A Drive into Lancaster & a Few Caches 5/14/2009

This morning we took a few caches and drove into Lancaster to see what the city looked like. Our first cache was a virtual on the way into Lancaster on a lonely country road and had to do with Edward Gorsuch, the Christiana Resistance and the Fugitive Slave Law. Edward Gorsuch was reportedly a good man that would not beat his slaves. The Gorsuch farm was in a very productive part of Maryland which allowed them to live well. Mr. Gorsuch was a Quaker who attended the Methodist Episcopal Church. Gorsuch took a middle ground when it came to slavery, which meant that he manumitted his slaves during their twenties and was often paternalistic. Edward Gorsuch was a stubborn, foolhardy, and hot-tempered man whom misjudged his slaves. He was 52 years old at the time of his death. His four slaves that fled were: Noah Buley, Nelson Ford, George Ford, and Joshua Hammond. These were the slaves that Mr. Gorsuch went to Christiana, PA to recapture but he did not come back alive.
Honor was an important motivation why Gorsuch went to retrieve his slaves and would not leave when his life was threatened. The main reason that Mr. Gorsuch did not leave the site of the Resistance when warned was that he felt personally betrayed by his slaves. In comparison with other Southern slave holders Gorsuch did treat his slaves well and even employed them at times. However, he thought that the slaves lives were so good and the outside world so unsympathetic they could do no better. It is important to remember that at this time a majority of Maryland farmers did not own slaves any longer. Mr. Gorsuch was also one of the few major owners of slaves in Maryland at this time. When the slaves did not return he felt that he was not respected nor were his slaves grateful. After all, he did feed, cloth, house, and work with these slaves on a daily basis. In addition to this, he was a very admired figure in the Maryland area being the rich wheat farmer that he was. Having slaves run away made him look disreputable and he had a 200 hundred year family reputation to look after on that land. Furthermore, with the four warrants Mr. Gorsuch did have the law behind him which secured his confidence on the recapturing of his property.
Sept 9, 1851 Mr. Gorsuch attained four warrants which granted him the right to capture his four slaves. The Gorsuch party tried to arrive in four groups to draw less attention but this failed when Marshal Kline's wagon broke down and he did not make the prearranged meeting location. Much of the time between the 9th and the 11th of September was spent trying to get the Gorsuch party together. Two of the Marshal's officers decided that the posse's cover was blown and decided to return back to Philadelphia.
September 10, 1851 rumors were flying in Christiana and at William Parker's house they joked about a posse coming into town. However, William Parker the leader of the local Freedom Society thought that the others were kidding themselves. That night was a typical quiet night at Parker's home.
1AM on Thursday September 11, 1851: The Gorsuch party left for the Gap on foot. They met with their guide on the way. The guide was disguised with a straw hat and a bandanna. Early in the night the posse arrived near the Parker home. They stopped and rested. It is said that they had snacked on cheese and crackers before converging on the house. There has been a debate in regard to the guide. What side was he on, the Gorsuch's or the African- Americans? It seems logical that the guide was trying to earn some extra cash on the side by selling out local slaves. It must have been someone knowledgeable of the area and the local runaways. The guide was not bringing the gang there for a set up because William Parker only received insight on their arrival from a spy. In addition to this, why didn't this guide let the Parker bunch just ambush Gorsuch's party in the woods when they were totally unprepared? The reading proved that the slaves were prepared and yet were surprised that the slave posse arrived in Christiana.
At the same time the posse was coming to the house, Joshua Kite left the home of William Parker. He would go back to Parker's home running and screaming “kidnappers” as he met William Parker near the stairs. While Mr. kite was explaining how at least two men approached him, the Gorsuch party reached the door. The party entered Mr. Parker's home and Mr. Kite ran up stairs. William Parker stood at the base of the stairs when Marshal Kline entered. “Who are you?” asked Parker. The leader, Kline replied, “I am the United States Marshal.” Mr. Parker told him if he took another step he would break his neck. Kline would then repeat himself. Mr. Parker told him he did not care for the United States and Marshal turned to go out of the house. This is about the time Mr. Gorsuch charged up the stairs to the Parker home. It is mentioned in some reconstruction's of the event that the runaways instigated the situation after Gorsuch ascended up the stairs. The Kline's account states that one of the blacks threw an axe and pitch fork but ironically this is not mentioned in the Freedman's story.
At this point Pickney a runaway was becoming afraid and stated that fighting was useless because the Gorsuch party would take them. Kline heard them and agreed with the former slave. Parker, with anger in his voice told his friend not to be afraid, or to give up to any slave holder. He also told them they must fight to their deaths if needed. Kline heard them speaking and replied that he has taken others with talk as big as theirs. Parker Replied, “you have not taken me yet”.
Then Mr. Gorsuch told Kline that they could take them and the law was in their favor. Therefore, the Marshal and Gorsuch began to ascend the stairs when Parker threatened them. They stopped so Kline could read the warrant in hope they would give up. This did nothing but to taunt Mr. Parker more and he dared them to come up but they backed out. Mr. Parker told Mr. Gorsuch that he did not have his slaves and to examine the barn and the down stairs.
Mr. Gorsuch wanted the runaways and after quarreling for a while the Marshal threatened to burn them out of Parker's home. Parker challenged this idea of burning to death and called them cowards. The wife of Parker requested to blow the horn to bring help to their home. The Gorsuch party did not like them blowing the horn because they did not know what it meant. They began shooting. Parker was leaning out the window of his home arguing with Mr. Gorsuch when the Marshal took a shoot at him but missed hitting the glass above him. Parker went for a gun and aimed it at Gorsuch.
The bullet just grazed Gorsuch's shoulder due to Pickney grabbing his arm. Parker and Gorsuch began to argue and another shot was fired at Parker. This is when Parker told Gorsuch that the Williams party could have killed them but has only fired twice. This is an interesting point because in the Freedmen Story this shooting incident was Parker's responsibility, so he must have taken two shots at that time. There was a break in the action probably because the runaways were buying time and hoping their friends heard the horn. During this time Parker introduced everyone but the Gorsuch slaves.
Mr. Abraham Johnson, a runaway, insulted Mr. Gorsuch and he took offense. A small debate began over abolitionists and the Bible. The runaways began singing a song about the Judgement day. Parker warned Gorsuch after this that he will die if he did not flee. Mr. Gorsuch said he would have his property or eat his breakfast in Hell. Mr. Gorsuch ran up the stairs but his son told him to descend the stairs just before he was fired upon. Marshal Kline told the slaves to surrender but the Parker party would not under any conditions. This is where Kline warned them that he was getting a hundred men from Lancaster and Parker told him to bring five hundred to take them. The local community started to come to Parker's house because they heard the horn. The number of black people that responded is controversial but fifty is a realistic number at the scene. There were a few white people and it is realistic to say that they were friends with Parker and the Gorsuch slaves.
At this point the story of the Christina Resistance becomes cloudy because the events happened fast and there was total chaos. The other posse members had just left but Mr. Gorsuch refused to leave. The catalyst for the killing was an argument between Gorsuch and Sam Thompson a slave from his farm. They were exchanging words that were not pleasant but Parker over heard little of the comments. Thompson hit Gorsuch on the head with his pistol knocking him to the ground and he was clubbed again when he rose. It is thought that Thompson shot him but a few people took shots. A few black women even sliced him across the head with a sickle. They supposedly finished him off but with all the shots fired at such a close range that is unlikely. There is controversy over whether or not Gorsuch had a gun. Gorsuch believed in honor and the law so he did not need a gun and he was unarmed by Parker in the mists of the arguments. Dickinson Gorsuch tried to rescue his father but his gun was jarred from his hand. At this point, Pickney (Brother in law to Parker) shot Dickinson with a shotgun knocking him down momentarily before Dickinson ran to a field .
Dickinson stayed in the field while a few people gave him water to relieve the suffering. In a different direction the mob was firing at Dr. Pearce who was running away from the area where Edward Gorsuch was now dead. There was more then one person that shot at Dr. Pearce because he had holes in his hat and shirt from other types of bullets than a shotgun would use. Unfortunately, for Pearce some of these shots did hit him in the back, wrist, and the shoulder but none were serious. Joshua Gorsuch and Dr. Pearce had met in the lane near Hanaway who had his horse with him. The horse shielded the two men giving them time to make a run for a field. Joshua fell behind and was caught by a rioter who hit him over the head with a gun but Joshua was able to escape. Joshua met Marshal Kline in the field which was fortunate because he was totally confused from the blows to the head. The two men left the area to get medical help and water.
There is quite a bit more to this story such as the trials and the Fugitive Slave Law that came out of it all and if your interested you can read it at the following web site: http://www.millersville.edu/~ugrr/christiana/introduction.html.
We continued on into the city and stopped at The Garden of Five Senses for another virtual cache. Bordered by woods to the south and lawn to the north, the Garden of Five Senses sits on a hill overlooking the Conestoga River. The garden is open to the public all year round.
As its name implies, this garden provides stimulation for all the senses. The garden is resplendent with color throughout the year, and during spring and summer, its flowers provide a bouquet of scents.
Also, visitors can test their sense of smell by trying to identify mystery scents at stops along the garden's path.
Visitors can relax to the music of singing birds and the rippling of a human-formed water fountain, waterfall, and stream that runs through the garden.
Interpretive signs along the garden's meandering walkway explain how each of our senses works and how we and other animals use them to survive. These signs are also written in Braille. We found the cache and the continued into the city. We drove around awhile and really weren't to impressed with it at all. It seemed kind of dirty and run down and not like some of the other older cities we had been to.
Our next cache, another virtual in the center of Lancaster was in a park right on the main street named Steiman Park. In 1978, the Steinman family, owners of Lancaster Newspapers Inc. and a number of Colonial and Victorian style commercial buildings in the vicinity of the Steinman Park site, decided to restore these properties and have plans prepared for the park site. The firm of McCloud, Scatchard, Derck, and Edson (the firm that survives today as Derck & Edson Associates) prepared the park sketches, drawings, specifications, and directed the project’s construction through completion. Root’s Nurseries was the landscape contractor.
Design commenced in the early 1980s. The vision for the park included creating a living tribute to John Frederick Steinman and James Hale Steinman that would survive the tests of time and heavy usage. The park design was also a response to the renewed vitality of downtown Lancaster for the enjoyment of the people of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Beyond the embrace of the local community, the park has also received national attention. In May of 1984, Steinman Park received recognition at a White House ceremony for outstanding landscape design in an urban setting. The National Landscape Award was presented by First Lady Nancy Reagan to Caroline Steinman Nunan and Beverly (Peggy) Randolph Steinman of Lancaster Newspapers, Charles E. Edson and Robert I. Derck of McCloud, Scatchard, Derck, and Edson, and J. Clyde Root of Root’s Nurseries. The park was selected for its design that provides ample seating for cultural events and includes special features such as lighted waterfalls, a water column, and pools surrounded by beautiful plantings.
The entire park is comprised of three individual areas on differing levels that flow seamlessly from one to the other and span the width of the city block. Each section of the park is unified with the overall design through the use of common elements such as brick paving, curbing, seatwalls, lighting, and plant materials.
The first area, the entrance promenade, opens to the street and is furnished with benches, lanterns, and columnar trees. Here there are wrought iron gates and a one-of-a-kind bronze sculpture by J. Seward Johnson, Jr. The sculpture depicts a man reading a copy of the Lancaster Sunday News as copies of the New Era and Intelligencer Journal wait by his side. He invites passersby to follow his example, enter the park, and rest for a while. The headlines on the papers add to the unique character of the space as they memorialize events that truly shaped our time, Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon, the disaster at Three Mile Island, and the first issue of the Lancaster Sunday News that reports registration figures as the highest ever.
The second area in the park is the flagpole court. This area serves as a gathering space as well as a central plaza which is surrounded by entrances to the adjacent buildings. The edges of this area are softened by plantings and benches.
The third and most important area is the three-level inner park which is terminated by a 20-foot waterfall, a water column, and pools. The area is enclosed by buildings and plantings all around and overhead by a tree canopy. This portion of the park is furnished with tables and chairs which can easily be removed when using the space as an amphitheater or for any large-scale events. It was a lovely small park and we got what we needed for the cache.
Our last cache was located at an old street car that was used for display and tours on one of the side streets. After we found that cache it was a little more driving around Lancaster and then back to the RV. Oh yes we did have to stop by the Amish Bakery to pick up our 2 pies we ordered and the chocolate chip cookies. We ordered a raspberry pie and when we cut into it a day later it was blueberry so I was kind of bummed out as we had left Kinzers already. Once we got back it was the same old afternoon and evening routine so we will say until next time we love you all and miss you. Mom & Dad