The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-06-03
PURSUIT AND CAPTURE OF A KIDNAPPING
SCHO0NER-FIVE REFUGEE SLAVES RE
C0VERED-INTENSE EXCITEMENT!

PURSUIT AND CAPTURE OF A KIDNAPPING
SCHOONER-FIVE REFUGEE SLAVES RE
COVERED-INTENSE EXCITEMENT
Our city was yesterday evening the theatre of
the most intensely exciting event that has ever
transpired within its limits from the earliest to the
latest period of its history. The turore was pro
duced by the return of the schooner hezah, Cap
tain VIM. B. Baylis, of Brandywine, Delaware,
with five refugee slaves on board under the convoy
of the steam-tug w. W. Townes, which had been
despatched from City Point in pursuit at II NJ with
officer Daniel Butts, who was clothed with all the
necessary power to carry out the requirements of
the case.
We will endeavor to give the circumstances at
tending the affair infinitely and briefly posi-
BILE. On Sunday morning, it was discovered by Col.
4. w. Eppes, proprietor of PowelPs Hotel that two
of his slaves, and Sarah Gilbert, had decamped; at
the same time, it was found that John Bull slave
Of Andrsw heyan Esq was Mr also F.. missing and
liam, belonging to Oliver Hamilton, Esq., were like
wise away from duty at their respective homes and
not to be accounted for. ..
The police were early informed of the matter and
on the morning of Sunday, investigations were i'm
medately but cautiously proceeded with. John
Bull had been seen lettering about the city wharf
on Saturday evening, about eight o'clock, a short
time after which the Keziah weighed anchor and
dropped down below the planning mill. Her destina-
ton was Newport, Delaware, with twelve hundred
bushels of wheat, from Messrs. Thomas Branch &
Sons, OF this city The Keziah had bad reputation,
Its former captain, brother to the present, having
been suspected of tampering with slaves at this
port two years since, and ordered never to appear
at our wharves again. The suspicion thus excited
was made the groundwork for operation.
On Sunday, the motions of the craft were stu
diously watched but everything appeared quite
indicative of guilt, and she was permitted to pass
down the river without interference.
Yesterday morning, however, officer Peterson
was despatched to Norfolk on the steamer Curtis
Peck, with instructions to be on the qua riue. At
AGATE hour in the day, Andrew Keyan, Esq.,, owner
of the boy John Bull, made affidavit before the
Mayor that he believed his boy to have been carried
off in the schooner Keziah, and succeeded thereupon
in obtaining a search warrant, and the services of
Capt. Butts Messrs. John kevan, Henry Pannill,
and Col: Thos. W. Eppes, also accompanied Capt.
Butts, of the police.
At twelve O'Clock the parties left for CITY Point,
by the Southampton Railroad, having previously
chartered the w. w. Townes, which was then "
ing at that place. dispatch had also been sent to
Norfolk steamer chartered and sent up the river
to detan the schooner in case should be met be-
fore being overtaken by the Townes. At City Point
the Company was joined by Mr.. J. S. Cawell, of
this city, and Captain Cook, of the Point.
The steamer being in readiness, the pursuit was
commenced, and after little more than one hours
running the suspected vessel appeared in sight, and
making away under full sail at her best speed The
steamer overhauled her in Minge's Reach, about
twentysix miles below the Point, when officer Butts
and the party Immediately went aboard and after
considerable difficulty succeeded first in finding the
woman slowed away in the midst of a 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
perslsting upon each one being discovered, that
there were no others on board, the negroes follow
ing the same rule with regard to their companions,
all being found one by one.
The captain and mate comprised the whole crew,
and vehemently denied upon being boarded, that
there were any slaves, any persons but them
selves in the vessel The schooner was forthwith
taken in tow, the captain and mate, J. Simpkins,
secured together with the refugees, and all placed
on board the steamer
Arriving at City Point, dispatch reached the
city conveying the gratifying intelligence of the
seizure OF the schooner, and stating that the steam
er, schooner, crew and refugees would arrive at
p. M.
As soon as this became known which was not I'm
III hve In the afternoon, crowds began to flock upon
Inc wharves, and by six, the entire locality was
dense with an indignant and excited people. The
Mayor, the Sheriff and several police officers ap-
peared on the ground to prevent any act of VIC
lence that might be attempted Notwithstanding
Whch, suggestions of tar and feathers, hanging,
ducking, flashing, burning, and every conceivable
method OF retributve justice recognized in the code
OF the celebrated Judge Lynch, were rife amidst the
crowd Law abiding citizens expostulated, police
onheers crowned down all such hints, and others
looked upon them as highly unworthy of men of
sense and reason. In this manner the ferocty of
the crowd was somewhat cooled down for the time
At seven o'clock the Townes, with the schooner
IN her wake, appeared coming around the bend at
Bates Spring. The crowd was now greatly in
creased, and the excitement more heated than ever
AS they approached the wharf, the people crowded
forward to the utmost extremity, many boldly da-
ring tne Danger OF tumbling into the river, to get
view OF the cresttallen kidnappers
AT length the ropes were thrown out the vessels
were made FAST and the two prisoners marched out
under strong escort of police and lawoving citi-
zens. But no sooner had they touched the earth,
than the excitement attained its highest pitch
shouts OF chang him, "kill him. were commenced
the throng pressed in from all Sides an attempt was
hade 10 sleze the prisoners and at time the mob
au attained such an ascendancy that the seizure of
the mate from the hands of officer Butts seemed I'M
avoidabe. Blows were struck at him. lunpes made
ior ms throat and all sorts of attempts to drag him
INTO the mob followed without cessation. large
NUMBER OF peaceaby inclined citizens, however, raj
lying to the aid of the police, successfully avcrted
the threatened violence; and the men were in a few
moments lodged in Jail. The negroes followed in a
lew moments afterwards i'll omnibus belonging to
PowePs Hotel.
The negroes all that they were enticed off by
Baylis, who was to make their passage secure for
the consideration of $50 each, which was paid in
advance. Joe Mayo, (owned by o. 2. Hare con-
Jesse that he was on his way to New York. where
ms WIFE, refugee,) awaited him, and he had sold
an ms ,Plander for $50, in order to get there
He paid S4S to Baylis.
: John Bull, Mr.. Andrew Kevan's boy was bound
Where he had engaged situation as waiter through
the influence of some of his old friends
hilbert, slave to Col I. W. Eppes, had in his pos
session S5oO In gold, silver and notes. which he al
So NJ hau sdNcu uuTlnS tWenty-Seven years, as |
the profits accrung from 'pig raising" Tie others
selves.
The schooner Keziah is owned by William Dan
enburg Norfolk, the suspected slave-stealer, who
was driven from that city Friday night last, an
account OF which appears in another part of to-
days paper. Baylis, by connection with recent
developments in Norfolk, is already implicated in
some most villainous underground operations.
The keziah is valued at $500. 1t is a small, low
looking, two.masted affair, capable of holding
about twelve hundred bushels By the laws of the |
State, the vessel is confscated and the captain and
mate, if found guilty, compelled to paw a fine of
$500, and be sent to the pententiary, on each in
dctment, Tor term not less than three nor more
than ten years.-PctersJurg Express, June LIST.