Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-09-17
THE CHESTER COUNTY TRAGEDY.

The following, from the balinlofe American OF Sas
urday is the cearest account we have of the
cious murders perpetrated last week within the Dor
des of the State of Pennsylvania in resistance of the
laws of the UniIed States and Of officers empoyed to
execute them
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 Pennsy lvani a, while endeayoring to
cover some fugitive slaves The confidence which we
expressed in The correctness of the report has been
frmed by the intelligence since received and which in
vests The affair with the character of one of the blood
lest and most horrible OF outrages The particulars
which have been able 10 ga her 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 relableslhat have come to our
| knowledge
party of persons from Baltimore county, consist
ing of Mr.. Edward Gorsuch his Dickinson Cor
such, his nephew Joshua Gorsuch, Dr. Thomas Pierce,
! Nathan Nelson, Nicholas Hutchns and another per-
son whose name We have been unable to ascertain
went INTO Pennsylvania tor The purpose of recovering
two runaway slaves belonging to the elder Gorsuch,
and who were known to be harborpg in Chester
ty at small place called Christisna between Lam
| caster and Philadelphia.
The party secured the aid OF deputy United States
Marshal and oil several police officers from Philadelphia.
and on Thursday morning proceeded 10 the neighbor-
hood IN which the slaves were supposed be eecreed
When near the house TO which their suspicious
directed they met two negro men, one Of whom was
recognised by Mr.. Gorsdch his slave. The whites
gave chare and the negroes and succeeded in getting
parties. horn or buge then sounded BY the ne
groes in the house, and billet of wood was thrown
from the windows, striking one of the party Of whites.
Ia the mean time considerable crowd, mostly of
blacks began to collect around the house, probably
called there by the sound of the bugle.
Mr. Gorsuch and his party attempted to force their
way into the upper part OF the house where the blacks
had fled, but, finding the negroes armed with guns,
scythss and other weapons. aud also finding that the
crowd on the outside was rapidly increasing. attracted
by The continued blowing Ut the horn they concluded
that it impossible to effect the capture of the me-
groes, and commenced retreat from the house. As
they left the house discharge of firearms took place
from the negroes in the house, and Mr. Edward Cor
such instantly shot dead, ball entering his breast,
near the heart, and another taxing effect in the lett
shoulder OF his son. The negroes afterwards rushed
on the wounded men, and, lie said beat and mutlat-
ed them in shocking manner. The son of Mr. Cor
such, it is reported, was entirely disemboweled by
sweeping blow with scythe Mr.. Joshua Gorsuch
| and DIR. Pierce, it is said, were also dangerously
wounded, and were lying a house in the neighbor-
hood oil the scene of the conflict, in most hopeless
condition An officer, said 10 be from Baltimore,
also wounded, thoue MORALLY and was afterwards
| taken to Columbia, where he lying at last &C.
counts.
The son of Mr.. Gorsuch after his father was killed,
| drew pistol and snot dead the negro who had fired
the fatal shot lie was then set upon and bsrbaously
murdered in the manner we have stated above. The
crowd that collected about the house The blowing OF
| the horn is reported TO have amounted TO some two
hu dred showing evidently that the negroes had been
! informed OF the purpose OF the Maryland party, and
had made arrangements 10 oppose them in the murder
|
also reported that several OF the negroes were either
killed or seriously wounded during the affray; but this
report TO be unconErnle0 by the more authentic
accounts. Among the crown who collected around
the house thele a number of whites, VINO not
only refused, when called upon by the Deputy Marshal
assist In the enforcement OF the law and the capture
OF the gfOeS, but actually ENCOURAGED them in THAR
muiderous ourages.
The receipt the intelligence of these horrible OUT
RACES has caused the most intense feeling both in BAL
tinore county aud this city Mr.. Gorsuch resided on
he Work yna5 yJan ~ mi iron, tk>
where he was the owner OF II fine taim and valuable
mill seat He well known throughout the whole
county, and, We may add, lespec ed and esteemed
wherever he known. His son, and indeed all the
parties who acted in the affair persons of stand.
ing and rsspec ability, and the outrage perpetraed
upon them whilst lawfully and pesceully attempting
10 possess themselves OF their property, cannot OF
course but be deeply felt. The slaves they were in
search OF ran away abou, year since 1t supposed
that The information which put HE negroes their
guard ard e iabled them to perpetrae the muir iers
which followed, was sent from Philadelphia, where
Mr.. Gorsuch and his friends first to procure the
necessary legal aid. This opinion has confirmation in
the statement published in the Philadelphia Inquirer,
which says:
From he best reports learn that the colored
population in the vicinity. having been informed of the
nature OF the visit OF the officers TO Christians, held
meeting, and asked the opinion OF several leading abo-
lltionls to what course they should pursue. The
answer was as one OF line most current reports state,
that they should stand their srsund Accordingly,
eighty negroes assembled, with guns &c. and secreled
themselves in the neighborlng woods ard corn fields
The signal OF attack the officers the bio wing of
horn. When The officers came upon the party, they
were surrounded on all Sides and deadly fire poured
| upon them by The negroes.
| ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS
Since the above was put IN type, we have ascer-
tanned from MIR. Merryman, conductor on the Susuue-
hanna railroad, who came through from Columbia and
Harrisburg yesterday, additional particulars in
relation to this horrible tragedy Young Dickinson
Gorsuch, glad to learn, not yet dead though
his condition issuch as to render his recovery matter
of extreme do BIT. He shot in the lett shoulder
and also badly beaten and bruised by blows with
club. The report tina he was mutilated by with
a scyhe is He is still lying at house
10 the neighborhood where the fray took place.
Joshua Gorsuch and Dr. Pierce though beaten and
bruised by the negroes, learn seriously in-
jured. The former came yesterday morning with
the body OF old Mr. Gorsuch, which was buried yes
terday afternoon.
The funeral took place from his late residence on the
York road, and was attended by large of
persons from all parts OF the surrounding county, BY
whom he was greatly esteemed and respected. He
was shot in the LETT breast the ball entering short
distance above the heart, whilst the surrounding paris
were completely rlddled with shot, with which The Gun
had also been heavily loaded. The negroes who wore
active in the ARRAY said to have all left the vicinity
making their way towards Philadelphia. As far az We
can learn, no arrests had been made in the vicinity
where the ARRAY took place.
Instead OF any attempt to express own sensations
the perusal o. this shocking narrative, copy from
two Philadelphia papers, what appear to to be their
very just reflections upon the subject:
| From the Public Ledger.
The tragedy at Chrisana, in Lancaster county, of
! which the correct particulars given in this NOR
nings Ledger, is OF the fruits OF the "higher law"
teachings OF the fanatics who look beyond conslu.
tons for their rule of action, and take the prompngs
of an infamed zeal as the evidences of an inalibe
conscience When the law for the recovery of fugi-
tives from labor first passed by the last Congress,
these men got up Indignation meetings all over the
country codnseld for chile resistance to the laws and
advised such was the excess OF their philanthropy the
colored population the commission of various high
crimes, even including murder. The effects of their
counsel is 10 be witnessed the scenes at Christiana
citizen OF Maryland and his son. empowered with
the due authority and assisted by officers OF the Jaw
to capture hsir runaway, resisted by an armed
body OF negroes the father murdered, and The son
MORALLY wounded. If these are the fui's Of philan-