The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-09-16
The ManIincss of slave Catching.

Mr.. Mrashall Wyhkoop has again entered II
upon race of distinction His latest eX-
plot is recorded below, in u letter which we y
find in the Philadelphia Ledger One cannot
too much admire the manliness which prompt U
cd five courageous white men to attack a de- u
fencecss negro. nor the valor shown by them n
in flying dsgraccd from the field. Five upon II
one, and beaten at that! Almost every en- q
deavor to enforce the Fugitive law has thus
far excited adherence; but no event in the his
tory of that law is calculated to stir up more
lonthng than that recorded belew:
WILKEsDARRE, Sept. .. 1853.
can attempt was made this morning, about
half past 6 O'Clock, to reclaim a portion of
Southern property, in the person of fine
young mulatto, waiter at this hotel, named
Bill, who has been living in this place about
year. The party were Mr.. George Wyn-
koop, Deputy Marshall, one Jenkins, g. three
others, making an effective force Of FIVE. The |
time chosen for the arrest was at early break
FAST at which Bill served as a waiter. So
soon as breakfast was over one of the party
threw his arms round the waiter and the 9TH
er four rushed upon him. A fight ensued
which lasted twenty minutes. The alleged
slave threw the man from him who first seized
him, when he was struck with the maces of
the officers and handcuff fastened on his left
arm-he struggling all the while with desper-
ote energy. One of the party received Sc
we're blow over the head with the handcuf,
making a considerable cash. The officers
, then called upon an individual present who
had formerly aided in arrestng a slave to aid
than No nj choun He told them
they were five to one, which he thought
enough, and besides he thought they had as
many as could work to advantage. The slave
, seiz,d knife from table which was taken
from him and he escaped out of the room, the
= officers after him, exclaiming: "shoot him!'
= "shoot him!' In the yard in front of the ho-
tel, three pistol shots were fred The slave
. ran for the river Susquehanna, which is some
. forty yards in front of the hotel, threw of
- - such of his clothes as had not been torn off
y in the scuflle, retaining only his shirt and
!, plunged in. Being unable to swim he waded
. in as far as possible, the officers firing at him
= with pistols.
It In the mean time crowd collected, but nc
ID one interGercd with the majesty of the law
n A negro barber of this place, named Rex
10 then procured pair of pantaloons, and the
:. slave came on shore aud put them on. Th'
m officers came up, and he again sprang int
the river Here he stood at bay--his face cut
bruised, swollen, and covered with blood
A After some time he crawled out tired, chilled
IN and completely exhausted, and lay upon thu
,o bank, the handouts still on his arm, but de
~ clarng that he would not be taken alive, ant
, that rather than be arrested he would agair
II take to the river, and drown hi nself.-Here
III was three fourths Anglo Saxon blood strug
n. Cling for liberty. The officers seemed to bt
10 satisfied of this fact, and gave up the pursuit
= The slave then came ashore, having been il
,d the water an hour, and went up the river banl
r.. alone, which was the last that was seen o
~ him. The officers then took their carriage
or and left, but with what views is of cours
p. unknown. AS the slave must still be in th
of neighborhood, it is very possible that the'
10 may not have abandoned their design. II,
" say nothing of the loss of the much VALUABLE
ID property, the idea of five able bodied men
Il. armed with the authority Of the United States
and pistols and mGces besides, being deIeate
by naked mulatto, cannot be very agreea
o, bic to the parties engaged. However, the.
d. had fair opportunity, as no one interfered q
n. all, except one citizen who took the name c
Mt the party, and the negro barber, who gave tn
,is slave pair Of pants. Whether the latter &C
is is treason perhaps Judge Grier could deter
ed mine.
a Though every opportunity was given til
ut officers to make the arrest, it is certain ther
is was considerable sympathy for the slave
fe, To see young man, nearly white, hunte
IT, like wild beast into the water, cut e. bleed
as ing, and probably wounded with pistol shot
'g, and declaring that no would have freedom, c
&C perish in the attempt, will always, in spite {
all the compromises of the Constitution, eXcit
nd pity among those who are not brought up in tn
ee midst of sour peculiar domestic institution
- Southern men who are here express niue
We Indignation at the performance ofthe officers
be and denounce the shooting, as especially COW
Id ardly.-Every one saws that the slave nigh
Mt have been taken, with ordinary tact, in de
,g cent way, and that they could have had ai'
We enough to do t.-As it is, the officers receive
some bruises in the fight, butno large amour
of sympathy. Those who have aided befor
'e in catching slaves here, especially ridicul
a their want of success. A bystander remar
as ked, 'the five who were at .he slave called fo
he assistance. The slave said nothing, but ha
er an imploring look which unnamed me
p Great country, this! KAprA.
IN The Threat TO Assassinate Louis Napo
leon.
be Raynaud, the Frenchman arrested i
London for sending letters to the Prince
Joinvile, offering to assassinate Louis Ma
, peleon, has had hearing and been held t
10 bail. The prisoner was probably unde
cd some arrangement of mind. He said h
in had been for u long time suffering from i!
mr. health, which occasionally affected his in
of telect He had been an inmate of hospita
hi at Southampton, where his hair was partl,
m shaved oil. Under these circumstances
Id and for the sake of his wife, he implored the
y mercy and consideration of the court. Th,
70 letters he wrote were read.
u In the first letter, after dwelling upon th,
IL infarpst which hc fnnk in tho malc,ra mn,