The New York Times, July 21, 1860
Shameful Outrage.
Three negroes living near Clifton, Iroquois County, Illinois, were kidnapped on the 2d. The local papers give the following account of the transaction.
On Sunday the Kidnappers met at the house of JOHN O’NEAL, about three-fourths of a mile west of Clifton, procured a team, and placed sentinels along the road and in and about Ashkum. On the afternoon of that day GEO. D. SMITH went into the village and procured a room. He then went out and enticed the unsuspecting five negro men into this place, and called for, and was supplied with whisky and cards. At a preconcerted signal, the whole company entered the house with knives and revolvers and attempted to take the negroes and fetter them. A general fight ensued, several of the negroes fighting desperately, and two made their escape. The three, SLATER, who leaves a wife, and who is a free negro from Boston, JOHN, from Maryland and WILLIAM, a little boy from Florida, were finally subdued and tied. They were immediately put into a lumber wagon in waiting and run under the whip to Ashkum. The alarm having been given in and about Clifton, the citizens of the neighborhood assembled, and the down train from Chicago coming along in a short time, they got aboard of the cars and went to Ashkum for the purpose of effecting a rescue. Arriving at that place the conductor ran into town without giving a signal, stopped but a moment, until the negroes could be rolled into the baggage-car, and started his train without even attempting to make the usual signal. A large company was there armed, ready to prevent a rescue, and the Clifton men were compelled to jump off the train without having accomplished anything. The three negroes were taken South, and have undoubtedly, ere this time, been sold.