Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-08-26
Correspondence of the Boston Pest.
A Fugitive Slave Case.
New YoRK STATE, Aug. 1851

a
DEAR Posr-Let me tell you about tie
fugitive slave case. the one before which
the Boston one pales its Intellectual fires
There is town in the interior of this
STATE, the name of which town tortures
couldn't drag from me, but the first two
letters of its nickname are the Saline City.
Now, the inhabitants of this city have a
great and abiding horror of the fugitive
slave law. They have fugitive slave bell
to be rung only upon dire emergency; they
have fugitive slave vigilence committees,
and are cooked and primed generally for
U. 8. marshals.
Now some wicked man, name unknown
once telegrapled from Buffalo that the
slave catchers had seized colored gentle
man in that city, and that they and their
victim would be in the Saline city by the
1850 train.
Immediately the fugitive slave bell was
rung; its effect was marvellous. 1t re-
minded one of Mrs. Heman's @Bended
Bow" or Roderick Dhu's Fiery Cross.
Every colored person who heard it drop
ped whatever he was doing and hastened
to the square. BARRIERS apprentices left
astonished and irate old gentlemen half
shaved, boot blacks left incensed exquisites
with but one polished boot, WALTERS caused
late breakfasters to go hungry, and in the
twinkling of an eye the. square was filed
with dense mass of athick darkness that
could be felt"
The crowd were told of the cause oftheir
being called together and were admonish-
cd to be at the depot when the 1880 train
came in.
When the 1880 train came, the depot
presented strange spectacle. Not
white face was to be seen. An English
man who was on board the train made
note in his pocket book that a city in CEN
trail New York was entirely populated by
negroes. They cast such gloom over ev-
erything that the lamps had 10 be lighted
at mid day.
The moment the cars stopped, the lead
ers of the blackguards jumped on board
and rushed through in search of the poor
captive. In the last car they found an un-
fortunate African whom they Immediately
laid hands upon and bore off in triumph.
He, finding himself seized bodily by
dozen excited men, was scared almost
white, and howled merrily. His cries were
taken as manifestations of fear lest he
should be recaptured, and consultations
were heaved upon him.
"Don't be afeerd, chile! Dey shanf ncb-
Der git you agin. Now, honey, you's all
right. Don't be scared at dem white trash
any more"
And ne was borne in triumph through
the crowd and hurried ito coach. which
was waiting outside. By this time he was
petri6ed aud speechless, saying his prayers
inwardly, and making hurried preparations
to die violent death.
His liberators, swelling with just pride,
sat surveying him with the pleasing con-
sclousness of having done good action;
but the coach had not gone many yards
before one Of them began to rub his eyes
and look savage. Then broke out
sLook hear! Isn't dis Sam JonsiDp who
Lbs up in Salt alley and ments Boots
dare~
aYes sah!" faltered Sam, who had been
born in the city.
"D-n what do you mean by fooling US
in dis way, ehl Get out ofdIs immediate,
and rake that wid your
That was the assistance of No. IA
square toed pegged boot, which sent Mr..
Jh'nnsing out OF the coach 6yiDg-and end
ed the Great Fugitive Slave Case.
ALF A. SIGMA.