obacco, catching 'runaways,' and
hanging around the court-house." However, he owned six head of slaves,
and had a "rough wife," who belonged to the Methodist Church. Left
because he "expected every day to be sold"--his master being largely in
"debt." Brought with him a butcher-knife.

Levin is twenty-two, rather short built, medium size and well colored.
He fled from Lawrence G. Colson, "a very bad man, fond of drinking,
great to fight and swear, and hard to please." His mistress was "real
rough; very bad, worse than he was as 'fur' as she could be." Having
been stinted with food and clothing and worked hard, was the apology
offered by Levin for running off.

Stebney Swan, John Stinger, Robert Emerson, Anthony Pugh and Isabella
----. This company came from Portsmouth, Va. Stebney is thirty-four
years of age, medium size, mulatto, and quite wide awake. He was owned
by an oysterman by the name of Jos. Carter, who lived near Portsmouth.
Naturally enough his master "drank hard, gambled" extensively, and in
every other respect was a very ordinary man. Nevertheless, he "owned
twenty-five head," and had a wife and six children. Stebney testified
that he had not been used hard, though he had been on the "auction-block
three times." Left because he was "tired of being a servant." Armed with
a broad-axe and hatchet, he started, joined by the above-named
companions, and came in a skiff, by sea. Robert Lee was the brave
Captain engaged to pilot this Slavery-sick party from the prison-house
of bondage. And although every rod of rowing was attended with
inconceivable peril, the desired haven was safely reached, and the
overjoyed voyagers conducted to the Vigilance Committee.

John is about forty years of age, and so near white that a microscope
would be required to discern his colored origin. His father was white,
and his mother nearly so. He also had been owned by the oysterman
alluded to above; had been captain of one of his oyster-boats, until
recently. And but for his attempt some months back to make his escape,
he might have been this day in the care of his kind-hearted master. But,
because of this wayward step on the part of John, his master felt called
upon to humble him. Accordingly, the captaincy was taken from him, and
he was compelled to struggle on in a less honorable position.
Occasionally John's mind would be refreshed by his master relating the
hard times in the North, the great starvation among the blacks, etc. He