Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-09-20
THE CHESTER COUNTY TRAGEDY.

| The following, from the Baltimore American of
Saturday last the cearest accountw we have seen of
the atrocious murders perpetrated last week within
the borders of the State of Pennsylvania, in resist
Of the laws of the United States and of officers
employed TO execute them
FROM THE BALTIMORE AMERICAN OF SATURDAY Fl
We briefly mentioned in yesterdays American
the fact that intelligence had been received in this
city that two citizens of Baltimore county had
been killed in Chester county, Pennsylvania while
endeavorlng to recover some fugitive slaves. The
confidence which we expressed in the correctness
Of the report has been confirmed by the intelli-
gence since received, and which invests the affair
with the character of one of the bloodest and most
horrible OF outrages. The particulars which we
have been able to gather up to the time Of writing
this are in some degree contradictory, but this may
be explained by further accounts. The following
details are the most reliable that have come 10 our
knowledge:
party OF persons from Baltimore county, consisting Of
Mr. Edward Gorsuch, his Dickinson Gorsucb his ne
phew Joshua Gosuch Dr. Thomas Peirce Nathan Nelson
Nicholas Huchns and another person whose name we have
been unable ascertain, into for the
OF recovering runaway slaves belonging TO the elder
Gosuch, and who known to be harborng ia Chester
county alta small place called Christan between Lancaster
and Philadelphia.
The party secured the aid Of deputy United States Mar
shall and Of several police officers from Philadelphia and on
Thursday morning proceeded the neghborhood in which
the slaves were supposed to be seceted When near the
house TO which their suspicious directed they met two
negro men, one OF whom recognised by Mr. Gorsuch
slave The whites gave chase and the negroes ran and
in getting into the house, which was closed against
pursuing PARTIES horn buge then sounded by
the negroes in the house, and billet of wood was thrown
from the windows, striking Of the party of whites In
the mean time considerable crowd, mostly Of blacks began
collect around the house, probably called there the sound
! of the buge.E 4
Mr.. Gorsuch and his party attempted to force their way
into the upper part Of the house where the blacks had fed
but finding the negroes armed with guns scyhes and other
weapons and also finding that the crowd the outside
rapidly increasing attracted by the continued blowing Of the
horn, they concluded that impossible effect the
OF the negroes and commenced retreat from tho house.
As they left the house discharge Of firearms took place from
negroes in the house, and Mr. Edward Gosuch was
stanty shot Dead ball entering his breast the heart
and another taking effect in the left shoulder of his
The negroes afterwards rushed on the wounded men, and
II 70 said, beat and mutaed them in shocking
The of Mr.. Gorsuch, it is reported was entirely dsem-
bowelled BY sweeping blow with scylhe Mr. Joshua
Gosuch and Dr. Peirce it said also dangerously
wounded, and were lying house in the neghbohood Of
the Of the conflict in almost hopeless condition. An
officer said to be from Baltimore, also wounded though
not MORALLY, and afterwards taken 10 Columbia where
he was lying at last accounts
The son Of Mr. Gorsuch after his father killed. drew
pistol and shot dead the negro who had fred the fatal shot
He then set upon and barbarous murdered in the
collected
the house at tho blowing of the horn reported to have
amounted to two hundred showing evidently that the
negroes had been informed Of the purpose of the Maryland
party and had made arrangements oppose them the
derous manner which afterwards carried out 1t is also
reported that several Of the negroes either killed
rousy wounded during the afay; but this report
be unconfrmed by the authentic Among the
crowd who collected around the house there number
Of whites who not only refused, when called upon by the
Deputy Marshall to assist in the enforcement Of the law and
the capture of the negroes but actually encouraged them in
their murderous ourages. a.Qai
The receipt Of the intelligence Of these horrible ouages has
caused the most intense feeling both in Baltimore county and
this CITY, Mr. Gorsuch resided on the York road about
t~enyfOur miles from the city, where he the
fine farm and valuable mill-seat. He was well known
throughout the whole county, and may add respected
ard esteemed wherever he known. His son. and in.
deed all the parties who acted in the affair." persons Of
standing and responsibility and the outrage perpeated upon
them whilst lawfully and peacefully attempting to repossess
themselves OF their property cannot course bot be deeply
felt The slaves they in search Of away about
year since is supposed that the information which put
the ssgroes their guard, and enabled them pepeate
the murders which followed, sent from Philadelphia
where Mr. Gorsuch aud his friends first went to procure the
necessary legal aid This opinion has confirmation in the
statement published in the Philadelphia Inquirer, which
says
From the best reports learn that the coloed popua
ton in the vicinity having been informed of the nature of the
visit Of the officers Chrsana held meeting, and asked
the opinion Of several leading aboonists what
they should pursue. The answer was Of the
reports state that they should stand their ground
Accordingly about eighty negroes assembled with guns, &C.
and secreed themselves in the neghbong woods and
fields The signal Of attack the officers the blowing
Of horn. When the officers upon the party, they
surrounded on all Sides and deadly fire poured upon
them by the negroes"
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS. 81
Since the above put in type, have asceaned from
MIR. Meyman, conductor the Susquehanna Railroad who
through from Columbia and Harrisburg yesterday,
additional particulars in relation to this horrible tragedy
Young Dickinson Gorsuch, glad learn, is not yet
Dead though his condition such render his recovery
matter of extreme doubt He shot in the left shoulder
and also badly beaten and bruised by blows with club The
report that he mctated by cut with not
correct He still lying house in the neighbothood Of
where the ARRAY took place. Joshua Gorsuch and Dr. Perce
though beaten and bruised by the negroes learn not
seriously injured The former yesterday morning with
the body Of old Mr. Gorsuch which buried yesterday a
lernoon. Mfb
The funeral took place from his late residence the York
road and attended by large Of from
all parts Of the surrounding country, by whom he greatly
esteemed and respected He shot in the left Breast the
ball entering short distance above the heart whilst the
rounding parts completely ddled with shot, with which
the gun had also been heavily loaded The negroes who
active in the ARRAY said have all left the vicinity,
making their way towards Philsdelphia As far
learn no had made the vicinity where the ARRAY
took place.
may not be amiss to say that account, published
above fully cooborated by the statements contained in the
Philadelphia and Baltimore county papers.-American.
Instead of any attempt to express our own SEN
sations on the perusal of this shocking narrative,