Attempted Capture of a Fugitive Slave.
Attempted Capture of a Fugitive Slave.

    WILKESBARRE, Sept. 6.--Attempted capture of a Fugitive Slave.--Last Saturday morning, Marshall Wynkoop of Philadelphia, accompanied by four assistants made a descent on the dining room of the Ph�nix Hotel of this city, and arrested one of the colored men employed there by the name of Bitt. The Marshall succeeded in getting the handcuffs on one of Bitt's wrists, but before he could secure the other, Bitt freed himself by a sudden effort, seized up a carving knife from the table, made a lunge with it at the nearest assistant, used the loose handcuff over the heads of the others, and leaving them sprawling on the floor, dashed out into the street. Wynkoop and his men followed, giving him three or four shots. Bitt plunged into the Susquehana, determined to drown rather than be taken alive. The chase and result excited great interest in the town, but there was no interference by the people. After a time the Marshall gave up the chase and went away.--Phil. Register.


Source:

Unknown, "Attempted Capture of a Fugitive Slave," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, Friday, 9 September 1853, p. 2.

Created March 1, 2004; Revised March 1, 2004
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~wynkoop/index.htm
Comments to [email protected]

Copyright © 2004 by Christopher H. Wynkoop, All Rights Reserved

This site may be freely linked to but not duplicated in any fashion without my written consent.

Site map

The Wynkoop Family Research Library
Home