PEORIA REGISTER AND NORTH-WESTERN GAZETTEER.
Vol. VI. PEORIA, ILLINOIS…FRIDAY, MAY 27, 1842 No. 9.
Adventures.
ESCAPE OF A SLAVE.
In July last, Nelson Hacket, the slave of Alfred Wallace, living in Washington county, Arkansas, committed a rape on the person of a white female, and apprehending the punishment of the law for that crime, determined to abscond. He accordingly on the same night stole a horse valued at $300, a gold watch and chain valued at $200, with some minor articles, and fled towards Canada. Being well acquainted with the country for a hundred miles around, he pressed forward with comparative security; but on getting beyond that distance he was necessarily compelled to be more shy. He traveled only at night, and hiding through the day in the woods, subsisted on such fare as the desert afforded. –
On reaching the Mississippi river, he luckily found the ferry tended by a negro, of whom it is believed he made a confidant, as the same negro subsequently denied all knowledge of the fugitive’s passing that way. The friend thus gained doubtless furnished him with a supply of food, while by his advice he was probably enabled to proceed more boldly. Avoiding the thoroughfares he made for Marion city on the Mississippi, where, from his appearance and the plausibility of his manners, he crossed into Illinois without being at all suspected by the ferryman.
Here he breathed freer, and ventured to pursue his journey in the day time. His appearance was greatly in his favor. He was handsomely formed, about 30 years old, of very prepossessing address, wore his hair nicely combed, was very genteelly clad, and was in short a negro dandy. As he journeyed, he would sometimes represent himself as being a free man, living in some county before him, and at others, when he thought it would better answer his purpose, as a slave escaping from bondage. Thus he traveled through this state, Ohio and Michigan, to the Canada line, which he found no difficulty in crossing, and arrived in Sandwich in September, where he fancied himself secure.
During all this time, however, the officers of justice were in hot pursuit. The owner of the negro relinquished all claim to him, and he was followed with a warrant to arrest him on the criminal charges spoken of. No trace of him could be found till the officers reached Marion city, where, getting on the track, they were able to keep it till they came upon him at Sandwich, ten days after his arrival there. The horse and watch were found in his possession; and the owner of the former being one of the pursuers, it was surrendered up to him. The watch was retained till further evidence could be obtained, and Nelson was committed to jail, to await a requisition from the governor of Arkansas to the governor of Canada.
The requisition was received in February, whereupon Nelson was brought over to the United States and delivered into the custody of Mr. Davenport, who committed him to the jail in Detroit until the opening of navigation on the upper lakes. A few days previous to such opening, Mr. Evans arrived from Arkansas, with full power from the civil authorities to take him in charge; and engaging Mr. Davenport to accompany him, they left in one of the first vessels. Either while on the passage, or as they were about to leave Detroit, they casually fell in which four men, from Western New York, bound to Iowa, for the purpose of examining the country with a view to their removal there. These men seomed to enter cordially into the interests of the conductors of the prisoner, and offered to relieve them in watching him, which service was readily accepted. The fugitive had been furnished with a pair of hobbles at Detroit, which he continued to wear throughout the journey.
The vessel arrived at Chicago, passages for seven were taken in Winter’s stage for Peoria, and every thing went on well. On the third night all safely arrived at Princeton, Bureau county, the immediate conductors of the negro congratulating themselves that in one day more they would again be on a steamboat, and in another day in a slave state, where their chief anxiety would be over. How far they were justified in indulging in these anticipations will soon appear.
Care was taken to keep Nelson as secluded from observation as possible, and he had no converse with a single person in Princeton. After supper the whole party were furnished with a room in the second story of the tavern, in which all retired to rest about 9 o’clock. Every window was closed, and it was observed that they shut down every closely, and could not be raised without considerable effort, atten led with noise. All continued awake and in conversation till 12 o’clock, when they sunk into a profound sleep. One of the New-Yorkers awaking at half past 3 and lighting a candle, discovered a window to be open, and on looking for Nelson, lo! he was gone! The alarm was instantly sounded – scouts were sent in every direction – and every possible means used to discover the fugitive; but all were unsuccessful. How he escaped defies all conjecture. How he could have freed himself from his irons without making a noise, or how he could have raised the window without being heard, or how he could have afterwards concealed himself so as to evade the minute search which followed, is altogether inexplicable. The jump from the window was by no means perilous, it being but 10 or 12 feet from the ground, but every thing else connected with his escape is a mystery. It is possible that one of the New-Yorkers may have proved treacherous, as he was alone with the negro the evening before when the others were at supper, but even if disposed, it is not seen how he could have helped him.
The four New-Yorkers continued on to Peoria the next day, whence they proceeded on their journey. Messrs. Davenport and Evans remained behind continuing the search for Nelson, and did not reach here till the day after. They have offered a reward of $200 for the apprehension and delivery of the fugitive to the jailer of St. Louis, or $100 if delivered to the jailer of Detroit, which will be paid by either of those persons.
P.S. Since writing the above we learn that the negro has been taken, which welcome intelligence Messrs. Davenport and Evans received by a letter from Princeton on Saturday evening. It appears that he had wandered about for two days and nights through the prairie and timber, and, losing his way was taken only seven miles from Princeton, by a man into whose house he went for the purpose of obtaining something to eat. His captor arrived with him in charge on Monday morning, just in time for the Mermaid, which was about hauling out for St. Louis, and was promptly paid the promised reward. We are informed that he is an abolitionists, but one who was determined to show, as he said, that abolitionists are not the men to connive at the escape of a criminal from merited punishment.