The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-04-15
A slave Chase in Illinois.
BY s4Dxe. HOwanD GAY.

Illinois was good hunting ground
then for Abolilionists and fngitives
from slavery, as well as for other game
There was hustle at the door one
night as we sat in the common room
of a little waYside tavern in new set
tlement Of hundred people, and pres
emily two men, armed TO tie teeth,
walked in with a black man, his hands
bound behind his back, between them.
He was brawny fellow, with bright,
intelligent face, who had the wit to run
away from Kentucky some months be-
fore, and thought he had run far enough |
when he reached free State. His
master, hearing where be was, had
come after him with friend, and
when he was found had onl y to bid him |
home back again. Nobody in Illinois
then thought it properto ask any ques-
tions of white man who said that
stray "nigger" was his slave. These
men tossed the poor fellow some bits
ofsupper from their table as they would
toss them dog, and when warmed
and filed, the master condescended to
explain the circumstances of the case.
This boy, he said, was his nigger.-I
He had found him the night before, and
had started that morning on their way
back to Kentucky. The roads were
heavy, and to get on the faster, they
had travelled ''tie and CO." letting the
negro rest himself by mounting one of
the horses-the white men were on
horseback occasionally, and riding a
short distance. The black was so sub
missive and cheerful, mounting and
dismountng as he was told, and,
whether getting ahead or lettering be-
hind, so obedient to call, that they
were thrown entirely off their guard.
But at last, as they were approaching a
piece Of climber, "a creek, generally
with bluffs more or less steep, always
running through the climber" of the
prairies, the negro, being little way
ahead, drove his heels into his horses
sides, and lashing him into arun, made
for the woods The whites at once,
of course, saw his purpose and started
in pursuit. 1t was short chase, but a
rapid one, When the negro reached
the edge Of the bluff his master was
close behind him. Without aninstant's
hesitation the slave threw himself from
the horse and over the cliff, forty feet
high and almost perpendicular, and
rolled to the bottom. The other fol-
lowed as unhesitatingly, for thousand
dollars worth Of "nigger'b was worth
The risk Of a good many bruises, and
no decent white man could stand still
and see a negro do what be didn't dare,
Before the black could rise the white
was upon him, and before the fierce
struggle between them was over, and
at that point when knives had flashed
in the eyes Of both, the other white
was "counted i'm in the fight, and tht
black at length was overcome ant
bound There, was no more tie anC
go for him that day, but with hii
hands tied behind him he trudgeC
sullenly along, led captive by rope a
DIS master bauul0-DOW. ...
"And now, Jim," said his master, al
hefnished his story, "arn't you sorry
fol. what you donel' .r
The prisoner raised his head an(
looked upon the jury,--four boys fresl
from Massachusetts,, who had neve
given a serious thought to slavery til
they stood face to face with it here i
this man who had only few hours be
fore had that desperate fight for lf
and freedom,-he looked upon the ju
ry,, and said, 9No, Massa" DR..
aWhatl" screamed the Kentuckiar
jumping from his chair, and stridin!
across the room with a threatenin!
gesture; "aren't sorry You blacl
rascal you; aren't sorry! Why! dit
MT / always treat you welli Didn'
you always have enough to cat and L
wear Wasn't always good mas
teri ..... s.
eyes, massa." t'
"AAd you aren't sorry. A year ag
you ran away from good home; an
USuHy1 Wucu III IuAlHk JpV lpoSN w ~
you tried to escape and ! only secure
you ct the risk Of my life! My Goo
And you aren't sorry" rfTuo,
ono! massai and III do 1t agin IT
gih Cbancei" ..-5' .-.' j. p,
They started on their homewar
Journey in the morning, the negro 81
cured as before. In the course Of III
day, however, he contriyed to slip OF
fhis bonds and, with better luck tha
the day before, escaped and eluded rt
capture How he contrived we nevC
learned, but for days atlerward "
head Of the two KentuCkians in th
next town hunting for and cursing tn
ingratitude and cunning Of arun-awn
"nleger." But they never found bin
Toabe sure one needn't have gone
Illinois thirty or even dozen yea
ago, TO see q slave-hunt. 1t was onl
in 1855 that Anthony Burns was le
through the streets of Boston, und'
military escort. Thank God all that