Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-04-16
SLAVE CHASE IN ILLINOIS.
BY SYDNEY HOWARD GRAY.


Illinois was good hunting-ground
then for A bOIishiOniStS and fugitiVes
from slavery, as well as for other game.
There was a hustle at the door one
NIGHT as we sat in the common room of
a little wayside tavern in new settle
ment of hundred people, and pres
ent1v two men, armed to the teeth,
walled in with a black man, his hands
bound behind his back, between them.
he was a braWny fellow, with a bright,
intelligent face, who had the wit to
run away from Kentucky some months
before. and thought he had run far
enough when he reached free State.
His master, hearing where he was, had
come after him with 1riend, and
when he was found had only to bid
him come back again. Nobody IN IL
linois then thought it proper to ask
anv questions of a white man who
sa d that a stray "nigger" was his slave.
These men tossed the poor fellow some
bits of supper from their table as they
would toss them to a dog, and when
warmed and filed. the master conde-
scended to explain the circumstances
OF the case.
Tnis boy, he said, was his nigger.
He had found him the night before, and
uad started that morning on their way
back 10 Kentucky. The roads were
neavy, and to get on the 1asters they
| had Travelled Httie and go," fetting the
negro rest himself by mounting one OF
the horses-the white men We're on
horse and riding
a short distance. The black was so
submissive and cheerful, mounting
and dismOuntiDg as he was told, ana
whether getting ahead or Ioisering be-
hind, so obedient 10 call, that they
were thrown entirely OFF their guard.
But AZ last, as they were approaching a
piece Of climber "a creek. generally
with bluffs more or less steep, always
running through the "timberN Of the
prairies,-the negro, being little way
ahead, drove his heels into the horses
1 for the woods. The whites at once, OIL
course, saw his purpose and started in
pursuit. 1t was a short chase, but a
rapid one. When the negro reached
/ the edge of the bluff his master was
/ close behind him. Without an instant'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 others fol-
/ lowed as unhesitatiDgly, for afhOusand
/ dollars worth of "nigger" was worth
the risk of a good many bruises and
no decent white man could stand still
and see a negro do what he 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 in" in the fight, ana.ih he black
at length was overcome ana bound
There was no more "tie and gU' fOl
him that day, but with his hands tied
behind him he trudged sullenly along
| led captive by rope at his masters
saddle-bow.
'And now, Jim,' said his master, a:
he finished his story, "aren't you sorry
for what you done ?"
The prisoner raised his head anC
looked upon the jury,-four boys frrsE
from Massachusetts, who bad never
/ given a serious thought to slavery til
they stood face to face with il here IL
this man who had only few hours be
i fore had that desperate fight for Life
and freedOm,-he looked upon the jury
and said, ''No, massa ~ -
i "What - screamed the KeDtuckian
jumping from his chair, and stridinG
across The room with a threatening ges
:, ture; "aren't sorry ! You black rasca
you aren't sorry Why didn't
always treat you well Didn't you al
ways have enough to eat and to wear
Wasn't L always good master p
Eyes, massa."
"And YOU aren't sorry A year agt
you ran away from a good home anC
to-day, when I'm taking you back t.
it. you tried to escape and i only Sc
"
God and you aren't sorry ~
''No massa and I'll do II agin if
gifts chance 90
They started on their Eomewar,
journey in the morning, the negro Sc
cured as before. In the course of tn
day, however, he contrived to slip on
of his bonds and, with better luck thai
the day before, escaped and eluded re
capture. How he cOntrived it We nev
er learned, but for days afterward W
heard of two Kentuckians In the mex
town hunting for and cursiDg the in
gratitude and cunning of a runawa.
''nigger." But they never found him
To be sure one needn't have gone t
Illinois thirty or twenty or even a doZ
en- years ago, to see a slaYe-hunt. ]
, was only in 1855 that Anthony Burn
was led through the streets of Bostor
under military escort. Thank God al
that is over now !-ATLANTIC MONTE
LY for -ApTH.