Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-09-25
[PROPRIETORS.
From tts Baiirsefc S1n.
History of the Cbrssfinna Trny-
edy.

perform the painful task of giving you some
ioets IN reference thereto, which may bo
relied upon:
Near three years ago, four negroes, be.
tween the ages ofninetcen and twenty two
fed from my fathers in Baltimore coun-
ty, nineteen miles from the city. into Penn.
sylvania, These negroes We're TO be free
al the age Of twenty-eight, and this fac,
they knew. Ii had cometo the knowledge
ofmy father that,hcy had sold wheat stolen
from hun, to free negro. a warrant was
got out for the arrest of the free negro,
which, coming TO the cars Of his accom-
pliccs. they resolved (hc same evening"
TO make good their escape This was ii
November. During the winter il was re-
ported that these men were suffering for
food. A coloured man was sent 10 find
them, and assure them that if they would
come home and behave themselves nothing
would be said to them about their theit.-
They were found but did not return.
After having carefully provided the me-
cessary vouchers and papers, attended by
4 deputy marshal and two constablcs from
Philadelphia, my father. his son (Dicken-
sony his nephew, DIR. Thomus +. G..
Pcarce,) Joshua Gorsuch, Nathan Nelson
and Nicholas Hutehihs, set ont the first of
last wcck for the scene Of intended arrest.
The plan was to arrest the iugiiives on
| Wednesday morning. but this was filstrai-
ed by the nouappeorance Of the deputy
marshal, who had the authority and the
papers. Both the Philadelphia constabios
returned TO the city with the understand
ing that they We're to come back that night
with new warrants-onc of them having
been deputed 10 act as marshal. The
delinquent marshal made his appearance
on Wednesday morning about nine o clock
urging as nm excuse for his failure that he
had been followed by negro whom he
knew to be a spy. In cndeavoring 10 cladc
his pursuit and prevent the discovery Of
his posse by rapid driving, he broke his
wagon. 1t was then agreed that they
would attempt the arrest on Thursday
morning, strengthened by the constnbles
whom they expected to return on Wed
nesday night--bpt these did not come.
Deputy Marshal Henry II. Kline, and
/ the FIVE gentlemen in company with my
flther, reached the house whcretwo ofthc
runaways were supposed to live Just about
morning dawn. This house stands near
the head Of the Great Valley, in Lancaster
county. about two miles from the village
of Christiana. The valley here is about
three-quartcrs Of "A milo broad; quite
rrough-likc in shape and borJcrcd with
wood. Across this valley runs narrow.
rough lane About $50 yards from the
southern border Of the valley, and one hun
dred yards from the lane that crossed it.
stands the house Of the fugitive. connected
with tie larger lane hy short lane twelve
feet wide. As this party, al this early hour.
were proceeding along the lane thai eros
aes tie valley, and near the house. one of
the negroes, who was recognized as Mel
son, came 10 the mouth of the short lane,
and upon seeing these mon, ran towards
negro barely made his cscnpe. One man
was stationed at each corner Of the house
to guard tie windows. The house is two
stories in height, and the negroes were all
mp s'alrs-
The Marshal and my father entered the
house. Mr. Kline asked for the owner of
the house told them he WINS an United
States Marshal, and that he came for the
purpose Of arresting Mr.. Gorsucb's slaves.
Nelson and Josh. lie then rcad TO them
the warrants, and while doing this he hea.l
them loading their guns up stairs The
Marshal and my father started both togeth-
er to go up stairs. the hitter having first
called to Nelson that he saw him, and told
HIM that IT he would come down peaccably
and so home with him, he would treat him
as kindly as before he ran away. Resis-
tance, lie said would do no good, for he
came with the proper officer and authority,
and he would not leave the premises With
out his property. While they were on the
steps and iutcniinS to proceed, one OF the
negroes struck at them with a staff shod
with sharp iron. My father then turned
and went out the door. Just as he got out
gun was fired at his head from one Of the
windows, but the aim was too high. The
Marshal coming ont just behind him, fired
his pistol IN the widow. Again they went
in, and starting 10 go up tho steps, an axe
was thrown down at them, which, how
ever, passed hurm'essly by them. In this
way little skirrlshing was kept up be-
tween the negroes at the windows and the
young men outside. and between those at
the head OF the steps and the two men in
the house
| During this period, the warrants were
read three times, the law was explained,
they were advised and cutreaied 10 give
up the two slaves, and assured that the ar
rests would be made even if blood must be
shed. a missile had been thrown out Of
the widow and had wounded Pcarce ~
the head; he had attempted to shoot but
the cap only exploded. AT last they gave
the negroes a definite time TO decide; the
watch was held. but before the time cx-