The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-04-20
Was HNaroN, April Is, lS4S

The details OF the absurd Schooner, and the Sc
renty.sepen Runa,cay Slaues found on board at
the Capture near the mouth Of the Potomac
Last Saturday night was sign ilzed by large
experiment upon the slaves of this district by
the abolitionists.
schooner from New Jersey, commanded by
Captain Sears, "a Massachusetts man) with
two white assistants, had delivered at the
wharf, few days before, cargo of fire wood,
which the captain sold at two dollars cord,
taking notes In exchange, payable In sixty
days. These notes the captain used in the pur.
chase of groceries, sc , with which he pr owl
stoned the vessel. la the meantime, the ennis
saries of the abolitionists secured this city, the
cities o. Georgetown and Alexandra, and sue
Of freedom in the North, seventy-seven slaves in
all, some fifty odd colOred m-n, eight or ten
women, and as many children, nearly all OF
hem belonging to citizens of Washington. A
town, making up The nice complement of seventy
seven, equal to draft upon the property OF the
citizens of this district OF fifty thousand doll ,rs,
(S50000)
They were all on board the schooner on Sa.
Iurday night, aud shortly after midnight, with
hne breeze blowing directly down the river. the
schooner set sail, intending to run round by Che
sapeake Bay to the coast Of jersey, where the
slaves were TO be- discharged as free people Of
| color.
On Sunday morning the alarm was given, and
the little steamer Salem, belonging to George
| town, was armed with six FOUNDER and poss-
Of twenty-five armed men, under the comnaod
OF Mr.. Williams, volunteering for the expedi-
ton, and immediately put uuder all her steam,
equal to seven miles an! hour on an average
the great danger being in running out into tine
open river In the morning. 1t so happened, how
ever, that In the very creek entered by the Salem,
| the schooner, at two In the morning, was found
| at anchor, and all hands, every soul on board,
| Including the seventy-seven slaves and the three
n COmtOrtahiP Y IL
| Rating in delightful dreams OF the Jerseys, OF
Philadelphia, Of New York, and Boston, and the
great ST. Lawrence, and the provinces Of Her
Britannia Majesty hanklng that mighty river,
and the great lakes that supply its ocean volume,
and of the glores of basking in the sun all day
| long, with none to command them to get up aud
go to work. What horrd dissolution of the
charm of these visions it was, when in mo-
| ment posse of armed men were on board,
| and all hands of the Absurd schooner were
| prisoners OF war They surrendered at discre-
ton, and arrived here tn IL morning under tow
| of the steamer. The captain and aids, and the
| severty-seven re-captured slaves, were marched
| up from the landing this morning, between seven
| and eight O'Clock, through the city to the Jail
| As they were crossing over the canal near the
avenue, mob. In an instant, as II by enchant-
ment, collected around this strange procession
| They were eager for the life of the captain He
was seized by one Of the populace; but one of the
pSoIice, acting as guards 10 the prisoners, ielled
slipped the captain Of the il -fated craft into 3
hack which was at hand, ard which drove off
rapidly to the Jail, followed by portion of the
crowd at full speed, the mass remaining behind
with the body oil the prisoners, escortlng them
with all sorts ct coHgratu atlons to the jail into
which the entire population OF Sthe Absurd
schooner were ushered for safe keeping, where
| they now are.
The fate of the captain aud his aids will pro.
| pably be imprisonment In the peniteatiary Tor
lite, or for a term of years upon each OF the
twenty or thirty parcels of slaves, which will ex-
tend beyond the duration of an average life time.
The recapured slaves will be disposed Of to deal
ers, who are here buying up for the markets OF
| New Orleans, and the extreme South. Tney will
exchange with regret the easy life of the slave
in Washington, for the sugar and cotton planta-
tions OF Mi sslss ppi, Louisiana, and Texas
Alas for the Absurd schooner, and that most
absurd sleep near the very margin OF safety,
but within the very jaws of the law and it's posse
comifatus OF the steamer Salem The captain of
the Absurd says he has off several cargoes
OF slaves from this river and Chesapeake bay,
heretofore and perhaps his success was the
secret of his destruction. II appears that he is
In the pay OF the abolitIonisis that he has been
iransacting this dangerous aod piratical business
for them
Among the owners Of the slaves recaptured is