1853 Cumberland MD Stampede

On Saturday night, January 15, 1853, nine freedom seekers escaped from Cumberland, Maryland in a "stampede." Eight of the escapees were claimed by J.G. Lynn, a slaveholding attorney, and the ninth person by another attorney, Joseph Dilley. The nine freedom seekers charted a course some 25 miles into Bedford county, Pennsylvania, where they were overtaken by slave catchers. The eight freedom seekers claimed by Lynn were all recaptured. Their daring escape attempt had clearly taken a toll, and when recaptured five of of the freedom seekers had "feet so badly frozen" they could barely walk. Reports do not specify if the ninth enslaved person, claimed by Dilley, was also re-enslaved.