Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-06-11
Fugitive Slave Excitement at
Petersburg, Va.

The telegraph has already reported
the return of the schooner Keziah, Capt.
W. B. Baylis, of Brandywine, Del, with
five refugee slaves on board, to Peters
burg, Va, having been captured by the
steamer dispatched in search of her, and
the excitement which was created by the
event among the citizens. The Peters
burg Express gives the following detailed
account of the affair:
"The steamer overhauled her in
Minge's Reach, about twenty-six miles
below the Point, when officer Butts and
the party Immediately went aboard, and
after considerable difficulty succeeded
in finding a woman slowed away in the
midst of lot of bacon, under the cabin
floor, and dressed in male attire. The /
four men were afterwards found in the
hold, secreted in the wheat, the captain
and mate still persisting, upon each one
being discovered, that there were no 9th
ers on board, the negroes following the
same rule with regard to their compan-
ions, all being found one by one.
The captain and mate comprised the
whole crew, and vehemently denied, up !
on being boarded, that there were any
slaves or any persons but themselves IN
the vessel. The schooner was forthwith
taken in tow, the captain and mate, D.
Simpkirs, secured together with the ref
ugees, and all placed on board the steam
er.
Arriving at City Point, a dispatch
reached the city conveying the gratifying
intelligence of the seizure of the schoon-
er, and stating that the steamer, schoon-
er. crew and refugees would arrive at 6
P. NJ.
As soon as this became known, which
was not until five in the afternoon,c crowds
!, began to flock upon the wharves, and by
six. the entire locality was dense with an
| indignant and excited people.
At seven o'clock the TONNES, with the
sooner in her wake, appeared coming
around the bend at Bates Spring. The
crowd was now greatly increased and the
| excitement more heated than ever. As
, thew APPROACHED the wharf, the people
crowded forward to the utmost extremi-
5 ty.many boldly daring the danger of tum-
2 bling into the river, to get view OF the
: crest fallen kidnappers.
5 At length the ropes were thrown out,
e the vessels were made fast, and the prls-
D oners marched out under strong escort
of police and law loving citizens. But
e no sooner had they touched the earth,
= than the excitement attained its highest
y pitch shouts of hang him. kill him,
o were commenced; the throng pressed IN
D from all sides an attempt was made to
70 seize the prisoners, and at one time the
: mob had attained such an ascendancy
d that the seizure of the mate from the
], hands of officer Butts, seemed unavolda'
J. bile. Blows were struck at him, lunge:
IS made for his throat, and all sorts OF at
is tempts to drag him into the mob, followed
lie without cessation. A large, number 0
l. peaceably disposed citizens, however,ral
le living to the aid of the police, successtul
in lv averted the threatened violence, an'
a the men were, in few moments after
. in an omnibus belonging to PowelPs He
t. tel.
Of The negroes all say they were entice'
I'd off by Baylis, who was TO make thel
lie massage secure for the consideration
Is, $50 each, which was paid in advance
of Joe Mayo, owned by o. 2. Hare, cor
IS. fessed that he was on his way to Me-
of York. where his wife awaited him, an
e. he had sold all his Plumber for SOL
re- in order to get there. He paid S4o
OF Baylis.
&C. John Bull, Mr.. Andrew Kevan's DO,
was bound for St. GATHERINGS Hotel, L
ed ronto. Canada West, where he had el
IRE gagged a situation as wailer, through IL
influence of his old friends.
up Gilbert. slave to Col. L. W. Eppe
sh- had in his possession $500, in gold, 81
yer and notes, which he alleged he b;
raj saved during twenty-seven years, as u
'dy profits accruing from pig raising II
uld others had nothing remarkable to sho
er. or say for themselves.
d. The schooner Keziah is owned by
as Danenburg, Norfolk, the suspected sia
in stealer. who was driven from that city
ess, Friday night last. Baylis, by connecn
ore w;tI, recent developments in Norfolk,
already implicated in some OF the M
no. y;llaipous underground operations.
t a The Keziah is valued at $500. 1t
les q small low looking, two masted ana
set- capable of holding about twelve el huno.
the bushels. By the laws OF the ola!e'
ere vessel is confscated. and the captain
mate, if found guilty, compelled TO pa
cen fine of $500, and be sent to the perliI'
fact tiary, on each Indictment for term
the not less than three nor more than
Dy years.
ply, By Telegraph.
ant, PETERSBURG, June /. The exam
up alton Of Capt. Baylis and the crew
only not come off this morning in consequel
and of the great excitement in the pull
IS a mind. The cargo of the vessel was
the charged this morning, but no more STA
he'd, were found on board.