Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-02-16
A MOTHER NUMBERING HER CHILD RA.
THEIR THAN SEE 1T IN SLAVERY

ln the Cincinnati papers we find the full
particulars of the arrest of the fugitive slaves.
About ten o'clock on Sunday, party of
eight slaves, two men, two women. and four
children, belonging to Archibald X. Gaines
aud John Marshall, of Redwood Station,
boone county, Kentucky, about 16 miles
from Covington, escaped from their owners.
Three OF the party are father, mother and
son, whose names are Simon, Mary and
Robert, the others are Margaret, wife of
Robert, and her four children. The three
first are the property of Marshall and Il 9
Others of Gaines. They took a sleigh ard
two horses belonging to Mr.. Marshall, and
drove to the river bank, opposite the foot Of
Western Row, where they left them standing
in the road, and crossed over to the city on
the ice. They were missed few hours after
their fight, and Mr.. Gaines, springng on q
horse, followed in pursuit He proceeded to
the Office Of U. S. Commissioner, John L.
Pendery, and, procuring the necessary war
rants, with U. S. Deputy Marshall Ellis, and
large body of assistants, went at once to
the place where his fugitivcs were concealed.
1t is as well here to state that Kite had been
formerly owned in the neighborbood of Rich
wood Station, aud was purchased from bon
dage by his father. On reaching the house.
Major Murphy, neighbor of Gaines, and
who was acquainted with Kite, called on him
to open the door, and said that resistance
would be useless. This Kite agreed he
would do, but delayed so long that the off,
GERS attempted to force it open, when win
dow was suddenly thrown up, and one of the
negro men, Robert, presented pistol and
fired The ball wounded Mr.. Patterson, o
resident OF the Fourth ward who had been
deputised to assist in the arrest A second
On mo nm ho
forced open, and after short but desperate
resistance the slaves were secured, but not
until Robert had fred three times, but with
out effect. After the conflict was over n
bloody and melancholy spectacle presented
itself. One of the slave children was dis
covered lying on the floor with its head
nearly servered from its body two others,
boys, aged about four and FIVE years, we're
bleeding from wounds in the neck and head.
and an infant in the arms of Margaret had
its head much swollen, and was bleeding
freely at the nose. The officers state that
Simon and Mary the eldest of the party.
made no resistance. but that Margaret and
Robert fought with the ferocity of tigers and
that during the ARRAY she struck her infant
son on the head with a fre-shovel, in the
opinion of many, with the intention of taking
its life.
u,
stated to US that she was eating breakfast in
company with the other fuCtives. when she
heard some one cry out, They are coming,
they are coming, They sprang up in alarm,
bI; before they had time TO fly. their captors
burst in upon them. She fought with all the
strength with which she was capable, and
cannot tell how her child was killed and the
others wounded, but only knows that the
death and woundng occurred during the
ARRAY. This is her story. but it is evident
that the bloody tragedy was perpetrated
while the officers were seeking admittance,
and she is said to have acknowledged the
fact of killing her child and wounding the
Others during the excitement ucideu: to the
arrest.
The captives. as soon as arrested, were
placed in express wagons, and driven to the
Office Of the L. S. Marshall, on Fourth street.
between Main and Walnut. followed by q
large crowd Of excited people On reaching
the Marshals Office, the wouRds Of the chill
oren were examined, when it was found that
one Of them had received flesh wound on
the neck, about three inches in length, but
barely penetrating the skin-thc other o
scalp wound about the same length. They
sre but little hurt, and yesterday afternoon
we're playing about the Marshal's office, ap-
parently nnconcerned. On questioning the
little fellows, they said that some one in the
house threw them down and tried TO kill
them, bat they either did not know, or would
not reveal who it was. The slaves, on reach
ing the Marshars office, seated themselves
sound the stove with detected countenances,
aud preserved moody silence, answering
all questions propounded to them in mono
syllables or refusing to answer them at ALL
The slaves were then taken down stairs to
the street door, when a wild and excited
scene presented itself--the sidewalks and the
middle Of the street were thronged with
people, and couple Of coaches wsre at the
1oor in order TO convey the captives to the
Station House. The slaves were guarded by
strong posse Of officers, and as they made
their appearance in the street, it was evident
that there was strong sympathy in their
favor. When they were led TO the carriage
doors, there were loud cries Of drive on, -
don't take them"
The slaves claim that they have all been
on this side Of the river frequently by the
consent Of their masters.