The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-11-06
A Run for Lie.
AN EXCITING CHASE AFTER coLoRED
RAvIsHER,- IN WHICH WIND AND
LIMB oUTwIT SHOT AND BULLET.
LonisviIIe Courier. JournaI.l

upon Frances Otte, by two negroes, one
of whom is supposed to be George
Washington. Ali day Sunday the wild
est excitement prevailed, and threats
of violence upon the perpetrators of this
dastardly deed were openly made. The
entire country for miles around was
searched by citizens, who firmly intended
to lynch the negroes if caught The ex-
element somewhat subsidized yesterday,
although the entire community denounce
! the ne groes in the bitterest terms, and
many have not wholly given up the idea
OF lynching Washington, should he fall
into their hands Henry Otte, the
brother of the outraged girl, at the head
of posse of thirty citizens, made dill
lgent search all day yesterday, and peo-
pie who are acquainted with young Otte
say that should Washington fall into his
hands he would never be returned to
the city alive.
The vigilance of the police in pursu-
ing the chase with such determination is
highly commendable, and it is more
than likely that the negroes will be cap
tured by them. Both men were tracked
into the cave in the eastern part of Cave
Hill cemetery Sunday, but they escaped
from the cave and were not seen again
until discovered by Lieut.. Steller. Lieut..
Hollinseed and Officers Covert, Ken
neman, CAM and Hennessy spent all
day yesterday in the search, but neither
of them caught sight of Washington, nor
did they hear of him at any point.
They all separated at the WOrkhouse
creek and seal ched an area of at least
eight miles between the Workhouse and
Brownsboro roads, but returned home
without having accomplished anything
whatever. Lieut.. Minton met two ne
groes yesterday who say that they saw
Washington about 10 o'clock Sunday
night, badly wounded and
BLEEDING PRoFUsELY,
having two wounds, one in the back and
the other in the neck, both ugly and
dangerous. He was near the water
works road and going in the direction of
the river.
Lieut. Jacob Steller is the principal
officer who has been working up the
case, and an account of the exciting
chase he was engaged in all day Sunday
will prove of interest. He started out
late Saturday night, and since then he
having rested about eight hours only
during the last two days. Three squads
were formed, two men in each squad.
They took separate routes, one party
going out Shelby street. the second took
the river road, and the last division fol
lowed the course of the work house
creek. In addition to these, three
squads of citizens were formed, alto
gether numbering.
SIXTEEN WELL-ARMED MEN.
They secured the whole coun try, es-
pecially watching the river bank, for the
circuit of seven miles. They followed
closely upon the trail of the negroes,
and a half past four o'clock Sunday af-
ternoon, while near the Lying-in hospital,
they felt certain of having bagged their
game.
Lieut.. Steller and Officer Hamilton
went to the top of the hill, where they
separated from each other at a distance
of almost one hundred and fifty yards
The lieutenant stationed himself on the
summit of the hill and Hamilton on the
side. They lodged along the hill behind
the trees until they arrived close to the
hospital, when they noticed two negro
men, whom they Immediately recognized
as Washington and his companion. The
Lieutenant motioned to Hamilton to
dodge along the hillside, while he jumped
from tree to tree, and they were within
half square of the negroes before they
observed him. At this point the negroes
separated. Seeing that they were dis
covered, Washington pressed both hands
against his hips and started off at rapid
trot The officers then directed their
attention solely to Washington, and
Steller stepped from behind the trees and
excitedly yelled to Washington to ''halt."
Startled at Steller's clear, ringing voice,
which penetrated to the depths of the
forest, he increased his speed at every
Jump, until he seemed almost to have
attained the
SPEED OF A REINDEER.
Their main hope in capturing him now
was to terrify him by firing at him, and
a regular broadside was opened upon the
fleeing negro. He was compelled to pass
these points, when his life was momenta-
rily in danger. He easily passed Steller,
when Hamilton commenced firing, and
was followed by several shots from the
keeper of the pest house. Whether the
shots took effect is not known, but
Washington continued his flight without
the least signs of fatigue. He ran down
the hillside toward the Workhouse road,
where he met another obstacle to his
path, a party of four, composed of the
brother of the girl and three others.
Each man levelled his gun at Washing
ton, and they discharged single volley
at him, but apparently with no effect.
His pursuers came focking in on all sides,
in the chase. The heetness of foot with
which the negro was possessed appeared
simply marvellous. The gap between
himself and his pursuers gradually wi
dened, and maddened and enraged at the
fear of his escape, the men Kept up
constant fire, which, however. proved of
no avail. All along the route, when any
one appeared to impede his progress, he
would
SEIZE IMMENSE STONES,
which he hurled at them with unerring
precision, and by the greatest agility his
pErsuers avoided the dangerous missiles.
After running about a quarter of mile
he stopped down and pulled off his
SnOeS duu codt. WHICH Nc tuECH asfuc
and ran rapidly ahead. Finally his pur-
surers lost sight of him entirely, and were
compelled to give up the chase, feeling
greatly chargined at the disappointment
they had received. Washington's es-
cape was really remarkable one The
only reasonable supposition is that he
was we'll acquainted with the roads and
by paths, and feeling secure upon every
inch of ground upon which he trod, he
could run with more rapidity than his
pursuers, who, in all probability, we're