St. Louis (MO) Democrat, "Runaway Negroes," November 7, 1853

   RUNAWAY NEGROES.––But a short time since we chronicled the running away of a number of negroes from this county, under circumstances which induced the belief that some person or persons well acquainted with the best mode of effecting the escape of fugitives, were deeply concerned in the matter. We are again called upon to notice a similar movement, but more alarming in extent. On Saturday evening six slaves belonging to Mr. Albert G. Johnson, of this county, (one man, one woman, and four children,) one man belonging ot John T. Redd, Esq., of this place, one belonging ot Mr. Rufus Matthews, a servant man of Mr. J.K. Taylor's, one of Mr. Caleb Taylor's, and one of Mrs. Hopkin's, (living with Mr. John Gwyan, of Lewis county,)––eleven in all––and all of this county, escaped. This is somewhat alarming, so far as the extent of the movement is concerned. One fact is obvious: there must have been a full and perfect understanding among these several servants, inasmuch as they all left, so far as we are informed, at the same time, and doubtless pursued the same route until they reached Quincy. We heard it reported that the sheriff of Adams county had written to some of our citizens, stating that all of these fugitives were secreted in Quincy during Sunday and Monday, and that their friends there had made arrangements to further and secure their escape from their masters. If this be so, we are very sorry to hear it. Not such, we are convinced, would be their treatment at the hands of the people of this State, should their property be in danger. We should rather expect to find our citizens actively engaged in securing that property, and returning it to the rightful owners. We shall suspend further remarks on this subject until we hear something more definite. We learned on Tuesday that these slaves passed through Quincy, and were then in all probability far advanced towards their ultimate destination. 

   Quite a number of our people left here in pursuit on Monday afternoon.

   Since writing the above, we have learned that the fugitives were not secreted in Quincy, but passed through there on Saturday night, and reached Mendon, 12 miles distant, before morning. This would seem to augur a great activity on the part of their friends, the "higher law" men. We still entertain the hope that they may all be secured and returned to their masters.––[Palmyra, Mo. Whig, 3d.