Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-05-30
Desperate AttemP, for Liberty.
A coLoRED FUGITIVE ARRESTED BY UNITED STATES
OFFICERS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SWIM ACROSS
THE DETROIT RIVER TO CANADA.

a coLoRED FUGITIVE ARRESTED BY UNITED STATES
OFFICERS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SWIM ACROSS
THE DETROIT RIVER TO CANADA.
From the Detroit Advertiser, May 2i.l
A desperate attempt was made yesterday
afternoon by colored female to gain the free
while being holly pursued by her owners
The particulars are substantially as follows
worthy German citizen of Detroit having
arisen at early hour yesterday morning, went
across the river into Canada, for the purpose,
as we learn, of purchasing COW, taking with
him his wife to assist in bringing her home
Alter looking at several, they selected promiS.
ing black heller with calf few months old,
and started with it on their return. The man
led the COW by slight string, his wife using a
switch tE III propeller behind. In this way all
went we'll till they reached the middle of the
river on the steam ferrybOat ArgO, when the
COW suddenly bethought herself that they were
bringing her to Il country where individuals OF
her color "have no rights which men are
bound to respect" and grew restless. She con.
sidered it clearly case of kidnapping, and as
Stunning that the good people of Detroit would
hardly be likely to eSpouse her cause after the
recent IranSpiIingS at Oberlin, determined her.
self to make one desperate effort to regain the
freedom Of British soil. Accordingly, she was
no sooner landed than throwing up her head,
with one bound she escaped from her custodian,
and without the slightest hesitation, plunged
herOcally into the rapid stream
No boat being at hand, the crowd that quick
ly assembled could only look on and speculate
on her chances of making the three quarters of
mile between Detroit and Windsor, while the
German, in a state of mind better imagined
than described, could only pace the dock, and
exclaim, 80, mein Colt, mein COW ish nix
In the mean time the brave fugitive was stri-
king out boldly, and bets were freely offered
that she would be successful. But now comes
the tragic part OF our narrative. AT anchor
few rods out in the river lay one Of Uncle Sans
men-of-war, in the person of the little schooner
Lampghter. The Lamplighter might have
found better business in carrying oil to the diff
Cerent lighthouses on the coast, but in keeping
with the usual policy Of the general govern
ment, it preferred rather expanding its forces
in the arrest of one chattcl and its return to
slavery than the more useful and noble employ
ment Of benefitting the navigation of the lakes.
And when this blood-thirsty craft beheld the
poor black approaching, valorouS lieutenant
mounted the quarter deck and demanded, in
steotorian tones, "Who goes there?" No an
swer being given, the command was given to
clear the deck for action. The action that re-
suited was the lowering Of the boat, into which
two brave fellows leaped, aud in few minutes,
with rope around her neck, the unfortunate
cOlored individual was towed to Moore, Foot s.
Co s dock, and then landed, to the inexPressi-
BILE delight of the aforesaid German citizen and
his worthy frau.