Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-04-07
LIBERTY OR DEATH.

We commend The following account Of the
efforts Of a man held as a slave in Yiaginia to
escape from bondage, to the notice Of those
who assert that ihe bondmen Of the South are
happy and contented. The conduct of the
Captain of the Keystone State was mean
and Infamous in the highest degree Wo
copy from the PHILADELPHIA Register of the
Goth ut:
The practical Patrick IIenrys are more uu-
merous than PEOPLE are aware OF. An in
stance Of the most daring and courageous at
tempt to obtain the boon Of liberty has Just
come to our knowledge. The steamship hey.
stone State, which arrived at this port on Sat
urday morning, had just entered Delaware
Bay, when man was discovered secreted
outside of the vessel and under the guards.
When brought from his hiding place, he was
found to be fugitive slave, who had secreted
himsefthe before the vessel leftSasannah on
Wednesday, and had remained ia that place
from The time Of startiay. His position was
such that the water swept over and around
him almost constantly He had some bread
in his pocket which he had intended for sub
sstence until he could reach land Of liberty
| 1t was saturated with sea- water aud dissolved
high winds of Friday aud the sudden cha nge
to cold during that night, and the fact that the
! fugitive had remained in that situation for
three days and nights, we think it will be con-
ceded that he fully earned his liberty, and that
the institution" which was SO in;olerabe
that he was willing to run the risk of almost
certain death, to escape from it, had no very
! great attractions for him.
But the poor man was doomed to dsap-
pointment The Captain ordered the vessel
to put in to New Castle, where the fugitive,
hardly able to stand, was taken on shore and
iucarcerated in Jail, where lie now awaits the
order of his owner in Savannah.
The following additional particulars are
| from the same paper Of the 2lst:
| The "KEYsToNE STATE" CAsE.-Our ar
ticle yesterday morning brought us several
letters of inquiry and offers OF the unfortunate
inmate of New Castle Jail. In answer to the
former, We would say hat the steamer Key
atoms Stats" left Savannah, at A NJ, last
Wednesday. II was about the same hour next
morning that the men engaged in heaving the
lead. heard voice from under the guards i'm
plorng help A rope was procured, and the
man relieved from his dangerous and suffer
ing situation. He was well cared for imme-
diatcly; suit of dry clothes was furnished him,
and he was given his share Of the contents
of the boat pantry. On arriving at New Cas-
the Captain had him placed in Jail for the
purpose, as We are informed, taking him back
to Savannah
To those who have offered contributions so
liberaly, we answer that the prospect IS that
only small amount will be needed-enough
to fee lawyer 10 sue out IA writ of ha5eas
corpus The salt water fugitive claims to be
free man and a native of philadelphia. He
gives his name as Edward Davis, and says
that he formerly lived at No 5, Stcel's Court !;
that he was pupil in Birds School on Sixth
street above Lombard. and thai he has sister
now living at Mr.. Diamonds distlcr on
South street We are not informed why he
was in Georgia from which he took such an
extraordinary means to effect his ascape.
If the above assertion be true we appre-
hend little trouble in restoring the man to his
former home The claim OF the captain to
take him back to Savannah will not be listen
ed to for a moment by any court The only
claim the owners of the - Keystone State" or
the captain can have on Saltwater Davis is
one for ha!fpassenger fare; he came halt the
way as a fish, A gentleman who came from
Wilmington yesterday assures US that the case
is in good hands at New Castle.