The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-09-25
History of the Christiana Tragedy, by one
of MIR. GOrsuch,s Sons.

" put, Wy q Bull VI thO ioh
v,dual, Mr.. Gorsuch. The writer is a cler-
gyman, and he wen, Immediately to the
spot, on learning the facts Of the outrage:-
Messrs. Editors :-Having seen various
and contradictory reports concerning the ira
gic fate eff my father, and the attendant cir
cumstanees, | have thought it best 10 per-
form the painful task OF giving you some
facts, in Inference thereto, which may be re.
liel on /:
Near thee years ago, four negroes, be-
tween the ages of nineteen and twenty-five,
fled from ny fathers, in Baltimore county,
nineteen miles from the city, into Pennsyl.
vania. These negroes were 10 be free at the
age of tws nty.eight, and this fact they
knew. 1t had come TO the knowledge OF my
father that they had sold wheat, stolen from
him, 10 a free negro. A warrant was got
out 70, the arrest of the free negro, which,
coming to the ears of his accomplices, they
resolved (the same evening" TO make good
their escape. THIS was in November. Du-
ring the whites it was reported that these
men were suffering for food. A colored
man was SEM to find them, and assure
them, if they would come home and behave
themselves, nothing would lie said to them
abou, lheit theft. They were found, but did
not return.
After having carefully provided the ne
cessary vouchers and papers, attended by a
deputy marshal and two constables from
Philadelphia my father, his son, Dickson
his nephew, Or. Thomas t. G. Pearce,)
Joshua Gorsuch, Nathan Nelson and Nicho'
Las Hulchins, set out the first OF last week
for The scene of intended arrest. The plan
was TO arrest the fugilives on Wednesday
morning, but this was frustrated by The non
appearance of the deputy marshal, VINO hao
the authority and the papers. Both the Phll'
adelphia constables returned 10 the city
with the understanding that they were 10
come back al night with new warrants-one
of them having been deputed 10 act as mar
shall. The delinquent marshal made his ap-
pearance on Wednesday morning, about 3
O'Clock, urging as an excuse for his failure,
that he had been followed by a negro,
whom he knew 10 be u spy. In endeavor'
ing 10 elude his pursuit and prevent the dls'
covery of his posse by rapid driving, he
broke his wagon. 1t was then agreed lha
they would attempt the arrest on Thursday
morning, strengthened by the constables,
whom they expected 10 return on Wednes'
day night-but these did not come.
Deputy Marshal Henry H. Kline, and the
five gentlemen in company with my father
reached the house where two Of the runa
ways were supposed 10 live, just at morning
dawn. This house stands near The head o
the Great Valley, in Lancaster county, abou.
two miles from the village of Chrisilana
I The valley hers4s about hree quarters of &
mile broad quite troush-like in shape, ane
bordered with wood. Across the valley run:
a narrow, rough lane. About $50 yards from
the southern border of the valley, and one
hundred yards from the lane that crosses it
stands the house Of the fugitive; connected
with the larger lane by a short lane, twelve
feet wide. As this party, at this early hour
were proceeding along the lane that crosses
the valley, and near the house, one of the
negroes, who was recognised as Nefson
came 10 the mouth of the short lane, and
upon Seeing these men, ran towards the
house, all the party IN full chaser The ne
gro barely made his escape. One man was
stationed al each corner o. the house &c
guard the windows. The house is two $40
ries in height, andthe negroes were all VI
stairs.
The Marshal and my father entered the
house. Mr.. Kline asked for the owner o
the house told them he was a United
States Marshal, and that he came for the
purpose of arrestiug Mr.. Gorsuch's slaves
Nelson and John. He then read 10 them the
warrants, and while doing this he heard
Them loading their guns up stairs. The
Marshal and my father started both together
to 60 up stairs, the latter having first called
to Nelson that he saw him, and told him
that if he would come peaceably and &c
home with him, he would treat him as kind
ly as before he ran away. Resistance, he
said, would do no good, for he came with
the proper officer and authority, and he
would not leave the premises without hi
property. While they were on the steps and
intending 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 a gun was fired
at his head from one of the windows, but
the aim was TOO high. The Marshal com
ing out just behind him, fired his pistol in
the window. Again they went il, and start
ing 10 60 up the steps, an axe was thrown
down at them, which, however, passed
harmlessly by them. In this way a little
skirmishing was kept up between the me-
groes at the windows and The young men
outside, and between those at the head of
the steps end two men in the house.
During this period the warrants were read
three times, the law was explained, they
were advised and entreated 10 give up the
two slaves, ond assured that the arrests
would be made even if blood must be shed.
A missile had been thrown out Of the win.
dow and had wounded Pearce in the head
he had attempted 10 shoot, but the cap only
exploded. AT last they gave the negroes a
definite time 10 decide ; the watch was held,
but before the time expired, a white man
rode up 10 the bars in the lane. His pres.
ence inspired the blacks; they Immediately
raised a shout. and became confirmed in