American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-09-13

We yesterday gave telegraphic account Of
this affair, but as it win probably prove the
source Of future trouble, we deem it best to re-
late the whole of the particulars as far as We
have received them. We quote from the Balti-
more american Of this morning:
"a party of persons from Baltimore county.
consisting of Mr.. Edward Gorsuch, his son
Dickinson Gorsuch, his nephew Joshua Cor
such, DIR. Thomas Pierce, Nathan Nelson, Mich
olas Hutchins, and another person, whose name
we have been unable to ascertain, went into
Pennsylvania for the purpose of recovering two
runaway slaves, belonging to the elder Gorsuch,
and who were known to be harboring in Ches-
ter county, at small place called Christiana,
between Lancaster and Philadelphia.
The party secured the aid of deputy
United States marshal, and of several police
officers from Philadelphia, and on Thursday
morning proceeded to the neighborhood in which
the slaves were supposed to be secreted. When
near the house to which their suspicious were
directed they met two negro men, one Of whom
was recognised by Mr.. Gorsuch as his slave
The whites gave chase and the negroes ran and
succeeded in getting into the house, which was
closed against the pursuing parties. A horn or
bugle was then sounded by the negroes in the
house and billet of wood was thrown from the
windows striking one of the party of whites
In the meantime considerable crowd, mostly
of blacks, began to collect around the house,
probably called there by the sound of the bugle
g. Mr.. Gorsuch and his party attempted to
force their way into the upper part of the house
where the blacks had fed but finding the ne
groes armed with guns, scythes, and other
weapons, and also finding that the crowd on
the outside was rapidly increasing, attracted by
the continued blowing Of the horn, they con-
cluded that it was impossible to effect the cap
ture of the negroes, and commenced q retreat
from the house. AS they left the house dis
charge of firearms took place from the negroes
in the house, and Mr.. Edward Gorsuch was in
stantly shot dead, ball entering his breast near
the heart, and another taking effect in the left
shoulder Of his son. Mr.. Joshua Gorsuch and
DR.. Pierce, it is said, were also wounded, and
were lying at house in the nsighborhood of
the scene of the conflict. An officer, said to be
from Baltimore, was also wounded, though not
MORALLY, and was afterwards taken to Column
bia, where he was lying at last accounts.
g The son Of Mr. Gorsuch, after his father
was killed. drew pistol and shot dead the ne
gro who had fired the fatal shot. The crowd
that collected about the house at the blowing of
the horn is reported to have amounted to some
two hundred, showing evidently that the ne
groes had been informed of the purpose of the
Maryland party, and had made arrangements
Ito oppose them in the murderous manner which
was afterwards carried out. Among the crowd
who collected around the house there were a
number of whites, who not only refused, when
called upon by the deputy marshal, to assist in
the enforcement of the law and the capture of
the negroes, but actually encouraged them in
their murderous outrages
"The receipt of the intelligence of these hor-
/ haa fha net int
ing both in Baltimore county and this city.
Mr.. Gorsuch resided on the York road, about
| twenty-four miles from the city, where he was
the owner Of q fine farm and valuable mill-seat
He was well known throughout the whole coun-
ty, and, we may add, respected and esteemed
wherever he was known. His son, and, in
deed, all the parties who acted in the affair,
were persons Of standing and responsibility,
and the outrage perpetrated upon them whilst
lawfully and peaceably attempting to re-pos-
sess themselves Of their property cannot, of
course, but be deeply felt. The slaves they
were in search of ran away about o year since
| 1t is supposed that the information which put
! the negroes on their guard, and enabled them
to perpetrate the murders which followed, was
sent from Philadelphia, where Mr.. Gorsuch and
his friends first went to procure the necessary
legal aid This opinion has confirmation in the
statement published in the Philadelphia Ingui-
rer, which says:
!" From the best reports, we learn that the
colored population in the vicinity, having been
informed Of the nature of the visit of the Off
GERS to Christiana, held a meeting, and asked
the opinion of several leading Abolitonists as to
what course they should pursue. The answer
was, as one of the most current reports state,
that they should stand their ground Accord
ingly, about eighty negroes assembled, with
guns, &C., and secreted themselves in the neigh
boring woods and corn6elds. The signal of at
tack on the officers was the blowing Of horn.
When the officers came upon the party, they
were surrounded on all sides, and deadly FIRE
poured upon them by the negroes