Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-12-08
NO. 292.
MISCELLANEOUS READING.
TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION"

II III IL Sl haNuEh lHaN rlSlioN'
10 the summer of l847. an undertaken in
tbe village Of Port Republic, was sent for 10
bury child. whose parents lived about three
miles from the public burging ground.
+ The road being very rough, the coin was
carried on horse back. % his way - The
house VI the parents Of the deceased child,
the undertaken met with q strange negro, aud.
upou questioning him, discovered that he was
d fugitive slave.
Sambo, not fancying the turn things were
likely 10 take, made Tor the woods, closely
pursued by the undertaken. who Was so much
retarded by the coffin, and thick underground
OF brush that be soon lost signt Of the runa-
way More intent upon the capture OF the
slave than the burial OF the child, he continu.
ed 70 search the woods for some distance
Emerging at length from the thick brush into
the public highway, be enco uttered lady
who was in delicate health, and exceedingly
nervous. and who, with two small children
lone not more than two years DID,, was
taking morning walk 10 very excited
manner the undertaken with the coffin be.
fore him inquired Of the lady if she bad seen
any one pass and upon being answered 10 the
negative, he informed her that be was IN
pursuit of runaway negro, and desired her
to remain where she was and watch while
be "beat the brush, at be was sure the 'us'-
tive would run that way. | need hardly
inform the reader that the lady's senfe OF
pr0priety was very much checked at the idea
of being asked TO assist in the capture Of 4
runaway negro; and moreover, not possess
ing "A very large share of physical courage,
she gave the best evidence that she consider
ed prudence the better part Of valor." by
bastepiDg home as fast az she chould with
her little children.
The individual who was acting 10 the dou-
BILE capacity OF undertaken and negro'catcher,
failing to get assistance, and having lost
sight of the runaway, hurried on TO the house
oi mourning. Having deposited the body OF
the child 10 the cDfio, be mounted bis horse
and with the corpse before hu, set cut in
brisk hrot followed on foot by the parents,
grandmother, and aunt, of the deceased; not,
however, on the most direct road, 10 the place
of burial, but by the route on which he
thought it most likely the runaway might be
found. The father of the child carried his
gun icr the purpose Of assisting in the cap
ture # the nero, should the funeral process
SION be so fortunate as to find him. Asst was
suspected, he was fugitive for whose aEprt-
hansion considerable reward bad been
fired, the father probably expecting. in tho
event Of their capturing the slave. TO deiray
the funeral expenses out of bis share OF tho
money When his singular procession enter
ed the village where the child VAS 10 be
buried. the mother was running close up to
the undertaken, wbo was still in brisk trot,)
the grandmother and aunt not far behind,
whilst the father, not possesst s the IRE
qui.ite bottom" for tive-uile race. or carry
ipg too much weight" in his gun, was dis
tanced.
The procession not having met with the
runaway, and having arrived at the shop OF
the undertaken, be delivered the coffin to his
journeyman. with the order to bury 1t and
nastened back to the woods to continue the
search for the fugitive slave.
The mother wishing to take last look at
her child, had the cefhn opened, when horrI-
bic to relate, the body bad been so much
bruised by the trotting Of the horse, that
the blood was oCzing from the nose and
Mouth
The mother was so much fstigued by the
long race and rough track" over which she
had To run in order to be "in at the burying,"
that she was seriously sick for some time
afterwards - Rock Rey. L. +. j.