Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-11-27
Slavery in california.

The California Christian .1dpocale relates
M incident which recently orcurrcd in san
Francisco, showing what things are done
there under cover of the late Fugitive Slave
LAW Of that State:
On last Thursday morning, Just before the
sailing of the steamer Golden Gate, the usual
quiet OF Bcltlen street, in this civ, was dis
turbed by most remarkable nnair the thread
Of which seems ns yet shroudcd in mystery
-probahly IN the mystery of ini1uity.
Ii ltnppears, as near as the ficis have MS vet
been nscerinincd, that n culuurcd, woman.
named Louisa, had resided there for some
time past, washing and cooking for several
persons, aud striving To make an honest living.
She seems 10 have maintained fair character
IN the nciglibourhnoh. She had been n
slave, however, aud was brought to this
country sometime IN 1850, by Mrs. Reese,
who keeps boarding house on Dupont
street. Louisa lived with Mrs. Reese for one
year, when, owing to causes not necessary To
relate, she left, agreeing to pay $500 to Mrs.
X. Tor the years time, she still owed her
Since the passage of the State fugitive slave
law, Louisa, il is said, had heard various ru-
muurs that she would be sent back to Slavery.
But she coniided in the integrity of her old
mistress, and took no pains TO keep herself
out Of the way. She considered also that
the reports, it from the family, were only in.
tended to stimulate her TO pay the SS00-two
hundred. or more, OF which she had already
paid, aud she was lnbWlrirg successfully To
secure the balance. Some llaitefing ,iloits,
or more properly decoys, had been presented,
TO induce her TO return TO the States, but she
had not listened 10 them.
On the day before the steamer sailed, we
are told, on what we consider reliable author.
ny, that she was requested to 20 TO Mrs
Krcsn's early on the next morning-ilat is,
on the morning The steamer sailed. She did
not go, but put on her wash-watrr aud was
proceeding MS usual with her dniiy uvoca.
lions, when five men rushed unexpectedly
upon her, seized her, aud nlier u vigorous
resistance, IN which her dress was nearly
torn off, captured her and hurried her into a
carriage, which was standing in the street
adjacent, and drove speedily away. A
Scotch woman who was near, witnessing the
horrible plight of the coloured woman, ran To
fetch her another dress, but the carriage was
gone, aud only one or two persons happened
To he near, who were confused and conioun-
dcd by the circumstances, till the carriage
was beyond reach. The five men were arm
cd with rev0lvcrs. A number, ready 10 Sc
cure the full value of the woman 10 any
claimant, ran TO the boat, hut amid the deninls,
contradictions, aud confusion of starting,
nothing could be done. What adds TO the
mystery of the affair is that no process of
law WINS observed. So far as we can learn,
no warrant was oblnincd nor was the wonlan
taken before any justice Of the pence or Judge
of any court. IL in said, however, hut we
know not how truly that u certain official of
the city led on the cliyalrous attack
Another matter of mystery is, Mrs. Reese,
the proper person aud claimant Tor her
danghicr) TO move an arrest according TO
law, assures n friend of ours that she neither
knew Of nor authorized the arrest.
Under the State fugitive slave law, two
colored men who had been stewards on the
Golden Gate were sent back to the Stntcs on
,he last trip. We suppose these were sent
back according 10 law.
An account Of another case, under the law,
is given in the San Francisco Herald:
FUGITIvE SLAVE CAsE.-Juslice Shepherd
yesterday issued n warrant for the arrest of
mulnlo woman, who WIS claimed ms II GIgi-
tive from labor by II. Il. Smith, Of Jackson
county, Missouri She was brought 10 this
country 10y The claimant, in 1850, and re-
mnlned, together with II number of other
slaves in his family, until few days since,
when she married n free negro aud escaped.
Her owner heard of her arrival here. aud
came down in search. Being informed that
she was secrcled on bonri lie ship FIXING
Cloud, he applied for a warrant, hy virtue of
which she was arrested and brought before
Justice Shepherd, hy whom, on satisfactory
proof of tile, she was renunded TO the Gus
Iody of Mr.. Smith, TO bc conveyed TO the
state Of Missouri.