assengers
below, she was squeezed through, but not without bruising and breaking
the skin considerably where the rub was severest. All were now beneath
the deck, the well-fitting oil-cloth was put over the hole covering the
cabin-floor snugly, and a heavy table was set over the hole. They are
within sight of the lock, but no human beings are visible about the
schooner save the Captain, the mate and a small boy, the son of the
Captain. At the lock not unexpectedly three officers came on board of
the boat and stopped her. The Captain was told that they had received a
telegraphic dispatch from Norfolk to the effect that his boat was
suspected of having slaves secreted thereon. They talked with the
Captain and mate separately for a considerable while, and more closely
did they examine the boy, but gained no information except that "the
yellow-fever had been raging very bad in Norfolk." At this fever-news
the officers were not a little alarmed, and they now lost no time in
attending to their official errand. They searched the cabin where the
two fat women were first secreted, and other parts of the boat pretty
thoroughly. They then commenced taking up the hatchways, but the place
seemed so shockingly perfumed with foul air that the men started back
and declared that nobody could live in such a place, and swore that it
smelt like the yellow-fever; the Captain laughed at them, and signified
that they were perfectly welcome to search to their hearts' content. The
officers concluded that there were no slaves on that boat, that nobody
could live there, etc., etc., asked for their charges ($3), and
discharged the Captain. The children had been put under the influence of
liquor to keep them still, so they made no noise; the others endured
their hour of agony patiently until the lock was safely passed, and the
river reached. Fresh air was then allowed them, and the great danger was
considered overcome. The Captain, however, far from deeming it advisable
to land his live cargo at the wharves of Philadelphia, delivered them at
League Island. The passengers testified that Captain B. was very kind.
They were noticed thus:

Isaac, was about fifty years of age, dark, tall, well-made, intelligent,
and was owned by George Brown, who resided at Deep Creek. Isaac
testified that said Brown had invariably treated him cruelly. For thirty
years Isaac had hired his time, found himself in food, clothing, and
everything, yet as he advanced in ye