of the boat, into the chill October waters of the Erie Canal. I jumped over board I was “When expecting the kidnappers were doing their Harris told the court, she would, work,” “die rather than to be taken by the in the canal, the mother and her three year old kidnappers.” Flailing daughter were drowning. The mother was fished from the canal, out of her senses but alive; the child's body was never found, and no effort was made by the crew to recover the Harris' daughter. William Harris, after placing his wife below the deck and making sure she was safe, went back to the deck the following morning where Cluney, to cut his Catherine “threatened throat.” approached Captain Webster and protested at the threat against her husband, demanding of the going to let the men kill my husband, are The man replied that he Captain, “you ain't you?” would, you what shall be done, the sheriff will be here at 10 o'clock, and take his head “show the wife could reply was, have mercy on and returned to her berth to tell off.” All “Lord me,” her husband of the Captain's plans. William replied that he, sit and wait patiently his “would 10 o'clock, Cluney came into the couple's berth, laughed and, and, doom.” At “ hallowed,” the crew would be there presently and take [William's] William's resolve was “said head off.” than have that the would cut his own The strong. “Sooner pleasure,” slave resolved, “he throat.” boat was silent and Catherine looked away. As her eye went back to her husband, the she, “saw blood running the black man's neck. Her husband had sliced across his own throat with a down,” straight razor. She cried for help, but none came. Cowell and Cluney, the fellow travellers turned the nigger, let him die; if they had had the cutting of it they would tormenters, said, “d—n have done it Captain Webster came into the cabin and scoffed at William's wound, right.” declaring the cut it to hurt... d—n him, he ain't going to die As William lay on man, “hadn't yet.”
of the boat, into the chill October waters of the Erie Canal. “When I jumped over board I was expecting the kidnappers were doing their work,” Harris told the court, she would, “die rather than to be taken by the kidnappers.” Flailing in the canal, the mother and her three year old daughter were drowning. The mother was fished from the canal, out of her senses but alive; the child's body was never found, and no effort was made by the crew to recover the Harris' daughter. William Harris, after placing his wife below the deck and making sure she was safe, went back to the deck the following morning where Cluney, “threatened to cut his throat.” Catherine approached Captain Webster and protested at the threat against her husband, demanding of the Captain, “you ain't going to let the men kill my husband, are you?” The man replied that he would, “show you what shall be done, the sheriff will be here at 10 o'clock, and take his head off.” All the wife could reply was, “Lord have mercy on me,” and returned to her berth to tell her husband of the Captain's plans. William replied that he, “would sit and wait patiently his doom.” At 10 o'clock, Cluney came into the couple's berth, laughed and, “ hallowed,” and, “said the crew would be there presently and take [William's] head off.” William's resolve was strong. “Sooner than have that pleasure,” the slave resolved, “he would cut his own throat.” The boat was silent and Catherine looked away. As her eye went back to her husband, she, “saw the blood running down,” the black man's neck. Her husband had sliced across his own throat with a straight razor. She cried for help, but none came. Cowell and Cluney, the fellow travellers turned tormenters, said, “d—n the nigger, let him die; if they had had the cutting of it they would have done it right.” Captain Webster came into the cabin and scoffed at William's wound, declaring the man, “hadn't cut it to hurt... d—n him, he ain't going to die yet.” As William lay on