Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-06-02
BY Yesterday Evenings Mails.

Il
Sunday last, at an early hour, after it was
discovered that Gilbert and Sarah, slaves Of
Mr.. Thos. W. Eppes, bad decamped. cir
cumstances were observed by officer Butts
which caused suspicion that they were
secreted on board the schooner "keziah,"
Capt. Wn. B. Bayliss, belonging to Brandy
Woe, Delaware, and loaded with what con-
signed to the Newport Mills, Newport, New
jersey by Mcssrs. Branch Il Sons, oi this
city. Astrict watch was at once placed upon
her movements, and during the afternoon Of
Sunday last, she was observed to weigh
anchor and drop quietly down the stream.
A telegraphic despatch was sent to the H.
spector at Norfolk, with Instructions TO pre-
coed up the river and keep bright look cut
II the schooner, while, IN the meantime. ar
raugements we're made to pursue her with
the steamer NV. w. Towns" from City
Point.
Tue seamer got under way yesterday morn
in, having on board beside, the officers aud
crew, Messrs. Ja, Caldwell JnO. KeVan,
Heury Pannil and officers Butts and Peter
son, aud proceeded down the river III search
oil the schooner, which they succeeded In
Overhauling a short distance above Hood ;"
landing, better known as the 'O!d Fort"
about 20 miles below City Point. When
first spied, three persons were seen ON deck,
but on nearing her one OF the party suddenly
disappeared below, winch had tendency to
confirm the suspicion that something was
wrong. Upon oyertaking her, the steamer
ran alongside and Messrs. Butts and Cald-
we'll Jumped aboard aud Informed the captain
that they came TO search the vessel, to which
he offered no resistance, simply asserting that
no other persons were % board except his
mate, whose name is Joseph ). SImpkius,
aud himself
The search was commenced first in the
cabin, where concealed beneath lot OF shin
giles, meat, and rope, they dscov red the W.
man, Sarah, dressed in mems clothes, at
which discovery the captain affected as much
astouisbment as the others did satisfaction.
Other parts of tue vessel were then searched,
and four other negroes were found slowed
away ia the hold, all Of whom were secured,
and, together with the captain and his mate,
transferred to the steamer the vessel taken
in tow, when the whole party turned their
course back toward City Point, where they
arrived ab ut O'clock yesterday afternoon,
and Immediately telegTaphed to Petersburg,
the result OF their expedition, together with
the information that they would arrive at our
wharf al 6 O'Clock with the prisoners on board.
0. course, the Intelligence spread like wild
fire, and an hour before the steamer arrived
the wharf was lined with citizens anxious 70
yet sight OF real Yankee "nigger stealer,
and many Of whom were in wild state OF ex-
element, speaking without reserve OF tar and
feathers.
At about quarter to 7 o'clock the steam
err hove in sight, with the negro pirate IN tow
which was received with yell OF delight
from the Indignant multitude on the dock
La Is minutes she arrived, apd while engaged
in securing the captured schooner TO the
wharf, a rush was made by the people to get
on board the steamer, where 1t was ascer'
tanned the prisoners were Ortned, and 1t
was with the greatest difficulty that It was
prevented by those in command. As soon a.
the schooner WAS made fast the steamer
dropped astern and came up to the dock,
and two prisoners were led out under the
care of the officers. Ii was then that the
most intense and terrible excitement en-
sued, and they had barely reached the shore
when wild shout of indignation went up
from the popuace, and desperate effort
made TO take possession OF them, ard but
for the most vigorous measures aod the
assistance rendered by several OF the calm
or citizens. they must have been taken, when
they would have been lynched upon tue
spot, as in the excitement OF the moment
that seemed to be the purpose.
Fortunately, however, with the exception
of some pretty rough banding they escaped
injury, aud were hurried through the streets
to iail, followed, of course by large crowd,
who did not cease their shouts until long al
ter they had been placed securely IN coDfne-
ment.
The negroes were placed In an omnibus
and reached the jail without any particular
demonstration being made on their behalf
In their account Of the matter, 10 which they
all agree they sag that they were approached
bv the CAPTAIN OF the vessel III tue market
square, u few days since, and asked u they
were free, and in reply TO their answers IN the
negative, he proposed for the sum OF nifty
dollars each tp place them beyond the reach
of their masters, and that agreeable to his
arrangements, they went on board while the
vessel was at the wharf, and were secreted.-
John Bull. slave of Andrew kevan, esq
mid $50 for his paseag', VIII h amount
he said he obtained from Gilbert. Joe
Mayo, slave of Miss Laura Hare, paid SIS,
which be obtained by disposing of what
"thinss he had" William, Slave OF Oliver
Hamilton, esq, paid S3S, which he accumu-
lated By performing overSork at the tact.rv,
Gilbert, slave OF Tbos W. Eppes, pad SJO,
and upon being questioned, asserted that be
had $500 besides, which be had amafsed by
raising swine, a story which Is considered *
tremely doubtful. Sarah was permitted TO
90 on the free list, NJ charge being made i"r
her passage, but an agreement entered into
between her and the Captain that she would
live with him on bis arrival at home, but IN
what capacity We were unable to learn.
The Captains story 1.-THE Mate appeared to
know very little about the matter was, that
he was applied to ty man In the city VINO
proposed to pay bin handsomely 1t he would
take the negroes on to New Jersey--'hat be
did not kiOw the man, and would not EDow
him should he see him again; furthermore,
he was totally unaware that they were slaves,
and ia Il word, entirely innocent OF any evl!
inteul.-:hat he started uff on Saturday alter
noon, and ran aground just below the city,
got off the next mornin., but ran agrouhd
again about five miles further down the river,
from whence he started bright and early yes
terday morning, and with bis vessel heading
for the Cares, be steered rapidly down The
stream until be was unceremOnlously over
bauIed as specified.
The vessel was searched and eons'dera'