Capture
What Happened?
Often in history a minor detail here or there spells the difference between success and defeat. What would Napoleon and Hitler have accomplished if they hadn't fought in Russia in the winter? Or how precarious events shaped the Civil War and led to Northern victory?
The same is true with Captain Walker's attempt to help seven slaves to freedom.
Several fortuitous events helped the crew. There was the false alarm placing Walker a short distance west of Pensacola when he was already 100 miles east. Or the ships that passed Walker without hailing him�or even outrunning Walker when he did attempt to make contact! Any of these captains may have been suspicious of a white man traveling with seven black men. Conditions, for the most part, were ideal to sailing and assisted in the early fast pace of the band of eight.
But in the end, when Walker himself claimed that another hour and the Eliza Catherine wouldn't have found him, small details doomed the expedition.
First, Walker planned on only four runaways, not seven. No doubt the extra mouths to feed and water forced the group to harbor more frequently that originally planned.
Walker's illness�we're not sure what it was�held up the band. Towards the end, the pace with which Walker could sail dropped precipitously as he lacked strength to sail any faster. And, when apprehended, he felt he lacked the strength to struggle.
The attempt to portage the boat at St. George's Sound may have also cost Walker and his passengers time.
Finally, what sealed the fact that the Eliza Catherine had caught a boat of fugitives were the replies of the passengers themselves. Walker claimed to be transporting the slaves who were sold from one master to another.
The slaves claimed they were property of Jonathan Walker.
Later, Walker would claim to induce the slaves to escape, possibly to reduce any punishment they may receive. While punishments for slave stealing were on the books and were severe, they were rarely enforced and usually blacks paid stiffer penalties than whites. Walker may have well thought by taking the blame any punishment all around would be less severe.
