Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-09-27
A Thrilling Incident


The following are particulars of the es-
cape of a slave by swimming across the
Ohio river at the falls, and his subsequent
return to slavery by Col Rosseau, who is
in command of Camp Joe Holt. in Indiana,
nearly opposite Louisville:
This morning, as seme of Capt. Stones
men were bathing in the river, they saw a
negro spent and almost drowned, strug-
Cling towards them across the rapids
They saved him from watery grave, and
brought him, naked as be was born, to
headquarters. Here some cid clothes,
and some bread and meat, the first which
he had taken for more than week, were
given him, aad then he was ordered to
give an account of himself The fugitive S
name is Goree He is the slave and was
the BODY y-servant, of Lieut.. Col. Bob John
son of the rebel Camp, Boone. Gorce ran
| away for being beaten without offence, and
| after adventures enough to make an I'm
Gle Toms Cabin" arrived at daylight tl.is
morning, on the friendly bank of the Ohio.
But he was not yet safe, So, pulling off
his clothes and wrapping them around his
head, he plunged into the river, and
struck out boldly for the other shore, dis
tant almost a mile. The swift current
swept him down among the rocks and
breakers his heavy turban saturated, and
threatened to sink him be was bruised
and cut horribly by the jagged granite of
the falls. He struggled manfully, rather
than part with his clothes-his earthly all;
but finding be must CHOOSE between death
and nakedness, be concluded to take the
latter, and SO set his wardrobe adrift. He
continued to founder on toward freedom S
bank, now sucked under by the powerful
eddies, now swept forward with fearful ra-
piiity by the current, or dashed against
the rocks, He must have perished if
Stones men had not drawn him from the
river. His surprise and distress at find
ing himself in camp may be imag mad He
supposed he would instantly be returned
''away down in Dixie land for his mas
ter had told him that Lincoln's soldiers
caught all runaway niggers and sold them
down South again. Poor Goree, I pity
him. As I write, he is crying as though
! his heart would break, and refuses to be
comforted. Goree is an intelligent lad
He can read and spell and write as we'll as
any boy of his age in the land, and if he
had a white skin, he might make a respec
table man. Amid his sobs, he implore:
that he may not be sent bach to the bru
tai johnson. Fe says he does not care
what becomes of him, SO that he is not re
/ 4 b,,o P,,t bo mill bo ratIIrpa6
As I write, sergeant and squad have
him in their midst, and are marching hin
back to slavery. So much for the inAu
ence of political grannies. God send Ken
tucky speedy deliverance from them.
| Important Facts About Compromise.
The Crawford Bulletin, Democratic pa
per in Southern Illinois, makes the follow
ing important disclosures
1--WE are informed by gentleman jus
from the Ninth Congressional District tha
there has been a complete revolution a
mong the people on the war question. Hon
/ John A Logan. Congressman from that
District, has been appointed Colonel, and
| has his regiment about ready to take the
field. Many who few days ago were OF
the compromise stamp, are now enthusas
tic for the war. Logan declares that he
and other compromising men in Congress
met in secret conclare and determined d
to make q last effort. They sent May to
Richmond to ascertain if the Confederates
would entertain, accept or offer any com.
promise. No compromise could be agreed
upon, they. utterly refusing, even though a
blank sheet of paper be given them to
write their own terms. Logan declares
their intention is to fight, and calls upor
all Democrats to rally around the old flag
and thwart them in their diabolical effort:
to destroy the Government !"
This throws light upon an important
point, namely: why May, the Baltimore
Congressman, went to Richmond just be.
fore the meeting of the special session Of
Congress. The above revelation makes il
all clear.