Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-11-29
The Boston Excitementt


of recapturiRg William and Ellen Crat-the negroes
belonging to DR. Collins and Ira Taylor, beg you to
give place to the boined simple narrative of facts
1t is given from recollection but am willing to
make affidavit of its correctness OF course it does
not contain statement of eUery thing which transpi
red but it does contain everything which is at all
important
The statements which have been copied in this
city, and in the south generally by certain class
of papers. are taken from the Boston Chronotype, |
and other abolition prints, and are gross msrepre-
sensations of facts and entirely unworthy OF any
confidence.
We left Macon for the purpose Of purchasing ma
chinery for the establishment OF bucket factory
and variety works in this city. did not even know
that Mr. Hughes entrusted with the recovery of
the slaves until after We arrived at New York when
he asked me to identify the negroes.
We left Macon Friday, Oct. lth arrived in New
York Tuesday following. Remained there till Fri
day, 5 P. NJ, aud arrived at Boston next morning.
Kept stu on Saturday and Sunday.
On Monday, attended to buying machinery. Mr.
Hughes applied to Judge Woodbury. for warrant
The judge would not issue 1t SAID IL was the busl-
ness of the commissioners.
Mr. Hughes applied to three separate commission
ers who sent him from one to another The last
one refused-until he could get all the commission
ers and Judges together.
In this wav the matter was deferred until Thurs
day night, when the meeting of commissioners was
held. At this meeting business and the names
of the parties for whom the warrant was demanded
leaked out. -
went to see Craft on Tuesday, had a long CONVEX
sation with him. He said that Ellen anxious to
return SOUTH and would do if she could get funds
and an opportunity-desired me to bring letter to
Elen's mother agreed to go back next morning
to get the letter if did not go to Worcester,
Wednesday-Went to Worcester and returned ;
found the letter at the hotel.
Th,rsduu morning-Saw Craft. He told me that
Ellen had been to see me at his shop on Wednesday.
wrote no letter to Craft. The one published was
forgery. The day the letter purports to have been
written was in Worcester.
Friday morning-Judge Woodbury. issued the
warrant about o'clock, in open court.
1t was at once known, and the negroes and aboll-
tionists began to assemble about the court house,
and watch US. Every few minutes a negro lawyer
would peep into the marshals Office. to what
diately.
The excitement become great-nothing was done
marshal said if he could be convinced that Craft
in Cambridge street, he would go and arrest him
seemed timid and inclined to back out
Saturday-Were both arrested for SANDER for
calling Craft slave-were taken to deputy sheriff
Riggs ofhce-obtained bail for 1000 each at once
from Messrs Riley & Freeman and Thayer Co.
No great excitement.
acknowledges in large numbers around the
United States Hotel changed my hat-mxed a.
mong them, and talked with them. They said there
kidnappers from the south in town-that Knight
was in jail: and they after Hughes.
Sunday-Went to Charlestown and about the city
Monday--We were again arrested, a charge of
attempting to kidnap Craft and his wife-carried to
Court square to deputy Coburns ofhce-2OOO persons
persent-1500 negroes and 500 whites of the lowest
order Gave bonds in $4,000 each signed by Mes
Riley Willis and others, believe-crowd in the
Office very great; officer sent for carrage-left
Office to get into it. Mr. Hughes got in. The crowd
rushed upon it, so that could not reach it--they
Missed called US blOodhounds &c, apparently for
the purpose of exciting US to act of violence
some Of them seized upon the horses and attempted
to open the doors. Mr.. H.. who was in the carriage,
laughed at them and made sport of them.
The driver was not instructed where to go, and
being greatly alarmed, left for Cambridge. When
he reached the bridge, Mr. Hughes knew where he
was and ordered him to carry him back to the no.
tel. The driver turned but meeting the crowd, re-
fused to go farther. Mr. Hughes then left the
rriage and procured buggy and driver and returned
to the hotel. Some of the negroes came up to him.
He ordered them to keep off They said they did not
wish to hurt him but only to let the people know
that he slave hunter.
remained in the Office half an hour, and left in
cab--the mob kissing and pulling my coat call
ing slave hunter, bloodhound, &c, but was
solved to resent no insult as that was plainly what
they wanted me to do. One negro followed to the
hOtel--but did not come
Monday afternoon crowd at hoteI-negroes
outside-whites into the parlors and passages.
At 81 o'clock other warrants issued against us
for slandering Ellen Craft and I'M urng her business
Gave bond each for $4,000 at the hotel, Messrs Ri
ley, Thayer & Co., Willis and others, signing for
Understood great crowd assembled at Court
square, for the purpose of mobbng us-oficer Cob
bur wished to carry there. The mob had been
collected by the hand bills which had been placed
about the streets.
That night great crowd came to the hotel to see
us-Mr. Hug hes not well-I went down, sat in
the parlor, and conversed with them, answering
ny questions in regard to the Crafts and the treat
nent of slaves generally
Was no little amused at some, the more honest but
deluded, who actually seemed to think that ne
work, and fed upon cotton seed &c.
TtteSday-Committee of one hundred (white mem
waited the proprietors of the house. requiring
them to turn out, and ordering to Leave. This
was peremptoriy refused by both of and the pro
prietors.
Noon--Committee of sixteen called saying that il
did not leave INSTANTLY would be mobbed
were not in, but landlord answered for u.s. and by
authority given in the morning, that we would
not leave till we were ready.
EUening--COmmittee of (white) ladies called
sent cards to room and desired to us. We were
not in, and of course deprived of the nexpress
BILE pleasure of seeing them.
At Night-Mr. Hughes, not very we'll, remained
an his room. went down stairs again, and remained
in the parlor as on the night before. Among the
crowd were many polite gentlemen, who appeared tc
be gratifying their curiosity-the great mass, how
ever, were abolitionists.
Wcdnesday-Very early, Rev. Theodore Parker
came to room followed by fifty or sixty persons
greatly excited, said he had suppressed mol
twce-came as christmas a servant of the LORD
and FRIEND to request to leore the city instantly
NOT to wait for the cars but to take carriage
did not think he could suppress the mob any longer
We refused-told him that we should treat their