North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1850-11-30
THE BOSTON EXCITEMENT.
Macon, GA, Nov. 18th, ls5

h..r0 E5;tors As many incorrect and coBtradic-
reports are in circulation in regard to the visit o
Mr. Willis H. Hughes to Boston, for the purpose OF
recapturing William and Ellen Cratt-the negroes De-
ioDgno to DR.. Collins and Ira Taylor, beg you to
rive mace to the subioned simple narrative of facts
Il is Gven from recollection but am willing to make
affidavit of its correctness. OF course, IL does mol
contain statement of eceryhfng which transplred
but it does contain everything which Is at all lnPor
TINT.
The statement which have been copied in this city.
and in the South generally, by certain class of pa
pers are taken from the Boston Cron0type, and Other
abolition prints and gross misrepresentation oil
facts and entirely unworthy of any confidence.
We left Macon for the purpose of purchasing ma
chinerv for the establishment of Bucket Factory and
Variety Works in this city. did not even know thai
Mr. Hughes was entrusted with the recovery of the
slaves until after arrived at New York, when he
asked Inc to identify the negroes.
We lett Macon Friday, Oct. l1th, arrived In N. Y
Tuesday following. Remained there till Friday,
P. NJ, and arrived at Boston next morning. Kept
still on Saturday and Sunday.
On Monday, | attended to buying machinery. Mr..
Huqhes applied to Judge Woodbury. for a warrant.
The Judge would issue it; said it was the busi-
ness of the commissioners.
Mr. Hughes applied to three separate commission
ers who sent hun from one to another. The last one
refused-unti he could get all the commissioners and
Judges together.
In this way the matter was deferred until Thursday
night when the meeting of Commissioners was held.
At this meeting our business anu the names OF the
parties for whom the warrant was demanded leaked
out.
| went to see Craft Tuesday had a long CONVEX
saton with him. He said that Ellen anxious to
return South, and would do if she could get funds
and an pportunty-desired me to bring Ellen's
mother agreed to go back next morning to get the
letter, il / did not 60 TO w orcester.
HTedlesday-Went to Worcester and returned !;
found the letter at the Hotel.
Thursday norning-Saw Craft. He told me that
/ wrote no letter to Graft. The published was
forgery. The day the letter purports to have been
written was in Worcester.
Friday morning-Judge w Woodbury issued the war
rant about O'Clock in open court.
1t was at once known and the negroes and aboli-
tionsts be gan assemble about the Courthouse and
watch US. Every few minutes, negro lawyer would
peep into the Marshal's Office to what was going
on-warrant placed in Marshal's hands Immediately.
The excitement became great-nothlng 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 call
ing Craft slave-were taken to deputy sherifs
Buggs ofce-obtaiued bail for 900 each at once,
from Messrs. Riley & Freeman and rhayer & Co.
N great excitement
.gfernOOn-Negroes in large numbers around the
U. s. Hotel changed my hat-mxed among them,
aud talked with them. They said there were kid
nappers from the South in town-lhat Knight was in
JAIL and they were after Hughes.
Sunday-Went to Charestown, and about the city
all day-no signs Of any disturbance.
Monday-We were again arrested, a charge of
attempting to kidnap and wie-carried to Court
square, to deputy Corbn's ofce-20OO persons pres
ent. $500 negroes and 500 whites of the lowest or
der. Gave bonds in $I0, 900 each, signed by Messrs.
Riley, Willis and others, | beleve-crowd in the
office very great; officer sent for carrlage-ef Office
to get into it, Mr.. Hughes got in. The crowd
rushed upon it, so that could not reach it-they
Missed us, called b!oodhounds, &c., apparently for
the purpose of exciting to act of violence
some OF them seized upon the horses and attempted
to open the doors-Mr. Hughes, who was in the car
rage, laughed at them.
The driver was not instructed where to 90, and be-
ing greatly alarmed, left for Cambridge. When he
reached the bridge, MI. Hughes knew where he was.
and ordered him to carry him back to the Hotel The
driver turned but meeting the crowd refused to go
further. Mr.. Hughes then left the carriage and pro-
cured 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 people know that he was
a slave hunter. stst .a
remained in the office half an hour, and left in
cab-the mob Kissing and pulling my coat, calling me
slave hunter, bloodhound, &C., but was resolved
resent no insult, that plainly what they wanted
me to do One negro followed to the Hotel-but did
not come me. e -s
Monday a1ternoon-Great crowd at Hotel-negroes
ou'sde-whltes came into the parlors and passages
At33 o'clock other warrants were issued against us
Lor sianderng Ellen Craft, and inuring her business
Gave bond each for 800 900 at the Hotel Messrs, Ri
icy, lhayer Co., Willis and others signing for US.
Understood great crowd was assembled at Court
square for the purpose of mobbing us-ofcer Oorhin
wished to carry us there. The mob had been collected
oy the handbllls, which had been placed about the
streets.
That night great crowd came to the Hotel to see
Is. Mr' Hughes was not well---I went down, sat in
ae Parlor and conversed with them, answering many
slaves generally.
no little amused at some, the more honest but
uuea, who actually seemed to think that ne
and every night after they fnised work,
'S seed upon cotton seed, &C.: n. 9 ssts..s-s ~
wai,aS i,aSSsady-Committee of one hundred (white mep)
to on the Preprietors of the house, requiring them
peremn,ut. ost. and ordering us to leGve. This was
NoopW refused by both us and the proprietoEs.
-"ommlttee of sixteen called, saying that if