Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-04-07

pointing special inspectors and en-
powering pilots TO perform such in
spections; making the vessel response
BILE for afee Of $500 to all such in
spections; awarding fee of 800 to
any inspector or other person who
should discover any slave so attempt
ing to escape, and in various other
ways imposing close restrictions and
heavy penalties, so as to make it a
matter of great risk for a vessel to
aid any slave in his flight for freedom.
The schooner took on her lading of
corn and the night before her depart
ure the fifteen prospective passengers
gathered at a designated point on the
bank of the river, whence they were
to be taken off by small boat sent
out for that purpose. Tho the point
of rendezvous had been selected far
beyond the regular beat of the police,
they had not been long in waiting be-
fore they heard, or imagined they
heard, footsteps approaching, and to
prevent arrest they waded into the
water, here shallow, and there stood
for an hour and half up to their
waists, in the shadow of a vessel un-
dergoing repairs in the stocks. About
10 o'clock. thoroughly soaked, they
were received on board small oyster
boat, sent out by Blue Beard. and
safely conveyed to the Clipper. Here,
all except Mrs. Walker and another
woman were required to enter the
priUat,, cabin devised by the captain.
The two women were secreted among
some sacks OF corn in a secluded spot
of the cabin, considered sufficiently
safe until the time of official ordeal
should come. All things thus ar
ranged the vessel set out on her
course. After few hours it was
deemed safe to allow the passengers
to come on deck a short time fer
fresh air which they greatly needed,
from the sitting closeness of the COM
partment. Nearly suffocated, they
came up and the air had such an eff
feet upon one Scott that he became so
demonstrative that Captain Baylis
had to threaten throwing him over
board before he became safely quoted.
As the schooner approached the
place of final inspection, they were
again required to go into their .'hole."
This time Mrs. Walker even could not /
De excused, so great was the danger.
She pleaded her size but in vain.
Yielding to the captains order and
he opportunities of her fellows she
made an effort to descend, but was un-
successful. Then one OF the other
women resolutely said to her, You
must take off your clothes; it will
never do for you to stay on deck and
,etray the rest of us" This stand be-
ne taken by all the others she had to
omply. Thus prepared, by pushs
ne from above and with pulling below
IN the part of the passengers, she
vas safely landed in the retreat. the
worse only by few scratches and
bruises. To prevent any noise on the
,art of the children, they were dealt
LIBERAL portions of liquor to stupefy
hem till the ordeal should be passed.
al being safely below, an oilcloth,
lifting the cabin snugly was spread
lpon the floor and heavy table set
,ver trap.
This work was accomplished none |
90 soon, for they were now nearing
he lock. with none visible on deck |
out the captain, his son and the mate.
Once there they were boarded, not ex-
by three officers who in
formed the captain they were in re-
ceipt of dispatch from Norfolk that
he was suspected Of having on board
secreted slaves, and they demanded
the right of search which was freely,
granted. The captain and
mate, and especially the boy, were
questioned closely. but all the informa-
ton eliminated was that the yellow
fever had broken out badly in Norfolk
at which the public fanctionaries be-
came somewhat nervous, but, never
theless, proceeded to carry out the OBJ
iect Of their visit. They searched the
more open places. among the corn
sacks and then began taking up the
hatchways. Here they were met by
such a stencil of foul and sitting air
that they declared i. smelled liked