Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-04-23
ANsErS Travels in a Tight Box /!


A few days since box was forwarded from
Nashville, Tenn, by Adams Express, marked
Hannah NJ johnson, cara of Levi COliu. Gin.
cinnasi. At Seymour, Indians the box broke
open while being handled, and out popped a
live negro man. Fhers was a serious and
ludierOus aspect in ~ novel shipment, thus
related by the Cincinnati Commercial:
ltwas serious 70 the poor fellow who endured
his sore trials in transit with much fOrtitude,
and who just on the eve Of escape, was return.
ed 70 servitude. His nsme ia Aleck M'Clure
aud he is the property of Newton Mcclure, of
Nashville. 1t appears that he was packed in
an ordinary square dry goods box, by 8 free
negro, named Nathan Jacobs, at a room which
was occupied by Aleck Il was addressed as
heretofore described, and the negro who drayed
ito Adams Express Office, in NsshVille, remark
ed, when dePOsiting it on the pavement, "Msssa,
dat's de curiosest box ever / seed. EbTy time
l roll it ober, de hebby side come DOWN.
Sambo, it appears, had taken hold Of the light
end, suppOsing it TO be closely packed, and
making a straining lift, he was astonished
that Il came up 80 easy; then trying a light
lift, at tOther end, he was considerably more
puzzled to find it didn't come up easy, 0eing so
heavy. He ''tried it on that way several times,
and naturally concluded that it was curios-
est" However, the box was shipped, and it
was the fate Of the contents to be set up in the
freight car, neither end uppermost 10 which
position poor Aleck writhed during a three
hours ride 20 Bowling Green. There the ex-
press messenger concluded to lie down, and
having another box of similar dimensions, be
rolled the two together for bed, getting Aleck
down into horizontal position. at Louisville
when the box was tumbled eff the tram, Alexis
tribulations again commenced. The box was
rOOled about as railroad baggage masters toss
trunks about. Aleck, to save his bones, spread
himself promiscuous about, holding his elbows
out spread~eagle fashion against either .ide of
the box, his knees and back bone also pressing
opposite sides. Unfortunately he was again
turned head downward, and so rode across the
river to the Jeifersonville railroad depot By
good luck he was placed on this ro7d right side
up with care, and so went to Seymour There
bis adventures eliminated. Il was lust dark.
The express messenger, a comparatively new
hand at the business, was getting his Cineinns-
Il freight on board the D. d NJ cars rapidly
he got hold of Alexis box, aud "iouncedn
him about until he was tilted into the car
when the upper side of the box burst open
Il was dark, and no discovery was made at
the instant but the messenger took his fist
TO drive down the lid of the box, 90 that be
could get it out of the way, and rolled it over
once more, when out rolled the Niger. The
messenger, badly terrified as if he had seen the
d., spnng from the car shouting "a man In |
the car, man in the car r. "A crowd gathered
ard the facts began to appear. The messenger
got wIathy and was about to kick Aleck out of
she car. The watchman Of the 0. d. II. road
however, had seen police service, and discover
ing prospective reward for runaway slave, |
seized poor Aleck and detained him prisoner
until the train for Louisville came along, when !
he took the fugitive to Louisville and deposited
him in Jail, subject to the order of his master.
Mr.. Patterson, Of the Express Co., endeaYored |
IN vain TO regsin possession in order to re>ship
him TO Nashville, the authorities pleading the |
severity of the law in the case, which required !
even the master Of fugitive to prove ownership |
waited till yesterday, when Mr. Mcclure ap- |
peared and took his chattcl home. Aleok was |
in the box seventeen hours without food, save |
few chestnuts. His position, and confinement
without ventilation excepting from the very |
slight cracks where the box was Joined was ex- |
eruciating- almost horrible, and nothing hardly |
save the love Of liberty could induce MIN or any
other man to undergo such torture so many
hours.
We add that the plry who arrested Aleck |
is entitled to a re ward of Sl25, payable by the |
st ate, and which is required by the State from |
the owner before delivery of the negro The |
Adams Express Company assumed the debt |
in this instance, besides all other expenses.