The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-09-20

they expected TO return on Wednesday night-b16
Deputy Manhal Henry H. Kline. and the fvo
gentlemen in company with my father, reached tho
house where Two OF the runaways ere supposed to-
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 like in shape, and bor-
dered with wood Across this valley runs a mar
row, rough lane. About one hundred and City
yards from the southern border Of the valley, and
one hundred yards from the lane that crosses it,
stan Il the house Of the fugitive, connected with the
larger lane by a short lane twelve feet wide. As
this party at this early hour, proceeding along
the lane that the valley, and near the house,
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 man was stationed 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,
MIR. Kline asked for the owner of the house; told
them he wal an United States Marsh AZ and that he
came for the purpose Of arresting MIR. GorsuchS
slaves, Nelson and Josh. lie then read 20 them
the war; ants, and while doing this he heari 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 ne saw
him. and told him that if he would come down
peaceably and go home with him, he would treat
he said, would do no good, for he came with the
proper officer and authority, and he would not
leave the premises without his property. While
they were on the steps, and inten ling to proceed.
one OF the negroes struck at them with staff shod
with shaI iron. 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 Marshal coming out just be-
hind him. fired his pistol in the window. Again
they went in, and starting to go up the steps, an
thrown down at them, which, however,
passed ha'mlessly by them In this way little
diminishing was kept up between the negroes at
the windows and the young men outside, aud b.
tween tho-e az the head Of the steps and the two
men in the house.
times, the Law was explained, they were advised
and entire ated to give up the two slaves and assured
that the arrests would be made even if blood must
be shed. missile had been thro yn oat OF the
win dow and had wounde 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 he'll 1, but before tho time
PRED white man TO ie up to the bars in the lane
His presence inspired the blacks they imne diately
raised shout, 40 became confirmed in their OPP
position When the m shall the man at the bars.
he went to him and called upon him in the name Of
the United States to assist in arrestDg the fugi-
tive;, showing his warrant, reading his authority,
and telling him the inevitable consequences of re-
fusal. Another white man was also present during
this conversation. The reply was that he would
not assist; and that they bad better 60 home, for
they could make 10 arrests there, or blood would
be split.
Before during, and after the conversation will,
this man az the bars, negroes were arriving from
every quar- ter some on horseback and Others foot,
armed with guns, pistols, clabs, guitars Sc.
They seemed 10 be scattered all around upon the
first OF their arrival, but most OF them were ga
thered in knots rear the place where the white
man on horse back and the marshal were talking,
engaged in loading their guns. AT the close OF
the conference the mars bal called to his party
to retire, saying that he would not press tho
arrest further, ami that he would hold this
man responsible for the property. Then tde mar
shall and two of the young men left. My father
was then rear the house, his son, Pearce, and
Joshua Gorsuch 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 ne groes
that had assembled near him, when they set up a.
most hideous yell and rushed towards the house the
negroes in the house at the time rushing out.
and whooping like savages, met the Advancing
gang around my father. They were four men, all
armed with pistols it is true, opposed to about one
hundred Infatuated, bood-thirsty, bowling dem Sns-
AS soon q, these two gangs met in the narrow lane,
the attack was made upon the diminished band by
q negro from behind striking my father on the
head, which caused him to fail forward his knees
when he was shOt sc veral times, and Gu. over tho
head with corncutters
When the young men near him saw him fall
Dickinson auc Josbua ian 10 him and discharged
their pistols into the crowd tha, was ularierinc
him, pearcc having bee0 cut off from them by the
negroes who advanced from the bars As Dickiu-
son was shooting imme dately his father, his
revolver was knocked out of his hand by club
strikiI him upon the arm, the wrist. Then
a negro shot him In the right side and arn, lodging
more thar seventy large SHOT in him. The negroes
we've whoopins aud yelling with savage glec over
their victim and the son, nephew and cousin
stsrted, to cave their lives They all escaped from
this narrow lane, the scene of the awful conflict,
into the larger lane that extends the valley
and the woods on eli; her side. Dickinson s.acger-
ing under the stunning effects of his wounds 6!ood
gushing from his mouth and streaming from his
arm and side, took the southern end OF the lime,
and, in q distance Of hundred yards, reached the
edge Of the wood, falling down by a large stump.
exhausted Some of the tends followed Snd would
have most cruelty murdered him, but on oil negro.
who had been Ia the array, threw himself over his
body, aud called upon them, for Gods sake, to as
sist him, for he would soon die anyhow,
DIR. Pearce and Joshua Gorsuch took the other
end Of the lane, leading TO the woods on the o.her
side OF the valley, which we're more than half milo
distant Pearee Kept the lane and after hi rushed
the whole hard OF negroes shouting and shooting
every jump, a distance Of three hundred yards. In
his tight he overlook the Quaker on the horse and
strovo to keep him between himself and his pur-
suers, to which course he ascrbes the salvation Of
his life. AT tho distance Of half mile from the
negroes house he reached dwelling, AMI boiling
in, asked two ladies', who then tire only per-
sons whom he saw in the house, to protect him.
They expressed fear lest the negroes mil come and
End him there and kill them for concealing him.
lie told them he would not expose them to danger
then, and turned to 20 Out. when they ed to
conceal him. Soon his Infatuated pursuers cane to
the house and asked II ls was not there. Tnsy
were told that come one had gone past, and they
kept on TO the woods, which they searched and
guarded until late at night, to find and to butcher
their desired victim.
Joshua Gorsucb, who had received viocn. blow
on the head when By my father, was rather later
in starting, ard obliquely from the house to tho
lane, reaching 10 in advance of Pearce. Him they
overlook and bea. over thc head with clubs ur IL
was supposed they Lad killed him: but he got up
and went up the lane a. far as he could One
negro, who had chased Pearce further than the
Iest ms be vas returning s.u,k him (Gorsuch) over
the head with a CLUB At last he reached the
woods completely crascd by the blows be had re-
ceived. There he wa found by the Marshal, and
taken to place Of safety
Dickinson did not lie long before some gentleman
came and removed him TO Mr.. Levi pOgnall's.
where he nov lies, aId where | now write. Every
attention that kindDess can suggest and charity ex-
ecute Is bestowed upon him. AZ FIRST IL was thought
he could not live until night; but through the caro-
Ct his physician, and the blessings Of God, he has
been gradually merdng ever since, and we