and asked, “Where are we?” The answer was, “We are going to take on wood at Malden.” “But this won’t do,” said Curtis, and he ran to find the Captain. To him he began to remonstrate in a violent manner, and Bill, meanwhile, was trying, by giving orders to the new hands, to prevent their landing; “but,” said Curtis, “you agreed to land me in Michigan.”
Capt.—“ I’ll do so when we get into the river.”
Curtis.—“ If you land here my niggers will escape.”
Capt.—“ I can’t help that, we can’t go without wood.”
Curtis.—“ I’ll give you a thousand dollars to land me and the niggers in Michigan.”
Capt.—“ 1 can’t do it without wood.”
Curtis.—“ I shall hold you to your promise.”
Capt.—“ Of course you will; I’ll land you, I did not promise to land your niggers.”
Curtis now began to swear and use brutal language, when Captain Titus told him to stop that or he would have him arrested as soon as they should touch the wharf.
George and Clara were among the hands at the gang* way, as they had been instructed by the mate, and when the plank was thrown out they ran into the town, Curtis and Bill after them, crying, “Stop, thief!” in great excitement. If they had taken time to think, they would not have ventured on shore; as it was, they were roughly handled, and glad when they found shelter on the boat again.
Some two years after, I was on a steamboat from Detroit to Cleveland; we stopped at Malden for wood, and while there I fell into conversation with an intelligent man, and inquired if he knew George and Clara, relating something of the above incidents. He said he knew them; they were prospering in business and much respected. He said that he saw the chase in the streets? and gave a very amusing account of the way the Kentucky gentlemen were handled.
