Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-10-16
From the New London Comm Chronicle.
FUGITIVE SLAVE CASE IN NEW LONDON

On the Goth of September q vessel left Whining.
ton. N. c., loaded with yellow pine lumber,
bound to q port in this vicinity. When six days
out from Wilmington, the crew in the forecastle
heard q sound of rapping, evidently proceeding
from the forehold. On searching for an explana-
ton Of the m mysterious noise, there was found to be
a ~"nigger in the wood bile" Here was trouble
for the captain. Although he had paid three dol
lars as a search fee to the authorities at Whining
ton, who had explored his vessel in search of col
ored individuals, before it left port, aud would have
evidently been the last man in the world to run
Of" a slave, here was q live darkey actually in
his hands The colored individual said he had
come out from among the happy subjects Of the
patriarchial institution, because he wished to be
free that he belonged to o negro woman who lived
about 200 miles from the town OF Wilmington, and
that he had secreted himself in the vessels held
six days before she left port. lie had thus been
there twelve days when he was found, and his
stock of provisions had been two pounds of crack
ers and a piece Of cheese, which he had thought.
fully provided for the voyage. The captain dis
liked exceedingly the idea of harboring a fugitive,
but as he had to choose between that and throwing
him overheard, he could do no better than to lie,
him stay aboard until he reached port.
Yesterday morning, at about 2 o'clock, the yes
sol arrived off the entrance to Mystic river, six
miles east of the mouth of this harbor. The cap
tain lowered lis boat and went directly ashore fol
an officer, to whose custody he might surrender
his colored passenger. On returning, he found
that Joe, the slave, was missing, having jumped
overheard and swan ashore. The captain havine
thus suddenly "come to grief" in his laudable en-,
deavors to return the runaway chattel to his I'm
known owner, came to this city to make efforts foi
his recapture. Ia passing up State street, he &C
cidentally glanced into the open door Of a clothing
store, and there behelI Cutfee before the glass
critically inspecting himself with a view to ascer
tain whether a Goa. he was then trying ON was 6
good fit, and also if it was becoming" lie
rushed into the store and gave the unhappy negro
particular fits" by announcing to him the %unpleas
ant intelligence that he must drop that 'dunnagt
and come along" He led the crest.fallen African
directly to the Custom. house, and made known tc
Collector Mather, who is q United States Commits
sioner, the circumstances Of the case. II bad in
the meantime become noised about the streets thai
there was q "nigger case" in progress, and a stiI
was made among the people. Judge Braudeget
of the Police Court, hearing of the matter, wen
down to the ~Custom-house, accompanied by a large
number of our prominent citizens. Entering the
Office Of the Collector, there were found present
resides the Collector, the captain Of the vessel and
the derelict negro, one or more of the officers Of
The United States revenue cutter, stationed as this
port. Judge Brandegee inquired of the Collector
il the negro was a prisoner and was informed thai
/, ~ 49,. - OIL. -.
er, held him in charge that the man had admit
led himself to be n fugitive slave. Turning to the
negro. the Judge asked him if he wished to emain
there or to go free. lie expressed his strong dis
inclination to remain there any longer than was