Wiley, who had been on the lookout for a pursuing party, and
they gave the information that Rachel was deposited in
Campbell's slave-pen. They were directed by an acquaintance of
one of the party, to Francis S. Cochran, a prominent member of
the Society of Friends. Francis informed them he was well
acquainted with Campbell, and he at once accompained them.
Campbell assured Friend Cochran that whilst he approved of
Slavery and catching runaway slaves, he despised kidnapping and
kidnappers; and on the arrival of McCreary, he ordered him to
remove Rachel forthwith, which he proceeded to do. Friend
Cochran insisted on going with them, and saw the girl deposited
in jail to await a legal investigation. By this time it was
evening, and the Chester county men all went home with Cochran,
where they had their suppers; the excitement being great, Friend
Cochran did not consider it safe for them to go to the depot
direct; he procured their tickets and had them driven by a
circuitous route to the depot, charging them to keep together,
and take their seats in the cars at once. Soon after they were
seated and before the cars started, Miller stepped out on the
platform to smoke, against the expostulations of his friends.
Jesse B. Kirk, his brother-in-law and Abner Richardson followed
immediately, and although they were right at his heels, he was
gone; they called him by name, and stepped down into the crowd,
but soon became alarmed for their own safety, and returned to
their seats. A consultation was held, and it was agreed that
Wiley, who was least known, and not directly identified with the
affair, should pass through the train when it started, and see
if Miller had not mistakenly got into another car. At Stemen's
Run station, Wiley returned to the party with the sad tidings
that Joseph C. Miller was not in that train. On consultation, it
was agreed that Jesse B. Kirk and Abner Richardson should return
from Perryville in the next train, and prosecute further search
for Miller. They did so return, and McCreary also returned to
Baltimore in the same car, he having left Baltimore in the car
in the evening with the Chester county men; they arrived late in
the night, and locked themselves up in a room in the first hotel
they came to. Their search was fruitless, and they were forced
to return