The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-09-20
b dtsoa-aC aCorcspondence of the N. Y. Tribune.'
A SCENE OF CRUELTY AND BL00DSHED.
WILKEspARRE, PA, Sopt. 3. $50.


I WMKEsBARRE, Pa, Sept. 3. 1853.
A most disgraceful and brutal occurrence
took place here this morning. which | shall
take the liberty of communicating to you, think
ing it probable that no other person hore may
take the trouble. Being an eye witness,
have given nothing but what you may rely up
on as facts.
About o'clock this morning, an attempt
was made by person calling himself DEPUTY
Marshal Wynk oop," Ga brother to Col. Wyn-
koop,) another answering to tho name OF "Joe
jenkins" and three other assistants from Vir;
ginia, to arrest as fugitive slave. colored
waiter in the dining room of the Phoenix Ho-
tel in this place. Immediately after receiving
their breakfast at the hands Of "Bll,' the un-
suspecting fugitive, who is a tall, noble-look-
ing, remarkably intelligent and active mulatto,
nearly white, they suddenly, from behind
knocked him down with mace, aud partially
shaekled Hin; but by desperate effort and af-
ter most severe struggle, with the whole five
upon him, he shook them off, and with the aid
of his handouts, which were only fast upon
his right wrist, ho infictcd some hard wounds
OH the countenances of some of the Southern
ors, the marks of which they will probably
carry to their graves. But, Notwithstanding
the fearful odds against him, he managed 60
break from their grasp and, with the loss of
every thing upon him but q part of his shirt
and covered with blood, he rushed from the
house and plunged into the river close by, ex-
claiming al will be drowned rather than taken
alive" His pursuers fred twice at him on
his way TO the river without checking his speed,
and, on reaching the bank, they presented
their large revolvers and called OH to the fugi-
tive, who stood up to his neck in the water. to
"come out and surrender himself. or thoy wo d
= L.a; I 10 ;aI Ia
first" They then firod at him four or five
different times, tho last ball supposed to have
struck on his head, for his face was instantly
covered with blood. and the poor fellow sprung
and shricked out in agony, and no doubt would
have sunk, but for the bouyancy of tho water
holding him up.
The people around, who had by this time
collected in large numbers, were becoming ex-
cited, and could no longer refrain from crying
out, "Shame, shamep which had the effect to
cause the Southerners TO retire a short distance,
i'm evident consultation. The slave, not see
ing his pursuers, came to the shore; but not
being able to support himself in tho water, ho
lay down on the edge. completely exhausted,
became senseless, and was supposed to be dy-
ing: on hearing which, tho save catchers re-
marked coolly that dead niggcrs were not
worth taking South" Some one shortly
fugitive, who. in a fe minutes, unexpectedly
revived and was walking off from tho river,
partly hold up by another colored man, named
Rex; on seeing which, his pursuers agar
headed him, drew and presented their revol-
vcrs. and called upon him 10 stop, threatening
to shoot any ono who assisted the fugitive
The white friends of Rex instantly shouted
Stand away! Stand away. Rex! you'll get
shot too" This was bad advice as they wo'd
not have dared to shoot at that time, and it had
the effect of encouraging the pirates, who kept
toward the fugitive, and ut the samo
timo inundated Rex, who drew back, exolaim-
ing to the slave. "Put, "Bil', 10 the water again;
don't be taken aliver' The poor fellow, seeing
himself alone, for thero was general draw
back on tho revolvers being presented, turned
and plunged into tho river again, where he re-
mained upward 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 to follow him
into the water, for, as he afterward remarked,
"Ho would have died contented could he have
two or three Of them down with him."
In the meantime, some of the citizens, think
ing there was no law justifying such barbarity,
were taking means to have the kidnappers ar
rested. Judge Collins, one of our most resDec-
ted citizens, and several others, questioned
them as to their names and authority, TO which
they replied, ale was more like a lunotic than
a Judge &c. They soon, however, saw the
sentiment of the community against them: and
drove off before an officer could be found to ar
rest them. A telegrsphic dispatch to the con-
stable in Harleton. caused their detention
there; but he was overawed by such pompous
u. S. officers, and they were allowed to go a
gain. After their departure, the fugitive, a
fraid to come out there again, waded some dis
lance up stream and got ont above, and was
found by some colored women fiat on his face
in q corn field. The women carried him off
to a place of safety, dressed his wounds, and
OF night he will be far on his way toward Can
ada.
Such are the plain, unvarnished facts
You cannot overstate the barbarity of the
scene the excitement of the people or the We
rocty of the slave catchers, but, having re-
Gently felt the rigors of the Fugitive Slave
Law here,s there was general fear of the Of
fcers, who bulied and browboat any one who
ventured to speak above his breath, cxclaim-
ing occasionally, "Gentlemen you can have
him for q 900! but we are u. 3. officers; re-
sist US at your peril.
We felt ashamed Of our country, and almost
longed to be in Austria or Russia, where hu-
man rights are more respected.
Nothing in Mrs. Stoves work equaled this
in the brutality displayed by this Psnnsylva-
mia Marshal and the Virginia save-hunters-
Had some bold spirit led the way, tho citizens
would have demolished them on tho spot As
it is, the result has been good. The blood
thirsty villains were bafilod-tho property
escaped, (tbough probably cripple for life, If
indeed he does live for he was quite light-head-
cd during the day,) aud there has been more
Anti Slavery feeling excited, and moro hatred
to the Fugitive Slave Law aroused, than could
have boon dono with years of lectures and ad-
dresses. toi 'ufu
It is generally supposed that person here,
who has been engaged in the slave hunting
business before in this town, and now Che has
been for years) under bonds to keep the peace,
has planned and been at the bottom of the