The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-06-02
I III E DISPATCH.
WEDNESDAY MORNING. IIrrNr . ,a,a
SLAVE STEALING IN PETERSBURG.
Capture Of = Schooner With rtv,
Slaves ON Board-Great Excite

SLAVE STEALING IN PETERsBURG
Capture OF = Schooner vvtth NV.
Slaves ON Board-Great Excite.
ment.
On Sunday last, at an early hour, II was dlscoy
cred that Gilbert and Sarah, slaves Of Mr.. Thoma,
W. Eppes, of Petersburg, Va, had dscsmped, and
circumstances were observed which caused suspi
ciou that they we're secreted on board the scbr
"Kssiah,s Capt WIN. D. Bayliss, belonging tt
Brandywine, Delaware, and loaded with wheat
consigusd to the Newport Mills, Newpe rt. New
Jersey, BY Messrs. Branch Sons, Of Petersburg
strict watch vac at once placed upon her move
ments, and during the afternoon Of Sunday lsat
shs was observed to weigh anchor and drop quietly
down the stream. The Democrat Of yesterday has
the following account Of the capture.
| teiegraphic dispatch was sent to the Insuector
az Norfolk with instructions to proceed tiu tba
river and keep bright look out for the schooner.
| while, in the meantime, arrangements were made
| 70 PURSUE her with the steamer Nv. W. Townes,n
from City Point. The steamer got under way YES
terday morning, having on board besides the OH
cers and crew, Messrs. James Caldwell, John K q
van, Henry Pannill, and officers Butts and Peter.
son and proceeded down the river in search of the
schooner, which they succeeded in overhaulipg
| short distance above "Hoods'' landing, better
known as the ''0ld Fort,n about % miles below
City Point. When first spied three persons were
seen on deck, but on nearing her of the party
suddenly disappeared below, which had a tenden
cy to confirm the suspicion that sometbiu WAS
wrong. Upon oyertaking her. the steamer ran
alongside and Messrs Butts and Caldwell fumped
ABOARD and informed the captain that they came
to search the vessel to which he offered no rss.t
snce, simply asserting that no other persons were
on board except his mate, whose name is Joseuh
D simPkins, and himself
The search was commenced first in the cabin.
heie concealed beneath lot of shingles, meat
10. nHarn rnh A..
ed In mems clothes, at which discovery the captain
anected as much astonshment as the others did
ssslsiaction Other parts of the vessel was then
searcnea and iour other negroes we're found slowed
away 10 the hold, all of whom were secured and
together With the captain and his mate. transfer
req 70 the steamer, the vessel taken in tow when
tue whoie party turned their course back towards
oisy roiht where they arrived about o'clock yes
,stuay aisernoon, and Immediately teIegraphed to
petersburg the result Of their expedition together
Win tue information that they would arrive AZ our
wharf at O'Clock with the prisoners on board -
vi course, the intelligence spread like wild FIRE.
nuu 1u nour before Tue steamer arrived the wharf
was ined with citizens anxious to get sight at
real Yankee 'nigger stealer,' aud many of whom
were In wild state of excitement speakinp win
out reserve of tar and feathers
AT ABOUT quarter to O'clock the steamer hove
IN signt, Win the negro pirate in tow which was
| received with yell OF delight from the indignant
multitude on the dock. In fifteen mipptes she
arrived, and while engaged In securing the CAP.
tored schooner to the wharf, rush was made by
Tue people TO get on board the steamer where Il
was ascertained that the prisoners were confined.
and It was with the greatest difficulty that il was
prevented by those in command As soon as tie
schooner was made fast the steamer dropped astern
and came up TO the dock, aud the two prsoners
led out under the care of the officers IL WAS then
that the most intense and terrible excitement an.
sued, and they had barely reached the shore when
wild shout Of indignation went up from the popu.
lace and desperate effort made to take possession
fn fltp af 81 .
the assistance rendered by several of the camer citi
zens they must have been TAKEN when they would
have been lynched upon the spot as in the excite.
ment OF the moment that seemed to be the pur-
pose.
Fortunately, however. with the exception of
some pretty rough handling they escaped injury
and were hurried through the streets TO jail fol,
lowed, of course, bv a large crowd, who did not
cease their shouts until long after they had been
placed securely in confinement
The nesroes were placed in an omnibus and
reached the Jail without any particular demon.
stration being made on their behalf. In their ac-
count of the matter, in which they sl agree, they
say that they were approached by the captain OF
the vessel In the Market square, few days since,
and asked if they were free, and in reply to their
answers in the negative, he proposed for the sum
OF nifty dollars each to place them beyond the
reach OF their masters. aud that agreeable to his
arrangements they went on board while the ves-
sci was at the wharf, and were secreted. John
Ball, slave of Andrew Kevsn, Esq, pail $50 for
his passage, which amount he said that he obtain.
ed from Gilbert. Joe Asyo, slave of Miss Laura
Hare paid $4S, which he obtained by disposiug of
what things he had.n William, slave of Oliver
Hamilton, Esq., paid $34, which he accumulated by
performing oysrwork at the factory Gilbert,
slave to Thos W. Eppes, paid $40 aud upon being
questioned, asserted that he had $500 besides,
Which he had amassed by raising swine, q story
which is considered extremely doubtful. Sarah
was permitted to go the free list, no charge be-
ing made for her passage, but an agreement enter
ed between her and the captain that she would
live with him on his arrival at home, bat in what
capacity we were unable to learn.
The Captains story, (the Mate appeared to know
very little about the matter) was, that he was ap-
piled to by man in the city, who proposed to pay
him handsomely if hs wond take the negroes on
to New Jersey-that he did not know the man,
and would not know him should he see him
again; Furthermore, he was totally unaware that
they were slaves, and in word, entirely isnocent
of any evil inteut-that he started off on Saturday
afternoon, and ran aground just below the city,
got of the next morning, but ran aground again
about five miles further down the river, from
whence he started bright and early yesterday
morning, and with his vessel heading for the
Capes, he sseered rapidly down the stream until
he was unceremoniously overhauled as specified
The vessel was searched and considerable
amount of money found and it is supposed that a
still larger amount is concealed on board, which
may possibly be discovered in removing the cargo.
The vessel by law, is confscated to the State, and
will be sold to the highest bidder.
[BY TELEGRAPH
PETERSBURG, June 1.-The examination of Capt.
Bayliss aud the crew did not come off this morn
ing, in consequence Of the great excitement in the
public mind.
The cargo of the vessel was discharged this
morning, but no more slaves were found on
board.