rapid sail, and, if it had
continued on its course, would with difficult
ty, if at all, have been overtaken by the Sa-
lem.
The first intelligence received was from a
fishing smack and shortly thereafter (say a
bout 5 o'clock, P. NJ more accurate infor-
nation was obtained from Capt. Guyther Of
the steamer Columbia, from Baltimore. He
stated he had passed a vessel answering the
description of the Pearl, in the NanjeInoy
reach making her then about fifteen miles
ahead.
Captain Baker increased his speed, under
the encouraging prospects, the wind and tide
being now in his favor, and continued the
chase with spirit, until about 4 o'clock Mon
day morning, when a vessel was espied at
anchor, in Cornield harbor, a cove on the
Maryland shore, affording a coed shelter from
the high winds then blowing from the bay,
and not likely to be observed by passing
steamers; being a few miles from the light
house on Point Look Out.
Feeling confident, from the appearance Of
the vessel, that this was the Pearl, Captain
Baker promptly closed upon the vessel, roun.
ded to, and placed the steamer alongside
The volunteers Immediately jumped on board
but found no one on deck, the matches being
all closed. These were guarded, and Dan
lei Drayton, the supposed master and ring
leader of the thieves, was ordered TO comt
up. After som time, and very reluctantly
he did so, and was placed under guard
lie confessed he was one of the guilty mel
who had received and concealed the slave;
on board the vessel; admitted he had inter.
views with persons who had undertaken Il
send the slaves on board, but he would moi
give their names, saying if he did not, and
should be convicted the abolitionists would
support his family. The real Captain of the
"Pearl," Edward Sayers, was then called
and put under guard, his answers being eva
sive and unsatisfactory. The third white
person on board, Chester English, said he
had been duped and imposed upon by the
other two but he wept bitterly, and protest
ed he had no part in the criminality of the
c%oneern, and seemed willing to tell all he
knew. The chief kidnappers themselves
had admitted he knew nothing of their plans,
and had been directed after night to receive
the slaves, who, they said to him, were GO
ing down The river on an excursion of plea
sure.
The steamer with the sloop in tow, about
7 o'clock arrived at Piney Point, where the
schooner was left in charge of the volunteers
till the steamer returned, at IL o'clock with
fuel from Cone river. They reached this CT