A Fugitive Slave Excitement in Philadelphia.
Correspondence of the New York Daily Times.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday. July 27, 1857.
Yesterday afternoon a rumor was afloat that a negro man named JIM, who had accompanied his master (Mr. CHARLES PARLANGE) from New Orleans to this city, had left his master for the purpose of testing the sweets of freedom. It was alleged by Mr. PARLANGE that the said “Jim” had taken with him two tin boxes, one of which contained money. Mr. PARLANGE was on his way to New York via the Camden and Amboy Railroad, and upon his arrival at the Walnut Street wharf with two ladies, “Jim” was missing. Mr. PARLANGE immediately made application to a Mr. WALLACE, who is a police officer stationed at the Walnut Street Depot. Mr. WALLACE got into a carriage with Mr. PARLANGE and the two ladies, and as Mr. WALLACE stated, drove back to the Guard House, where “Jim” had not been heard of since he left for the Walnut Street wharf. A story was then set afloat to the effect that a negro of a certain but particular description (such as Louisiana nigger-drivers only can give) had stolen two boxes as stated above. A notice signed “Clarke” was received at the Police Telegraph Office by the operator, (DAVID WUNDERLY) containing a full description of Jim, also offering a reward of $100 for his capture. This notice was telegraphed to all the Wards on every section. This morning Mr. WUNDERLY found fault with the reporters using the information and in presence of some four or five persons, said the notice signed “Clarke,” was a private paper and no reporter had a right to look at it, at the same time asserting that if knew where the nigger was he would give him up, as $100 did not come along every day. The Policeman WALLACE expressed the utmost fear for the name of Mr. PARLANGE transpiring, and stated that he was an intimate friend of his. It does not seem that the matter was communicated to Wards by official authority whatever and who be “Clarke” is, whose name was signed to the notice, has not yet transpired. Some of the papers noticed it briefly this morning, which has set several of the officers on their tips.
There is little doubt that “Jim” has merely exercised his own judgment about remaining with his master any longer and took this opportunity to betake himself to freedom. It is assumed that he was to precede his master to Walnut Street Wharf with the baggage; but singular enough to say, no complaint has been made about the baggage being missed, simply the two tin boxes, and particularly the one containing money. This is doubtless a ruse to engage the services of the Philadelphia Police in the interesting game of nigger-hunting. Mr. PARLANGE, if he is sojourning in your City, will doubtless be glad to learn that the matter of his man “Jim” and the two tin boxes has received ample publicity.
W.H.
