Boston (MA) Liberator, "The Great Slave Stampede in Missouri," January 18, 1850

ANOTHER CHAPTER OF SOUTHERN ATROCITIES AND HORRORS.

   The Great Slave Stampede in Missouri.–– The Canton, Lewis county, Mo., Reporter, gives the following account of the recent great slave stampede there:––

   A great excitement prevails in Lewis county, in regard to the recent attempt of the negroes to run away and rise in insurrection; and as many reports are in circulation in relation thereto, we deem it our duty to publish a true statement of the matter as it occurred. 

   A little before day on Friday morning last, a negro man, belonging to James Miller, came into the house, ostensibly to make a fire. Before going out, Mr. Miller heard him set towards the gun rack, take something, and leave with caution. The circumstance exciting some suspicion, he went to the door and called first one and then another of his negroes, but receiving no answer, he went to the negro quarter, and found no one there. He then aroused the family, first ascertaining, however, that both his guns were missing. The neighbors were alarmed as soon as possible, and pursuit made. Mr. Harvey Henderson was the first to come in sight of them. In addition to the guns, they had taken Mr. Miller's wagon and team. Mr. Henderson approached near enough to identify the wagon, &c., and then quickly wheeled his horse, to notify and bring up additional force; and it was well he did so, for it was afterwards ascertained from some of the negroes that they had determined to kill him, and for that purpose were bringing a loaded gun to bear upon him, as he wheeled his horse and disappeared. 

   The pursuers, numbering about thirty guns, soon came up. The negroes, amounting to between twenty and thirty, halted. They had three guns, together with large clubs and butcher knives. Besides Miller's negroes, some eighteen or twenty, there were several belonging to Judge Wm. Ellis, Mr. McKim, and Mr. McKutcheon. As soon as they halted, they made their dispositions for an obstinate defence. Their pursuers marched toward them in regular order with presented guns. When near enough, they asked them to surrender––they refused. They drew nearer and nearer, parlaying and insisting on a surrender––the negroes still manifesting the most dogged and settled hostile, peremptorily refusing to yield. Finally, after waiting and reasoning the case with them without the least apparent effect, and until all patience was exhausted and they commence closing upon the negroes, when Miller's John, a very powerful negro, and fierce as a grisly bear, confronted Capt. J.H. Blair,w it his club raised, in the act of striking, when Mr. Miller, his master, told Blair to shoot him. Blair made one step backwards and fired––the negro turned partly round, recovered, seized his knife, and was in the act of rushing on Blair, when John Fretwell fired at him, and he fell dead. Both shots took effect. 

   Undismayed by the occurrence, the negroes still maintained the same hostile attitude. Five minutes were given to them to consider of their surrender. The women first gave up, and implored the men to do so likewise. Before the end of the time, the men yielded, gave up their weapons, were bound and brought to Canton. The leaders have been shipped to St. Louis and sold. 

   It has since been ascertained that it was intended to be a general insurrection, and, to that end, it is believed that nearly all the slaves in the county had notice, and were to have met and rendezvoused on Friday at Canton. The plan was to kill all the negroes who would not join them––and with force of arms move off in a body to Illinois, and thence to Canada. However preposterous the plan may seem, it certainly has a good deal of truth for its foundation. The younger negroes disclosed it, but others, who did not join them, acknowledged they were notified and knew of it. Besides, others have made a break. We understand that Parson James Lillord's negroes, in his absence, after abusing the family, and making many wicked threats against them, made off, but were luckily caught by the neighbors, and lodged in the Monticello jail.