North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-09-27
From the Baltimore Sun
History of the Christiana Tragedy

CnEISIl1Afb II
Messrs Editors Having seen various anu o o
.radictory reports concerning the tragic is'Oo my
father and the attendant circumstances; nay
thought it best to perform the Pslnfui etSH q sm
ING you some facts, in reference tneio'o' "ii'o"
be relied upon: .,,.oon
Nearly three wears ago four negroes, between
the aoes of nineteen and twenty-five fled from my
fathers in Baltimore county, nineteen miles run
+ha CITY into Pennsylvania. These negroes were
to be free at the age of twenty-egh ana tS Is .''oo
thew knew 1t had come to the knowcGSe vi ~!
f,tbar that they had sold wheat, stolen from hii
-. f,aa negro 4 warrant was got out for the ar
ost of the free negro which, coming to the ears OF
his acconplices, they resolved (the same evening"
70 make good their escape. This was IN Noyem-
bar During the winter, it was reported that these
men were suffering for food. "A colored man was
sent to find them, and assure them that II they
,vould come home and behave themselves, nothing
would be said to them about their theft 1hey
were found, but did not return. ..-n
After having carefully provided the necessary
vouchers and papers, attended by deputy marshal
and two constables from Philadelphia my father,
his son, Dickinson,) his nephew, Dr. Thos. T. 4.
PeareeA Joshua Gorsuch, Nathan Nelson and Mich
oas Hutchins set out the first of last week for the
scene of the intended arrest The plan was to arrest
the fugitives on Wednesday morning, but this was
frustrated by the non-appearance OF the deputy
marshal, who had the authority and the papers
Both the Philadelphia constables returned to the
CITY, with the understanding that they were to come
back at night, with new warrants-one OF them
having been deputed to act marshal The de
Inouent marshal made his appearance on Wednes-
dav morning about nine o'clock, urging as an eX-
crse for his failure, that he had been followed by
negro whom he knew to be spy. In endeaVor-
inc to elude 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 consta-
bles, whom they expected to return on Wednesday
night-but these did not come.
Deputy Marshal Henry K. Kline, and the five
gentlemen in company with my father, reached the
house where two of the 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 Chris
tiana The valley here is about three-quarters of
mile broad quite trough-lke in shape, and border
ed with wood. Across this valley a narrow,
rough lane. About SO yards from the Southern
border of the valley, and one hundred yards from
the lane that it, stands the house of the flu
gitive, connected with the larger lane by 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, of the negroes
who was recognised as Nelson, came to the mouth
of the short lane, and, upon seeing these men ran
towards the house, all the party in full chase. The
negro barely made his escape One sta
toned at each corner of the house to guard the
windows. The house is two stories in height, and
the negroes were all up stairs
The Marshal and my father entered the house.
Mr.. Kline asked for the owner of the house; told
them he was an United States Marshal, and that
he for the purpose of arresting Mr.. Gorsuch's
saves Nelson and Josh. He then read to them
the warrants, and while doing this he heard them
loading their guns M stairs. The Marshal and my
Either started both together to go up stairs the lat
ter having first called to Nelson that he saw him,
aud told him that if he would come down peacably
AID go home with him, he would treat him as
indy as before he away. Resistance, he said
would do no good, for he came with the proper
c.icer and authority, and he would not leave the
,ssmises without his property. While they were
IL the steps, and intending to proceed, of the
rssroes struck at them with a staff shod with sharp
ron. My father then turned and went out of 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 Marshall coming out lust behind
him, fired his pistol in the window. Again they
went IN, and starting to go up the steps, an axe
was thrown down at them, which, however, passed
harmlessy by them. In this way little skirn;shng
was kept up between the negroes ut the windows
and the young men outside and between those
at the head of the steps and two men in the house
During this period the warrants were read three
Clmes the Law was explained, they were advised and
entreated to give up the two slaves; and assured
that the arrests would be made even if blood must
be shed. A missile had been thrown out at the
window and had wounded Pearce in the head he
had attempted to shoot but the cap only exploded
At Last they gave the negroes definite time to de-
eide; the watch was held, but before the time ex-
pred white man rode up to the bars in the lane
His presence inspired the blacks they Immediate
ly raised shout, and became confirmed in their on
position. When the marshal saw the man at the
bars, he went to him and called upon him in the
name OF the United States to assist in arrestin9 the
fugitive showing his warrant reading his authority
and telling him the inevitable consequence ofrefsal
Another white man also present during this con-
versation. The reply that he would not assist
and that they had better go home, for they could
make no arrests there. or blood would be split.
Before, during, and after the conversation with
this man at the bars, negroes were arriving from
every quarter, some on horseback and others on
foot, armed with guns, pistols clubs cutters,
dc. They seemed to be scattered all around upon
the first Of their arrival, but most of them were
gathered III knots near the place where the white
man on horseback and the marshal were talking.
engaged in loading their guns At the close Of
the conference, the marshal called to his party to
retire, saying that he would not press the arrest
further, and that he would hold this man respons-
bic for the property. Then the marshal and two
of the young men left. Ny father was then near
the house, his son. Pearce and Joshua Ciorsuch not
far from him, still guarding the house to keep the
slaves from escaping. Just as the marshal and the
two young men left, the Quaker on the horse said
something to the negroes that had assembled near
n