Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-09-16
Horrid Attempt to Capture, and Escape
of a Fugitive Slave.
WILkEs-BARRE. Sept. 3, 1853

WILkEs-BARRE, Sept. 3, 1858.
An attempt was made this morning,
about half past six o'clock, to reclaim a
portion of Southern property, in the per-
son of a fine, powerful young mulatto, a
waiter at this hotel, called Bill, who has
been living in this place about year
The party were, Mr.. George Wynkoop,
Deputy Marshal, one jenkins, and three
others, making an efectiue force of FIVE
The time chosen for the arrest was at early
breakfast, at which Bill served as waiter
So soon as breakfast was over one of the
party threw his arms round the waiter,
and the 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 maccs of the officers, and handcuff
fastened on his left arm-he struggling all
the while with desperate energy. One of
the party received severe blow over the
head with the handcuff, making consid-
cradle cash The officers then called upon
an individual present, who had formerly
aided in arresting slave, to aid them
No warrant was shown. 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 seized 4 knife from the table which
vas taken from him, aud he escaped out
of the room, the officers after him exclaim-
ing: "shoot him :" ':shoot him!" In
the yard in front Of the hotel three pistol
shots were fred. The slave ran for the
river Susquehanna, which is some forty
yards in front of the hotel, threw off such
Of his clothes as had not been torn off in
the scuille, 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.
In the mean time crowd collected, but
no one interfered with the majesty of the
law. A negro barber of this place, named
Rex, then procured pair of pantaloons,
and the slave came on shore and put them
sprang NIT rt,,hc.s r4sefe M rsoLh".S'siy
his face cut, bruised, swollen and cov-
cred with blood After some time he
crawlcd out tired, chilled and completely
exhausted, and lay upon the bank, the
handcuff still on his arm, but declaring
that he would not be taken alive, and that
rather than be arrested he would again
take to the river, and drown himself
Here was three-fourths Anglo-Saxon blood
struggling for liberty. The officers seem
ed to be satisfied of this fact, and gave up
the pursuit. The slave then came ashore,
having been in the water an hour, and
went up the river bank alone, which was
the last was seen Of him. The officers
then took their carriage, and left, but with
what views is Of course unknown. As
the slave must still be in town, or in the
immediate neighborhood, it is very posi-
bic that they may not have abandoned
their design. To say nothing of the loss
of the much valuable property, the idea
Of five able bodied, armed with the author
ity of the United States, and pistols and
maccs besides, being defeated by naked
mulatto, cannot be very agreeable to :he
parties engaged However, they had a fair
opportunity, ias no one interfered at all,
except one citizen who took the names of
the party, and the negro barber, who gave
the slave pair of pants. Whether the
latter act is treason, perhaps Judge Grier
could determine.
Though every opportunity was given
the officers to make the arrest, it is certain
there was considerable sympathy for the
slave. To see a young man, nearly white,
hunted like wild beast into the water,
cut and bleeding, and probably wounded
with pistol shots, and declaring that he
would have freedom, Or perish in the at
tempt, will always, in spite Of the COM
promises of the Constitution, excite pity
among those who are not brought up in
the midst of "our peculiar domestic In
stitutions."
Southern men who are here, express
much Indignation at the performance of
the officers, and dcnounce the shooting, as
especially cowardly. Every one says that
the slave might have been taken, with Or
dinary tact, in decent way, and that they
could have had aid enough to do it. As
it is, the officers received some bruises in
the fight, but no large amount of sympa-
thv. Those who have aided before in
catching slaves here, especially ridicule
their want of success. A bystander re-
marked, "the five who were at the slave
called for assistance The slave said
nothing, but had an imploring look which
unmarried Inc. ."-Le9yer. KAPPA.
l@- Considerable inquiry has been made
as to the legality of the Shooting in the