New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-09-07
A SCENE OF CRUELTY AND BLooDsHED.

Correspondence Of The y. y. Tribune
WHKEsBARRE, Pa, Sept. 3, 1883
most disgraceful and brutal occurrence took place
here this morning, which j shall take the liberty OF
communicating to you, thinking it probable that no
other person here may take the trouble Beng an eye
witness have given nothing but what You may rely
upon as facts.
About o'clock this morning an attempt was made
by person calling himself Deputy Marshal Wyn-
koop" Ia brother TO Col. Wynkoop) another, answer
inc TO the name of Joe jenkins and three other as
sistants from Virginia, to arrest as fugitive slave
colored waiter in the dining of the Phenix Hotel
in this place Immediately after receiving their break
fast az the hands of Bill the unsuspecting fugitive
who is tall nobleloOking, remarkably intelligent aud
active mulatto nearly white, they suddenly, from be-
hind knocked him down with q mace, and partially
sbackled him; but BY desperate effort aud after
most severe struggle with Tie whole five upon him. be
shook them of aud with the aid Of his handouts. which
were only fast upon his right wrist he inflicted some
hard wounds the countenances OF some OF the South
erners the marks OF which they viii probably carry TO
their graves But notwithstanding the fearful odds
against him he managed 10 break from their grasp, anil
with the loss OF everything upon him but part OF his
shirt and covered with blood he rushed from the house
and plunged in the river close by, exclanng, Will
be drowned rather than taken alive" His parsuers
fred twice at him on his way TO the river without
checking his speed and, On reaching the bank, they
presented their large reyoyers sud called on the iug
tive who stood up his neck in the water, 70 come
"out and surrender himself, or they would blow his
" brains out. lie Itpucu. VIII htSt lhC!
then deliberately fired at him four or five different
times the last ball supposed TO have struck his head
or his face was instantly covered with blood and the
poor fellow sprung and shrieked out in agony. and
doubt would have sunk, but for the buoyancy Of the
water holding him up. The people around, who hsd
by this time collected in large numbers, were becom
/ ing excited, and could longer refrain from crying
out shame shame - which had the effect of causing
the Southernors to retire short distance, in evident
consultation The slave, not seeing his pursuers came
10 the shore but not being able Ia support himself In
| the water he lay down on the edge, completely ex-
haused became senseless. and was supposed 20 be d
ing; on hearing which, the slayecatchers remarked
| cooy that Dead niggers were not worth taking
| South" Some one shortly brought pair OF panta-
looms and put the fugitive, who, in few minutes,
| Unexpectedly revived and walking OF from the
river, partly held up by another cOlored man. named
Rex on seeing which, bis pursuers again hesded him,
drew and presented their reyclyers and called upon
him stop, threatening TO shoot any who assisted
the fugitive. The white friends of Rex instantly
| shouted ." stand away Stand away, Rex you'll
"cet shot too" This bad sdyice, as they would
not have dared 20 shoot az that time and It had the
effect of encouraging the pirates who kept advancing
toward the fugitive and at the time intimdatei
Rex, who drew back, exclaiming to the slave, Put,
Bill, TO the water again; don't be taken alive" The
poor fellow seeing himself alone for there was gen.
eral drawback on the reviewers being presented turned
and plunged into the river again, where he remained
upward Of sn hour with nothing above water but his
head covered with blood and in full view OF the hun
dreds who lined the hgh banks His claimants dared
not follow him into the water for, as he AterSsrd -
marked, be woald have died eeltenied could lie have