Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-09-10
Correspondence Of the Public Ledgcrl
LETTER FROM wILKEsBARpE.
Attempted Capture and Escape Of Fugitiu
SLAVE.

StdUe.
GILcHRIsT's HOTEL,
WILKEsBARRE, Sept. 3, 1853
An attempt was made this morning, abon,
half past o'clock, 10 reclaim a portion Of
Southern property, in the person Of a fine pow
erful mula,io, a waiter at this hotel, called
Bill, who has been living in this place about
year. The party were Mr.. George Wyn-
koop, Deputy Marshall, one jenkins, and
three others, making an effective force OF five.
The time chosen for the arrest was al early
breakfast, at which Bill served as wai'et.---
So soon as breakfas, was over one OF the
party threw his arm around the waiter, and
the other four rushed upon him. A fight en-
sued which lasted twenty minutes. The al
legged slave threw the man from him who
first seized him, when he was struck with
the maces of the officers and a hanIcuf ias'
tened on his left arm-he struggling all the
while with desperate energy. Que OF The
party received a severe blow over the head
with the handcuff, making a considerable
cash. The officers then called npon an indi-
vidual present who had formerly aided in ar
resting a slave 10 aid them. No warrant was
shown. He told them they were five TO one,
which he though, enough, and besides he
thought they had as many as conld work 10
advantage. The slave seized knife from
the table which was taken from him, and he
escaped out of the room, the officers afier
him exclaiming "shoot him ~ 'shooi him"
In the yard in front OF the hotel three pistol
shots were fired. The slave ran Tor the RI
yer Susquehanna, which is some forty yards
! in from, of the hotel threw off such of his
clothes as had no, been torn of in the scut.
| he, retaining only his shirt and plunged III
! Being unable to swim he waded in as far as
possible, the officers firing at him with pis-
tolls.
In the mean time a crowd collected, bu
no one interfered with the majesty of the
law. A negro barber of this place, nameC
| Rex, then procured pair of panianons, anC
the slave came on shore and put them on -
The officers came up and he again sprans
into the river. Here he stood at bay-hi
face cut bmised, swollen, aud covered will
blood. After some time he crawled on
tired, chilled aud completely exhausted, aut
lay upon The bank, the hardcuI sill on hi
arm, but declIcd that he wond not be aker
alive, and that rather than be arrested he
would again take TO The river, and drowl
himself. Here was three-fonrlhs Anglo Sax
on blood struggling for liberty. The officer
seemed to be satisfied Of this fact, and CAV,
up the pursuit. The slave then came ashore
having been in the water an hour. and wen
up the river bank alone, which was the las
that was seen Of him. The officers ihei
took their carriage, aud left, bu, with wha
views is of course unknown. AS The slav,
must still be in town, or in the immedia,,
neighborhood, it is very possible that she,
may not have abandoned their design. To sa
nothing OF the loss Of the much valuable pro
periy, the idea of five able. bodied men
armed with The authority Of The Uni,et
States, and pistols and maces besides, bein!
defeated BY naked mulat!o, cannot be yer,
agreeable to the parties engaged. Howeve
they had fair opportunity, as 10 one inter
fered al all, except one citizen who took ih
names OF the party, and the negro bar be
who gave the slave IA pair of pants. Wheihe
the latter act is treason, perhaps Judge Grie
could determine. kAPpA.