The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-09-14

would blow his brains OUT" He.replied. 81 win
die firsi.''
They then deliberately fred ct him four or
five different times; the last time supposed TO
have struck on his head for his face was ias'ant
ly covered with blood, and the poor fellow
sprung and shr1eked out in agony, and no
doubt would have sunk, bat for the buoyancy OF
the water holding him up.
The people around, who Ind by this lime col
lected in large numbers. were becoming excited,
and could no longer refrain from crying out
8, Shame, shamei" which had The effect Of caus
ing the southerners 10 retire short distance,
in evident consultation. The slave. not seeing
his pufsuers. came 10 the shore; but not being
able to supper, himself in the water, he lay down
on the edge, complely exhausted, became sense
less and was supposed to be dying, on hearing
which the slaye-catchers remarked cooly that
dead niggers were not worth taking Scuih."
Some one shortly brought pair of panta-
looms and put on the fugitive. who in a few min
utes unexpectedly revived, and was walking off
/ from The river, partly held up by another col
ored man, named Rex; on seeing which, his
pursuers again headed him, drew and presented
their revolvess, and culied upon him 10 STOP
threatening TO shoot any one who assisted the
| fugitive. The white friends of Rex Instantly
shouted, Stand away! Siund away, Rex! you'll
get sho; too" This was bad advice, as they
would not have dared to shoot at that time, and
it had the effect of encouraging the pirates,
who kept advancing toward the fugitive, and al
the same sine inlimiJated Rex, who drew back,
exclaming to the slave, Put, Bill, 10 the water
again; don't be taken aivew The poor fellow
seeing himself alone. for there was general
drawback on the revolvers being presented,
turning and plunged into the river again, where
he remained upwards OF an hour, with nothing
above water but his head, covered with blood,
and in full view of the hundreds who lined the
high banks.
His claimants dared not follow him into the
wafer, for, as he alterward remarked he would
have died contented could he have carried two or
three down with him." In the meantime, some
of the citizens, were taking means to have the
kidnappers arrested. Judge Collins, one of our
! mosl respected cl!lZenSs Hn0 s6Veral DINERS
questioned them as TO their names and author
ity, TO which they replied, ale was more like a
lunn,ic than Judge, &c. They soor, how
ever, saw the sentiment of the community was
strong against them, and drove off before an
officer could be found 10 arrest them. A tele-
graphic dispatch to the constable in Hazeton
caused their detention there; but he was over
awed by such pompous U. S. officers, and they
were allowed to go again. After their depar-
iure, the fugitive, afrnid 10 come out.there again
waded some distance up stream and got ou
above. was found by some colloFed women fai
on his face in corn field. The woman car.
ried him off 10 q place Of safety, dressed his
wounds, and al nigh he will be far on his way
towards Canada
Such are the plain, unvarnished fuets. You
cannot oveEstate the barbarity of the scene, the
excitement Of the people or the ferociiy of the
slave catchers. but. having recently felt the
, rigors Of the Fugitive Slave Law here, there
was general fear of the officers who bulliec
and browbeat ezcaming occasionally, " Gen.
tlemen, " you can have him for $1,000! bul
we arc U. S. officers; resisi US at your peril.''
We felt ashamed Of our country, and almos,
longed 10 bs in Austria or Russia, where human
rights are more respected.