STILL'S
UNDERGROUND RAIL ROAD RECORDS,
REVISED EDITION.
(Previously Published in 1879 with title: The Underground Railroad)
WITH A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.
NARRATING
THE HARDSHIPS, HAIRBREADTH ESCAPES AND DEATH STRUGGLES
OF THE
SLAVES
IN THEIR EFFORTS FOR FREEDOM.
TOGETHER WITH
SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE EMINENT FRIENDS OF FREEDOM, AND
MOST LIBERAL AIDERS AND ADVISERS OF THE ROAD
BY
WILLIAM STILL,
For many years connected with the Anti-Slavery Office in Philadelphia, and Chairman of the Acting
Vigilant Committee of the Philadelphia Branch of the Underground Rail Road.

Illustrated with 70 Fine Engravings by Bensell, Schell and Others,
and Portraits from Photographs from Life.

Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant that has escaped from his master unto thee. - Deut. xxiii 16.

SOLD ONLY BY SUBSCRIPTION.

PHILADELPHIA:
WILLIAM STILL, PUBLISHER
244 SOUTH TWELFTH STREET.
1886

pp. 449 - 493

[Page 449]

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ARRIVAL FROM RICHMOND, 1858.

EBENEZER ALLISON.

     "Eb was a bright mulatto, handsome, well-made, and barely twenty years of age.  He reported that he fled from Mr. John Tilghman Foster, a farmer, living in the vicinity of Richmond.  His master, Ebenezer unhesitatingly declared, was a first-rate man.  "I had no right to leave him in the world, but I loved freedom better than Slavery."  After fully setting forth the kind treatment he had been accustomed to receive under his master, a member of the Committee desired to know of him if he could read, to which he answered that he could, but he admitted that what knowledge he had obtained in this direction was the result of efforts made stealthily, not through any license afforded by his master.  John Tilghman Foster held deeds for about one hundred and fifty head of slaves, and was a man of influence.
     Ebenezer had served his time in the barber's shop.  On escaping he forsook his parents, and eight brothers and sisters.  As he was so intelligent, the Committee believed he would make his mark in life some time.

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ARRIVAL FROM RICHMOND, 1858.

JOHN THOMPSON CARR, ANN MOUNTAIN and CHILD, and WILLIAM BOWLER.

     JOHN was a sturdy-looking chattel, but possessed far less intelligence than the generality of passengers.  He was not too old, however, to improve.  The fact that he had spirit enough to resent the harsh treatment

[Page 450]

of one Albert Lewis, a small farmer, who claimed to own him, showed that he was by no means a hopeless case.  With all his apparent stupidity he knew enough to give his master the name of a "free whisky drinker," like wise of "beating and fighting the slaves."  It was on this account that John was compelled to escape.

     ANN MOUNTAIN arrived from Delaware with her child about the same time that John did but not in company with him; they met at the station in Philadelphia.  That Slavery had crippled her in every respect was very discernible; this poor woman had suffered from cuffing, etc., until she could no longer endure her oppression.  Taking her child in her arms, she sought refuge beyond the borders of slave territory.  Ann was about twenty-two years of age, her child not quite a year old.  They were considered entitled to much pity.

     WILLIAM was forty-one years of age, dark, ordinary size, and intelligent.  He fled from Richmond, where he had been held by Alexander Royster, the owner of fifteen slaves, and a tobacco merchant.  William said that his master was a man of very savage temper, short, and crabbed.  As to his social relations, William said that he was "a member of nothing now but a liquor barrel."
     Knowing that his master and mistress labored under the delusion that he was silly enough to look up to them as kind-hearted slave-holders, to whom he should feel himself indebted for everything, William thought that they would be sadly puzzled to conjecture what had become of him.  He was sure that they would be slow to believe that he had gone to Canada.  Until within the last five years he had enjoyed many privileges as a slave, but he had since found it not so easy to submit to the requirements of Slavery.  He left his wife, Nancy and two children.

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ARRIVAL FROM BALTIMORE, 1858.

ROBERTA TAYLOR.

     The subject of this sketch was a young mulatto woman, twenty-three years of age, who fled from the City of Baltimore.  Both before and after her escape Roberta appeared to appreciate her situation most fully.  Her language concerning freedom had in it the ring of common sense, as had her remarks touching her slave life.
     In making her grievances known to the Committee she charged Mr. and Mrs. McCoywith having done great violence to her freedom and degrading her womanhood by holding her in bonds contrary to her wishes.  Of Mr. McCoy, however, she spoke less severely than she did of his "better half." Indeed she spoke of some kind traits in his character, but said that his wife

[Page 451]
was one of "the torn down, devilish dispositions, all the time quarreling and fighting, and would swear like an old sailor."  It was in consequence and fighting, and would swear like an old sailor."  It was in consequence of these evil propensities that her ladyship was intolerable to Roberts.  Without being indebted to her owners for any privileges, she had managed to learn to read a little, which knowledge she valued highly and meant to improve in Canada.
     Roberta professed to be a Christian, and was a member of the Bethel Methodist Church.  Her servitude, until within four years of her escape, had been passed in Virginia, under Mrs. McCoy's father, when to accommodate the daughter she was transferred to Baltimore.  Of her parentage or relatives no note was made on the book.  It was sad to see such persons destitute and homeless, compelled to seek refuge among strangers, not during to ask the slightest favor, sympathy or prayer to aid her, Christian as she was, from any Christian of Baltimore, wearing a fair skin.

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ARRIVAL FROM HIGHTSTOWN, 1858.

ROBERT THOMPSON (A PREACHER)

     Slavery exempted from the yoke no man with a colored skin no matter what his faith, talent, genius, or worth might be.  The person of Christ in a black skin would scarcely have caused it to relinquish its tyrannical grasp; neither God nor man was regarded by men who dealt in the bodies and souls of their fellow-men.  Robert stated to the Committee that he fled from "John R. Laten, a very harsh kind of a farmer, who drank right smart," that on the morning he "took out," while innocent of having committed any crime, suddenly in a desperate fit of passion, his master took him "by the collar," at the same time calling loudly to "John" for "ropes."  This alarming assault on the part of his master made the preacher feel as though his Satanic majesty had possession of him.  In such a crisis he evidently felt that preaching would do no good; he was, however, constrained to make an effort.  To use his own words, he said: "I gave a sudden jerk and started off on a trot, leaving my master calling, 'stop! stop!' but I kept on running, and was soon out of sight."
     The more he thought over the brutal conduct of his master the more decided he became never to serve him more, and straightway he resolved to try to reach Canada.  Being in the prime of his life (thirty-nine years of age) and having the essential qualifications for traveling over the Underground Rail Road, he was just the man to endure the trials consequent upon such an undertaking.
     Said Robert: "I always thought slavery hard, a very dissipated life to live.  I always thought we colored people ought to work for ourselves and

[Page 452]
wives and children like other people.  The Committee saw that Robert's views were in every word sound doctrine, and further light asked him some questions respecting the treatment he had received at the hands of his mistress,  not knowing but that he had received kindness from the 'weaker vessel," while enduring suffering under his master; but Robert assured them in answer to this inquiry that his mistress was a very "ill, dissipated woman," and "was not calculated to sympathize with a poor slave."  Robert was next interviews with regard to religious matters, when it was ascertained that he bore the name of being a "local preacher of the gospel of the Bethel Methodist denomination."  Thus in leaving slavery he had to forsake his wife and three children, kinfolks and church, which arduous task but for the brutal conduct of the master he might have labored in vain for strength to perform.
     As he looked calmly back upon the past, and saw how he and the rest of the slaves had been deprived of their just rights he could hardly realize how Providence could suffer slave-holders to do as they had been doing in trampling upon the poor and helpless slaves.  Yet he had strong faith that the Almighty would punish slave-holders severely for their wickedness.

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ARRIVAL FROM VIRGINIA, 1858.

ALFRED S. THORNTON.

     The subject of this sketch was a young man about twenty-two years of age, of dark color, but bright intellectually.  Alfred found no fault with the ordinary treatment received at the hands of his master; he had evidently been on unusually intimate terms with him.  Nor was any fault found with his mistress, so far as her treatment of him was concerned; thus, comparatively, he was "happy and contented," little dreaming of trader or a change of owners.  One day, to his utter surprise, he saw a trader with a constable approaching him.  As they drew nearer and nearer he began to grow nervous.  What further took lace will be given, as nearly as possible, in Alfred's own words as follows:
     "William Noland ( a constable), and the trader was making right up to me almost on my heels, and grabbed at me, they were so near.  I flew, I took off my hat and run, took off my jacket and run harder, took off my vest and doubled my pace, the constable and the trader both on the chase hot foot.  The trader fired two barrels of his revolver after me, and cried out as loud as he could call, G-d d-n, etc., but I never stopped running, but run for my master.  Coming up to him, I cried out, Lord, master, have you sold me?  'Yes," was his answer.  "To the trader,' I said.  'Yes,' he

[Page 453]

answered.  'Why couldn't you sold me to some of the neighbors?  I said. 'I don't know,' he said, in a dry way.  With my arms around my master's neck, I begged and prayed him to tell me why he had sold me.  The trader and constable was again pretty near.  I let go my master and took to my heels to save me.  I run about a mile off and run about a mile off and run into a mill dam up to my head in water.  I kept my head just above and hid the rest part of my body for more than two hours.  I had not made up my mind to escape until I had bot into the water.  I run only to have little more time to breath before going to Georgia or New Orleans; but I pretty soon made up my mind in the water to try and get to a free State, and go to Canada and make the trial anyhow, but I dnd't know which way to trave."
     Such great changes in Alfred's prospect having been wrought in so short a while, together with such a fearful looking-for of a fate in the far South more horrid than death, suddenly, as by a miracle, he turns his face in the direction of the North.  But the North star, as it were, hid its face from him.  For a week he was trying to reach free soil, the ruin scarcely ceasing for an hour.  The entire journey was extremely discouraging, and many steps had to be taken in fain, hungry and weary. But having the faith of those spoken of in the Scriptures, who wandered about in dens and caves of the earth, being destitute, afflicted and tormented, he endured to the end and arrived safely to the Committee.
     He left his father and mother, both slaves, living near Middleburg, in Virginia, not far from where he said his master lived, who went by the name of C. E. Shinn and followed farming.  His master and mistress were said to be members of the "South Baptist Church," and both had borne good characters until within a year or so previous to Alfred's departure.  Since then a very serious disagreement had taken place between them, resulting in their separation, a heavy lawsuit, and consequently large outlays.  It was this domestic trouble, in Alfred's opinion, that rendered his sale

[Page 454]
indispensable.  Of the merits of the grave charges made by his master against his mistress, Alfred professed to have formed no opinion; he knew, however, that his master blamed a school-master, by the name of Conway, for the sad state of things in his household.  Time would fail to tell of the abundant joy Alfred derived from the fact, that his "heels" had saved him from a Southern market.  Equally difficult would it be to express the interest felt by the Committee in this passenger and his wonderful hair-breadth escape.

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ARRIVED FROM BELLEAIR.

JULIUS SMITH, WIFE MARY, AND BOY JAMES, HENRY AND EDWARD SMITH, AND JACK CHRISTY.

     While this party was very respectable in regard to numbers and enlisted much sympathy, still they had no wounds or bruises to exhibit, or very hard reports to make relative to their bondage.  The treatment that had been meted out to them was about as tolerant as Slavery could well afford; and the physical condition of the passengers bore evidence that they had been used to something better than herring and corn cake for a diet.

     JULIUS, who was successful enough to bring his wife and boy with him, was a wonderful specimen of muscular proportions.  Although a young man, of but twenty-five, he weighed two hundred and twenty-five pounds; he was tall and well-formed from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet.  Nor was he all muscle by a great deal; he was well balanced as to mother wit and shrewdness.
     In looking back into the pit from whence he had been delivered he could tell a very interesting story of what he had experienced, from which it was evidence that he had not been an idle observer of what had passed relative to the Peculiar Institution; especially was it very certain that he had never seen anything lovely or of good report belonging to the system.  So far as his personal relations were concerned, he acknowledged that a man named Mr. Robert Hollan, had assumed to impose himself upon him as master, and that this same man had also wrongfully claimed all his time, denied him all common and special privileges; besides he had deprived him of an education, etc., which looked badly enough before he left Maryland, but in the light of freedom, and from a free State stand-point, the idea that "man's inhumanity to man" should assume such gigantic proportions as to cause him to seize his fellow-man adn hold him in perpetual bondage, was marvellous in the extreme.
     JULIUS had been kept in the dark in Maryland, but on free soil, the light rushed in upon his astonished vision to a degree almost bewildering.  That

[Page 455]
his master was a man of "means and pretty high standing" - Julius thought was not much to his credit since they were obtained from unpaid labor.  In his review allusion was made not only to his master, but also to his mistress, in which he said that she was "a quarrelsome and crabbed woman, middling stout."  In order to show a reason why he left as he did, he stated that "there had been a fuss two or three times" previous to the escape, and it had been rumored "that somebody would have to be sold soon."  This was what did the mischief so far as the "running away" was concerned.  Julius' color was nearly jet black, and his speech was very good considering his lack of book learning; his bearing was entirely self-possessed and commendable.
     His wife and boy shared fully in his affections, and seemed well pleased to have their faces turned Canada-ward.  It is hardly necessary to say more of them here.

     HENRY was about twenty-three years of age, of an active turn, brown skin, and had given the question of freedom his most serious attention, as his actions proved.  While he could neither read nor write, he could think.  From the manner in which he expressed himself, with regard of Robert Hollan no man in the whole range of his recollections will be longer remembered than he; his enthralment while under Hollan will hardly ever be forgotten.  Any being who had been thus deprived of his rights, could hardly fail to command sympathy; in cases like this, however, the sight and language of such an one was extremely impressive.
     Of this party, Edward, a boy of seventeen, called forth much sympathy; he too was claimed by Hollan.  He was of a good physical make-up, and seemed to value highly the great end he had in view, namely, a residence in Canada.

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ARRIVAL FROM MARYLAND, 1858.

JOHN WESLEY COMBASH, JACOB TAYLOR, AND THOMAS EDWARD SKINNER.

     The revelations made by these passengers were painful to listen to, and would not have been credited if any room had existed for doubt. 

     JOHN WESLEY was thirty-two years of age, of a lively turn, pleasant countenance, dark color, and ordinary size.  In unburdening his mind to the Committee the all-absorbing theme related to the manner in which he had been treated as a slave, and the character of those who had oppressed him.  He stated that he had been the victim of a man or party, named Johnson, in whose family John had been a witness to some of the most high-handed phases of barbarism; said he, "these Johnsons were notorious for abusing their servants.  A few years back one of their slaves, a

[Page 456]
coachman, was kept on the coach box one cold night when they were out at a ball until he became almost frozen to death, in fact he did die in the infirmary from the effects of the frost about one week afterwards."
     Another case was that of a slave woman in a very delicate state, who was one day knocked down stairs by Mrs. Johnson herself, and in a few weeks after, the poor woman died from the effects of the injury thus received.  The doctor who attended the injured creature in this case was simply told that she slipped and fell down stairs as she was coming down.  Colored witnesses had no right to testify, and the doctor was mute, consequently the guilty escaped wholly unpunished."  "Another case," said John Wesley "was a little girl, half-grown, who was washing windows up stairs one day, and unluckily fell asleep in the window, and in this position was found by her mistress; in a rage the mistress hit her a heavy slap, knocked her out of the window, and she fell to the pavement, and died in a few hours from the effects thereof.  The mistress professed to know nothing about it, simply said, 'she went to sleep and fell out herself.'  As usual nothing was done in the way of punishment."
     These were specimens of the inner working of the peculiar institution.  John, however, had not only observed Slavery from a domestic stand-point, he had also watched master and mistress abroad as visitors and guests in other people's houses, noticed not only how they treated white people, but also how they treated black people.  "These Johnsons thought that they were first rate to their servants.  When visiting among their friends they were usually very polite, would bow and scrape more than a little, even to colored people, knowing that their names were in bad odor, on account of their cruelty, for they had been in the papers twice about how they abused their colored people."
     As to advertising him, John gave it as his opinion that they would be ashamed to do it from the fact that they had already rendered themselves more notorious than they had bargained for, on account of their cruelty towards their slaves; they were wealthy, and courted the good opinion of society.  Besides they were members of the Presbyterian Church, and John thought that they were very willing that people should believe that they were great saints.  On the score of feeding and clothing John gave them credit, saying that "the clothing was good enough, they liked to see the house servants dressed;" he spoke too of the eating as being all right, but added, that "very often time was not allowed them to finish their meals."  Respecting work, John bore witness that they were very sharp.
     With John's intelligence, large observation, good memory, and excellent natural abilities, with the amount of detail that he possessed, nothing more would have been needed for a thrilling book than the facts and incidents of slave life, as he had been conversant with it under the Johnsons in Maryland.

[Page 457]

     As the other two companions of John Wesley were advertised in the Baltimore Sun, we avail ourselves of the light thus publicly afforded:

     "JACOB," answering to the description in Mr. Wm. J. B. Parlett's advertisemant, gave his views of the man who had enslaved him.  His statement is here transferred from the record book: "My master," said Jacob, "was a farmer, a very rough man, hard to satisfy.  I never knew of but one man who could ever please him.  He worked me very hard; he wanted to be beating me all the time."  This was a luxury which Jacob had no appetite for, consequently he could not resist signifying his unwillingness to yield, although resistance had to be made at some personal risk, as his master had "no more regard for a colored man than he had for a stone under his feet."  With him the following expression was common: "The niggers are not worth a d-n."  Nor was his wife any better, in Jacob's opinion.  "She was a cross woman, and as much of a boss as he was."  "She would take a club and with both hands would whack away as long as you would stand it."  "She was a large, homely woman; they were common white people, with no reputation in the community."  Substantially this was Jacob's unvarnished description of his master and mistress.
     As to his age, and also the name of his master, Jacob's statement varied somewhat from the advertisement.  For instance, Jacob Taylor was noticed on the record book as being twenty-three years of age, and the name of his master was entered as "William Pollit;" but as Jacob has never been allowed to learn to read, he might have failed in giving a correct pronunciation of the name.
     When asked what first prompted him to seek his freedom, he replied, "Oh my senses!  I always had it in my mind to leave, but I was 'jubus', (dubious?) of starting.  I didn't know the way to come.  I was afraid of being overtaken on the way."  He fled from near Baltimore, where he left brothers and other relatives in chains.

     About the same time  that this advertisement came to hand a certain young aspirant for Canada was entered on the Underground Rail Road Book thus:

[Page 458]

     “THOMAS EDWARD SKINNER, a bright mulatto, age eighteen years, well formed, good-looking, and wide awake; says, that he fled from one G. H. Carman, Esq., head Clerk of the County Court.”  He bore voluntary testimony to Carman in the following words: “He was a very good man; he fed and clothed well and gave some money too occasionally.”  Yet Thomas had no idea of remaining in Slavery under any circumstances.  He hated everything like Slavery, and as young as he was, he had already made five attempts to escape.  On this occasion, with older and wiser heads, he succeeded.

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ARRIVAL FROM NEW MARKET, 1858.

ELIJAH SHAW.

     This "article" reported himself as having been deprived of his liberty by Dr. Ephraim Bell of Baltimore County, Maryland.  HE had no fault to find with the doctor, however; on the contrary, he spoke of him as a "very clever and nice man, as much so as anybody need to live with;" but of his wife he could not speak so favorably; indeed, he described her as a most tyrannical woman.  Said Elijah, "she would make a practice of rapping the broomstick around the heads of either men, women, or children when she got raised, which was pretty often.  But she never rapped me, for I wouldn't stand it; I shouldn't fared any better than the rest if I hadn't been resolute.  I declared over and over again to her that I would scald her with the tea kettle if she ever took the broomstick to me, and I meant it.  She took good care to keep the broomstick from about my head.  She was a mischievous and stingy as she could live; wouldn't give enough to eat or wear.  These facts and many more were elicited from Elijah, when in a calm state of mind and when feeling much elated with the idea that his efforts in casting off the yoke were met with favor by the Committee, and that the accommodations and privileges on the road were so much greater than he had ever dreamed of.  Such luck on the road was indeed a matter of wonder and delight to passengers generally.  They were delighted to find that the Committee received them and forwarded them on "without money and without price."  Elijah was capable of realizing the worth of such friendship.  He was a young man twenty-three years of age, spare made, yellow complexion of quick motion and decidedly collected in his bearing.  In short, he was a man well adapted to make a good British subject.

[Page 459]

ARRIVAL FROM VIRGINIA, 1858.

MARY FRANCES MELVIN, ELIZA HENDERSON, AND NANCY GRANTHAM.

     MARY FRANCES hailed from Norfolk; she had been in servitude under Mrs. Chapman, a widow lady, against whom she had no complaint to make; indeed, she testified that her mistress was very kind, although fully allied to slavery.  She said that she left, not on account of bad treatment, but simply because she wanted her freedom.  Her calling as a slave had been that of a dress-maker and house servant.  Mary Frances was about twenty- three year of age, of mixed blood, refined in her manners and somewhat cultivated.

     ELIZA HENDERSON, who happened at the station at the same time that Frances was on hand, escaped from Richmond.  She was twenty-eight years of age, medium size, quite dark color, and of pleasant countenance.  Eliza alleged that one William Waverton had been wronging her by keeping her down-trodden and withholding her hire.  Also, that this same Waverton had, on a late occasion, brought his heavy fist violently against her "jaws," which visitation, however "kindly" intended by her chivalrous master, produced such an unfavorable impression on the mind of Eliza that she at once determined not to yield submission to him a day longer than she could find an Underground Rail Road conductor who would take her North.
     The blow that she had thus received made her almost frantic; she had however thought seriously on the question of her rights before this outrage.
     In Waverton's household Eliza  had become a fixture as it were, especially with regard to his children; she had won their affections completely, and she was under the impression that in some instances their influence had saved her from severe punishment; and for them she manifested kindly feelings.  In speaking of her mistress she said that she was "only tolerable."
     It would be useless to attempt a description of the great satisfaction and delight evinced by Eliza on reaching the Committee in Philadelphia.

     NANCY GRANTHAM also fled from near Richmond, and was fortunate in that she escaped from the prison-house at the age of nineteen.  She possessed a countenance peculiarly mild, and was good-looking and interesting, and although evidently a slave her father belonged strictly to the white man's party, for she was fully half white.  She was moved to escape simply to shun her master's evil designs; his brutal purposes were only frustrated by the utmost resolution.  This chivalric gentleman was a husband, the father of nine children, and the owner of three hundred slaves.  He belonged to a family bearing the name of Christian, and was said to be an M. D.  "He was an old man, but very cruel to all his slaves."  It was said that Nancys sister was the object of his lust, but she resisted, and the result was that she was sold to New Orleans.  The auction-block was not the

[Page 460]
only punishment she was called upon to endure for her fidelity to her womanhood, for resistance to her master, but before being sold she was cruelly scourged.
     NANCY'S  sorrows first commenced in Alabama.  Five years of previous to her escape she was brought from a cotton plantation in Alabama, where she had been accustomed to toil in the cotton-field.  In comparing and contrasting the usages of slave-holders in the two States in which she had served, she said she had "seen more flogging under old Christian" than she had been accustomed to see in Alabama; yet she concluded, that she could hardly tell which State was the worst; her cup had been full and very bitter in both States.
     Nancy said, "the very day before I escaped, I was required to go to  his (her master's) bed-chamber to keep the flies off of him as he lay sick, or pretended to be so.  Notwithstanding, in talking with me, he said that he was coming to my pallet that night, and with an oath he declared if I made a noise he would cut my throat.  I told him I would  not be there.  Accordingly he did go to my room, but I had gone for shelter to another room.  At this his wrath waxed terrible.  Next morning I was called to account for getting out of his way, and I was beaten awfully."  This outrage moved Nancy to a death-struggle for her freedom, and she succeeded by dressing herself in male attire.
     After her harrowing story was told with so much earnestness and intelligence, she was asked as to the treatment she had received at the hand of Mrs. Christian (her mistress).  In relation to her, Nancy said, "Mrs. Christian was afraid of him (master); if it hadn't been for that I think she would have been clever; but I was often threatened by her, and once she undertook to beat me, but I could not stand it.  I had to resist, and she got the worst of it that time."
     All that may now be added, is, that the number of young slave girls shamefully exposed to the base lusts of their masters, as Nancy was - truly was legion.  Nancy was but one of the number who resisted influences apparently overpowering.  All honor is due her name and memory!
     She was brought away secreted on a boat, but the record is silent as to which one of the two or three Underground Rail Road captains (who at that time occasionally brought passengers), helped her to escape.  It was hard to be definite concerning minor matters while absorbed in the painful reflections that her tale of suffering had naturally awakened.  If one had arisen from the dead the horrors of Slavery could scarcely have been more vividly pictured!  But in the multitude of travelers coming under the notice of the Committee,  Nancy's story was soon forgotten, and new and marvellous narratives were told of others who had shared the same bitter cup, who had escaped from the same hell of Slavery, who had panted for the same freedom and won the same prize.

[Page 461]

ARRIVAL FROM RICHMOND, 1858
ORLANDO J. HUNT.

     When ORLANDO escaped from Richmond the Underground Rail Road business was not very brisk.  A disaster on the road, resulting in the capture of one or two captains, tended to damp the ardor of some who wanted to come, as well as that of sympathizers.  The road was not idle, however.  Orlando's coming was hailed with great satisfaction.  He was twenty-nine years of age, full black, possessed considerable intelligence, and was fluent in speech; fully qualified to give clear statements as to the condition of Slavery in Richmond, etc.  While the Committee listened to his narrations with much interest, they only took note of how he had fared, and the character of the master he was compelled to serve.  On these points the substance of his narrations may be found annexed:
     “ I was owned by High Holser, a hide sorter, a man said to be rich, a good Catholic, though very disagreeable; he was not cruel, but was very driving and abusive in his language towards colored people.  I have been held in bondage about eighteen years by Holser, but have failed, so far, to find any good traits in his character.  I purchased my mother for one hundred dollars, when she was old and past, labor, too old to earn her hire and find herself; but she was taken away by death, before I had finished paying for her; twenty-five dollars only remained to be paid to finish the agreement.  Owing to her unexpected death, I got rid of that much, which was of some consequence, as I was a slave myself, and had hard work to raise the money to purchase her."
     Thus, finding the usages of Slavery so cruel and outlandish, he resolved to leave “old Virginny” and “took out,” via the Underground Rail Road.  He appeared to be of a religious turn of mind, and felt that he had “a call to preach.”
     After his arrival in Canada, the following letter was received from him:

     MY DEAR FRIEND: - WM. STILL: - Mr. Orlando J. Hunt who has just arrived here from Richmond, Va., desires me to address to you a line in his behalf.  Mr. Hunt is expecting his clothing to come from Richmond to your care, and if you have received them he desires you to forward them immediately to St. Catharine in my care in the safest and most expeditious way in your power.  Mr. Hunt is much pleased with this land of freedom, and I hope he may do well for himself and much good to others.  He preached here in the Baptist church, last evening.
     He sends his kind regards and sincere thanks to you and your family, and such friends as have favored him on his way.  Very respectfully yours,

[Page 462]

ARRIVAL FROM NORFOLK, VA., 1858
WILLIAM MACKEY

     WILLIAM made no complaint against his master of a serious nature touching himself.  True, he said his “master was a frolicker, and fond of drink,” but he was not particularly unkind to him.  His name was Tunis; he was a military man, and young; consequently William had not been in his hands long.  Prior to his being owned by the young master, he had lived with old mistress Tunis.  Concerning her the following is one of William's statements:
     “My sister about the first of this month, three weeks after her confinement, had word sent to her by her mistress, Mrs. Tunis, that she thought it was time for her to come out and go to work, as she had been laying by long enough.” In reply to this message, William said that “his sister sent word to her mistress, that she was not well enough, and begged that her mistress would please send her some tea and sugar, until she got well enough to go to work.  The mistress' answer was to the effect that she did not intend to give her anything until she went to work, and at the same time she sent word to her, that she had better take her baby down to the back of the garden and throw it away, adding  I will sell her, etc.' ”
     It was owing to the cruelty of Mrs. Tunis that William was moved to flee.  According to his statement, which looked reasonable and appeared truthful, he had been willed free by his master, who died at the time that the plague was raging in Norfolk.  At the same time his mistress also had the fever, and was dreadfully frightened, but recovered.  Not long after this event it was William's belief that the will was made away with through the agency of a lawyer, and in consequence thereof the slaves were retained in bondage.

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ARRIVAL FROM NEAR BALTIMORE, 1858.
HENRY TUCKER

     HENRY fled from Baltimore county; disagreement between him and his so-called master was the cause of his flight.  Elias Sneveley, a farmer, known on the Arabella Creek Place as a “hard swearer, " an “old bachelor,” and a common tormentor of all around him, was the name of the man that Harry said he fled from.  Not willing to be run over at the pleasure of Sneveley, on two occasions just before his escape serious encounters had arisen between master and slave.
     HENRY being spirited and hungering for freedom, while his master was old and hardened in his habits, very grave results had well nigh happened;

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it was evident, therefore, in Harry's opinion that the sooner he took his departure for Canada the better. His father's example was ever present to encourage him, for he had escaped when Henry was a little boy; ( his name was Benjamin Tucker). A still greater incentive, however, moved him, which was that his mother had been sold South five years prior to his escape, since which time he had heard of her but once, and that vaguely.
     Although education was denied him, Henry had too much natural ability to content himself under the heel of Slavery. He saw and understood the extent of the wrongs under which he suffered, and resolved not to abide in such a condition, if, by struggling and perseverance, he could avoid it. In his resolute attempt he succeeded without any very severe suffering. He was not large, rather below the ordinary size, of a brown color, and very plucky.

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ARRIVAL FROM VIRGINIA, 1858
PETER NELSON.  (RESEMBLED AN IRISHMAN.)

     The coming of this strange-looking individual caused much surprise, representing, as he did, if not a full-blooded Irishman, a man of Irish descent.  He was sufficiently fair to pass for white anywhere, with his hat on — with it off, his hair would have betrayed him; it was light, but quite woolly.  Nor was he likely to be called handsome; he was interesting, nevertheless.  It was evident, that the "white man's party” had damaged him seriously.  He represented that he had been in the bonds of one James Ford, of Stafford county, Virginia, and that this “Ford was a right tough old fellow, who owned about two dozen head.” “How does he treat them?', he was asked.  “He don't treat them well no way,” replied the passenger.  “Why did you leave?” was the next question.  “Because of his fighting, knocking and carrying on so," was the prompt answer.  The Committee fully interviewed him, and perceived that he had really worn the fetters of Slavery, and that he was justified in breaking his bonds and fleeing for refuge to Canada, and was entitled to aid and sympathy.  Peter was about twenty-four years of age.  He left nine brothers and sisters in bondage.

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ARRIVAL FROM WASHINGTON, 1858.
MARY JONES AND SUSAN BELL.

     These "weaker vessels" came from the seat of government.  Mary confessed that she had been held to service as the property of Mrs. Henry Harding who resided at Rockville, some miles out of Washington.  Both Mr.

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and Mrs. Harding she considered “bad enough,” but added, “ if it had not been for the young set I could get along with them; they can't be pleased.” Yet Mary had not fared half so hard under the Hardings as many slaves had under their claimants.  Intellectually, she was quite above the average; she was tall, and her appearance was such as to awaken sympathy.  Through the permission of her claimant she had been in the habit of hiring her time for three dollars per month and find herself; she was also allowed to live in Washington.  Such privileges, with wages at so low a rate, were thought to be extra, and could only be obtained in exceptional cases.
     “In nine years," said Mary, “I have not even as much as received an apron from them,” (her owners).  The meanness of the system under which she had been required to live, hourly appeared clearer and clearer to her, as she was brought into contact with sympathizing spirits such as she had never known before.
     SUSAN, who was in Mary's charge, was an invalid child of four years of age, who never walked, and whose mother had escaped to Canada about three years before under circumstances which obliged her to leave this child, then only a year old.
     Susan had been a great sufferer, and so had her mother, who had been a long time anxiously looking and praying for her coming, as she had left her in charge of friends who were to take care of her until the way might open for her safe delivery to her mother.  Many letters, fitted to awaken very deep feelings came from the mother about this child.  It was a satisfaction to the Committee to feel that they could be the medium in aiding in the reunion of mother and child.

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ARRIVAL FROM VIRGINIA, 1858.
WILLIAM CARPENTER.

     Escaped from the Father of the Fugitive Slave Law - Senator Mason.
     It was highly pleasing to have a visit from a “chattel” belonging to the leading advocate of the infamous Fugitive Slave Bill.  He was hurriedly interviewed for the sake of reliable information. 
     That William possessed a fair knowledge of slave life under the Senator there was no room to doubt, although incidents of extreme cruelty might not have been so common on Mason's place as on some others.  While the verbal interchange of views was quite full, the hour for the starting of the Under ground Rail Road train arrived too soon to admit of a full report for the record book.  From the original record, however, the following statement is taken as made by William, and believed to be strictly true.  We give it as

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it stands on the old Underground Rail Road book : “ I belonged to Senator Mason.  The Senator was down on colored people. He owned about eighty head --was very rich and a big man, rich enough to lose all of them.  He kept terrible overseers; they would beat you with a stick the same as a dog. The overseers were poor white trash; he would give them about sixty dollars a year.
     The Fugitive Slave Law and its Father are both numbered with the “Lost Cause," and the “Year of Jubilee has come.”

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ARRIVAL FROM THE OLD DOMINION.
NINE VERY FINE "ARTICLES,"  LEW JONES, OSCAR PAYNE, MOSE WOOD, DAVE DIGGS, JACK, HEN, AND BILL DADE, AND JOE BALL.

     The coming of this interesting party was as gratifying, as their departure must have been disagreeable to those who had been enjoying the fruits of their unpaid labor, Stockholders of the Underground Rail Road, conductors, etc., about this time were well pleased with the wonderful success of the road, especially as business was daily increasing.
     Upon inquiry of these passengers individually, the following results were obtained:
     LEWIS was about fifty-two years of age, a man of superior stature, six feet high, with prominent features, and about one third of Anglo-Saxon blood in his veins.  The apparent solidity of the man both with respect to body and mind was calculated to inspire the idea that he would be a first-rate man to manage a farm in Canada
     Of his bondage and escape the following statement was obtained from him: “I was owned by a man named Thomas Sydan, a Catholic, and a farmer.  He was not a very hard man, but was very much opposed to black folks having their liberty.  He owned six young slaves not grown up.  It was owing to Sydan's mother's estate that I came into his hands; before her death I had hoped to be free for a long time as soon as she died.  My old mistress' name was Nancy Sydan; she was lame for twenty years, and couldn't walk a step without crutches, and I was her main support.  I was foreman on the farm; sometimes no body but me would work, and I was looked up to for support.  A good deal of the time I would have to attend to her.  If she was going to ride, I would have to pick her up in my arms and put her in the carriage, and many times I would have to lift her in her sick room.  No body couldn't wait upon her but me.  She had a husband, and he had a master, and that was rum; he drank very hard, he killed him self drinking.  He was poor support.  When he died, fifteen years ago, he left three sons, Thomas, James, and Stephen, they were all together then,

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only common livers.  After his death about six years mistress died.  I felt sure then I would be free, but was very badly disappointed.  I went to my young masters and asked them about my freedom; they laughed at me and said, no such thought had entered their heads, that I was to be free.  The neighbors said it was a shame that they should keep me out of my freedom, after I had been the making of the family, and had behaved myself so faithful.  One gentleman asked master John what he would take for me, and offered a thousand dollars; that was three months before I ran away, and massa John said a thousand dollars wouldn't buy one leg.  I hadn't any thing to hope for from them.  I served them all my life, and they didn't thank me for it.  A short time before I come away my aunt died, all the kin I had, and they wouldn't let me go to the funeral.  They said the time couldn't be spared.' ”  This was the last straw on the camel's back.
     In Lewis' grief and disappointment he decided that he would run away the first chance that he could get, and seek a home in Canada.  He held counsel with others in whom he could confide, and they fixed on a time to start, and resolved that they would suffer anything else but Slavery.  Lewis was delighted that he had managed so cunningly to leave master Tom and mistress Margaret, and their six children to work for their own living.  He had an idea that they would want Lew for many things; the only regret he felt was that he had served them so long, that they had received his substance and strength for half a century.  Fortunately Lewis' wife escaped three days in advance of him, in accordance with a mutual understanding.  They had no children.  The suffering on the road cost Lewis a little less than death, but the joy of success came soon to chase away the effects of the pain and hardship which had been endured.
     OSCAR, the next passenger, was advertised as follows:

     Such announcements never frightened the Underground Rail Road Committee; indeed, the Committee rather preferred seeing the names of their passengers in the papers, as, in that case, they could all the more cautiously provide against Messrs. slave-hunters.  Oscar was a "prime, first-class article," worth $1800.  The above description of him is endorsed.  His story ran thus:
     “I have served under Miss Mary Dade, of Alexandria — Miss Dade was a very clever mistress; she hired me out.  When I left I was hired at the Episcopal school - High School of Virginia.  With me times had been very

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well.  No privilege was allowed me to study books.  I cannot say that I left for any other cause than to get my freedom, as I believe I have been used as well as any slave in the District.  I left no relatives but two cousins; my two brothers ran away, Brooks and Lawrence, but where they went I can't tell, but would be pleased to know.  Three brothers and one sister have been sold South, can't tell where they are.”  Such was Oscar's brief narrative; that he was truthful there was no room to doubt.
     The next passenger was Moses or “Mose," who looked as though he had been exceedingly well-cared for, being plump, fat, and extra-smart.  He declared that General Briscoe, of Georgetown, D. C., had been defrauding him out of thirteen dollars per month, this being the amount for which he was hired, and, instead of being allowed to draw it for himself, the general pocketed it.  For this "kind treatment” he summed up what seemed to be a true bill for ten years against the general.  But he made another charge of a still graver character: he said that the general professed to own him.  But as he (Moses) was thoroughly tired, and believed that Slavery was no more justifiable than murder, he made up his mind to leave and join the union party for Canada.  He stated that the general owned a large number of slaves, which he hired out principally.  Moses had no special fault to find with his master, except such as have been alluded to, but as to mistress Briscoe, he said, that she was pretty rough.  Moses left four sisters in bondage.
     DAVID, the next member of this freedom-loving band, was an intelligent man; his manners and movements were decidedly prepossessing.  He was about thirty-seven years of age, dark, tall, and rather of a slender stature, possessing very large hopes.  He charged Dr. Josiah Harding of Rockville, Montgomery county, with having enslaved him contrary to his wish or will.
     As a slave, David had been required at one time to work on a farm, and at another time to drive carriage, of course, without pay.  Again he had been bound as a waiter on the no pay system, and again he had been called into the kitchen to cook, all for the benefit of the Doctor — the hire going into the Dr.'s pocket.  This business David protested against in secret, but when on the Underground Rail Road his protestations were above board."
     Of the Doctor, David said, that “ he was clever, but a Catholic;" he also said, that he thought his wife was “tolerable clever," although he had never been placed under her where he would have had an opportunity of learning her bad traits if she had any.
     The Doctor had generously bargained with David, that he could have himself by paying $1000; he had likewise figured up bow the money might be paid, and intimated what a nice thing it would be for "Dave" to wake up some morning and find himself his own man.  This was how it was to be accomplished: Dave was to pay eighty-five dollars annually, and in about

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twelve years he would have the thousand, and a little over, all made up.  On this principle and suggestion Dave had been digging faithfully and hard, and with the aid of friends he had nearly succeeded.  Just when he was within sight of the grand prize, and just as the last payment was about to be made, to Dave's utter surprise the Doctor got very angry one day about some trifling matter (all pretension) and in his pretended rage be said there were too many “free niggers” going about, and he thought that Dave would do better as a slave, etc.
     After that, all the satisfaction that he was able to get out of the Doctor, was simply to the effect, that he had hired him to Mr. Morrison for one hundred and fifty dollars a year.  After his “lying and cheating in this way, David resolved that he would take his chances on the Underground Rail Road.  Not a spark of faith did he have in the Doctor.  For a time, however, before the opportunity to escape offered, he went to Mr. Morrison as a waiter, where it was his province to wait on six of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States.  In the meantime his party matured arrangements for their trip, so Dave “took out” and left the Judges without a waiter.  The more he reflected over the nature of the wrongs he had suffered under, the less he thought of the Doctor.
     JOE, who also came with this band, was half Anglo-Saxon; an able -bodied man, thirty-four years of age.  He said, that “Miss Elizabeth Gordon, a white woman living in Alexandria," claimed him.  He did not find much fault with her.  She permitted him to hire his time, find his own clothing, etc., by which regulation Joe got along smoothly. Nevertheless he declared, that he was tired of wearing the yoke, and felt constrained to throw it off as soon as possible.  Miss Gordon was getting old, and Joe noticed that the young tribe of nephews and nieces was multiplying in large numbers.  This he regarded as a very bad sign; he therefore, gave the matter of the Under ground Rail Road his serious attention, and it was not long ere he was fully persuaded that it would be wisdom for him to tarry no longer in the prison house.  Joe had a wife and four children, which were as heavy weights to hold him in Virginia, but the spirit of liberty prevailed.  Joe, also, left two sisters, one free, the other a slave.  His wife belonged to the widow Irwin.  She had assured her slaves, that she had “provided for them in her will,” and that at her death all would be freed.  They were daily living on the faith thus created, and obviously thought the sooner the Lord relieved the old mistress of her earthly troubles the better.
     Although Joe left his wife and children, he did not forget them, but had strong faith they would be reunited.  After going to Canada, he addressed several letters to the Secretary of the Committee concerning his family, and as will be seen by the following, he looked with ardent hopes for their arrival:

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     Will you please to telegrape to me, No. 31 Dummer st.

     JAKE, another member of the company of nine, was twenty-two years of age, of dark hue, round -made, keen eyes, and apparently a man of superior intelligence. Unfortunately his lot had been of such a nature that no helping opportunity had been afforded for the cultivation of his mind.
     He condemned in very strong terms a man by the name of Benjamin B. Chambers, who lived near Elkton, but did not there require the services of Jake, hiring Jake out just as he would have hired a horse, and likewise keeping his pay. Jake thought that if justice could have been awarded him , Chambers would either have had to restore that of which he had wronged him, or expiate the wrong in prison.
     Jake, however, stood more in awe of a young master, who was soon likely to come into power, than he did of the old master. This son had already given Jake to understand that once in his hands it “ wouldn't be long before he would have him jingling in his pocket, ” signifying, that he would sell him as soon as his father was gone.
     The manner of the son stirred Jake's very blood to boiling heat it seemed . His suffering, and the suffering of his fellow -bondsmen had never before appeared so hard. The idea that he must work, and be sold at the pleasure of another, made him decide to “ pull up stakes, " and seek refuge elsewhere. Such a spirit as he possessed could not rest in servitude.
     MARY ANN, the wife of Jake, who accompanied him, was a pleasant-look ing bride. She said that she was owned by " Elias Rhoads, a farmer, and a pretty fair kind of a man.” She had been treated very well.
     JOHN AND HENRY DADE, ages twenty and twenty - five years, were from Washington. They belonged to the class of well -cared for slaves ; at least they said that their mistress had not dealt severely with them, and they never would have consented to pass through the severe sufferings encountered on their journey, but for the strong desire they had to be free. From Canada John wrote back as follows :

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     If you haf to send for my tronke to Washington send the name of John Trowharte.  Sir please rite as soon as you gat this for et as enporten.                               JOHN H. DADE.

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ARRIVAL FROM DELAWARE, 1858
GEORGE LAWS AND COMRAD - TIED AND HOISTED WITH BLOCK AND TACKLE, TO BE COWHIDED.

     GEORGE represented the ordinary young slave men of Delaware.  He was of unmixed blood, medium size and of humble appearance.  He was destitute of the knowledge of spelling, to say nothing of reading.  Slavery had stamped him unmistakably for life.  To be scantily fed and clothed, and compelled to work without hire, George did not admire, but had to submit without murmuring; indeed, he knew that his so-called master, whose name was Denny, would not be likely to hear complaints from a slave; he therefore dragged his chain and yielded to his daily task.

     One day, while hauling dirt with a fractious horse, the animal manifested an unwillingness to perform his duty satisfactorily.  At this procedure the master charged George with provoking the beast to do wickedly, and in a rage he collared George and bade him accompany him “up stairs” (of the soap house).  Not daring to resist, George went along with him.  Ropes being tied around both his wrists, the block and tackle were fastened thereto, and George soon found himself hoisted on tip-toe with his feet almost clear of the floor.
     The “kind-hearted master then tore all the poor fellow's old shirt off his back, and addressed him thus: “You son of a b-h , I will give you pouting around me; stay there till I go up town for my cow hide."

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     George begged piteously, but in vain.  The fracas caused some excitement, and it so happened that a show was to be exhibited that day in the town, which, as is usual in the country, brought a great many people from a distance; so, to his surprise, when the master returned with his cowhide, he found that a large number of curiosity-seekers had been attracted to the soap house to see Mr. Denny perform with his cowhide on George's back, as he was stretched up by his hands.  Many had evidently made up their minds that it would be more amusing to see the cowhiding than the circus.
     The spectators numbered about three hundred.  This was a larger number than Mr. Denny had been accustomed to perform before, consequently he was seized with embarrassment; looking confused he left the soap house and went to his office, to await the dispersion of the crowd.
     The throng finally retired, and left George hanging in mortal agony.  Human nature here made a death-struggle; the cords which bound his wrists were unloosed, and George was then prepared to strike for freedom at the mouth of the cannon or point of the bayonet.  How Denny regarded the matter when he found that George had not only cheated him out of the anticipated delight of cowhiding him, but had also cheated him out of himself is left for the imagination to picture.
     George fled from Kent; he was accompanied by a comrade whose name inadvertently was not recorded; he, however, was described as a dark, round, and full-faced, stout-built man, with bow legs, and bore the appearance of having been used hard and kept down, and in ignorance, &c.  Hard usage constrained him to flee from his sore oppression.

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ARRIVAL FROM DELAWARE, 1858.
JOHN WEEMS, ALIAS JACK HERRING.

     Although Jack was but twenty -three years of age, he had tasted the bitter cup of Slavery pretty thoroughly under Kendall B. Herring, who was a member of the Methodist Church , and in Jack's opinion a “mere pretender, and a man of a very bad disposition.”  Jack thought that he had worked full long enough for this Herring for nothing.  When a boy twelve years of age, his mother was sold South; from that day, until the hour that he fled he had not heard a word from her.  In making up his mind to leave Slavery, the outrage inflicted upon his mother only tended to increase his resolution.
     In speaking of his mistress, he said that "she was a right fine woman.”  Notwithstanding all his sufferings in the Kendall family, he seemed willing to do justice to his master and mistress individually.  He left one sister free and one brother in the hands of Herring.  Jack was described as a man of dark color, stout, and well-made.

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ARRIVAL FROM MARYLAND, 1858
RUTH HARPER, GEORGE ROBINSON, PRISCILLA GARDENER, AND JOSHUA JOHN ANDERSON.

     RUTHIE's course in seeking her freedom left John McPherson a woman less to work for him, and to whip, sell, or degrade at his pleasure.  It is due to candor, however, to say that she admitted that she had not been used very roughly by Mr. McPherson.  Ruth was rather a nice-looking young woman, tall, and polite in her manners.  She came from Frederick, Maryland.
     GEORGE ROBINSON stated that he came from a place about one and a half miles from the Chesapeake Bay, one mile from Old town, and five miles from Elkton, and was owned by Samuel Smith, a farmer, who was "pretty cross and an ill man.”  George's excuse for withdrawing his valuable services from Mr. Smith at the time that he did, was attributable to the fact, that he entertained fears that they were about to sell him.  Having cautious ness largely developed he determined to reach Canada and keep out of danger.  George was only twenty-one, passable-looking in appearance, and of a brown color, and when speaking, stammered considerably.
     PRISCILLA GARDENER fled from the widow Hilliard.  Her master departed to his long home not a great while before she left.  Priscilla was a young woman of about thirty years of age, ordinary size, and of a ginger-bread color; modest in demeanor.  She first commenced her bondage in Richmond, under the late Benjamin Hilliard, of whom she said that he was “a very bad man, who could never be pleased by a servant,” and was constantly addicted to fighting not only with others, but also with herself.  So cruelly had Priscilla been treated, that when he died she did not hesitate to say that she was glad.  Soon after this event, sick of Slavery and unwilling to serve the widow any longer, she determined to escape, and succeeded.
     JOSHUA JOHN ANDERSON fled from a farmer who was said to be a poor man, by the name of Skelton Price, residing in Baltimore county, near a little village called Alexandria, on the Harford county turn-pike road.  Price, not able to own a farm and slaves too, rented one, and was trying to “get up in the world.”  Price had a wife and family, but in the way of treatment, Joshua did not say anything very hard against him.  As his excuse for leaving them, he said, coolly, that he had made up his mind that he could get along better in freedom than he could in Slavery, and that no man had a right to his labor without paying him for it. He left his mother and also three brothers and two sisters owned by Price.  Joshua was about twenty-two years of age, of a coarse make, and a dark hue; he had evidently held but little intercourse with any class, save such as he found in the corn-field and barn-yard.

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ARRIVAL FROM NORTH CAROLINA AND DELAWARE.
"DICK BEESLY," MURRAY YOUNG AND CHARLES ANDREW BOLDEN.

     Physically, Dick was hardly up to the ordinary stature of slaves, but mentally he had the advantage of the masses ; he was too sharp to be kept in Slavery. His hue was perfect, no sign of white about him, if that were any advantage.
     From Dick's story , it appeared that he had seen hard times in North Carolina, under a man he designated by the name of Richard Smallwood. He was a farmer, living near Wheldon . One of the faults that he found with Smallwood was, that he was a “ tough, drinking man ” —he also charged him with holding “ two hundred and sixty slaves in bonds,” the most of whom he came in possession of through his wife. “ She, " Dick thought " was pretty fair. " He said that no slave had any reason to look for any other than hard times under his master, according to what he had seen and known since he had been in the “ institution , " and he fancied that his chances for observation had been equally as good as the great majority of slaves. Young as he was, Dick had been sold three times already, and didn't know how much oftener he might have to submit to the same fate if he remained ; so , in order to avoid further trouble, he applied his entire skill to the grand idea of making his way to Canada.
     Manfully did he wrestle with difficulty after difficulty, until he finally happily triumphed and reached Philadelphia in a good condition — that is, he was not sick, but he was without money - home - education or friends, except as he found them among strangers. He was hopeful, neverthe less.
     MURRAY YOUNG was also of the unmixed -blood class, and only twenty one years of age. The spirit of liberty in him was pretty largely developed. He entertained naught against Dr. Lober, of Newcastle, but rather against the Doctor's wife. He said that he could get along pretty well with the Doctor, but, he could not get along with Mrs. Lober. But the very idea of Slavery was enough for him. Hedid not mean to work for any body for nothing.
     ANDREW BOLDEN was still younger than Charles Murray, being only eighteen years of age, but he was very well grown, and on the auction -block he would, doubtless, have brought a large price. He fled from Newark. His story contained nothing of marked importance.

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ARRIVAL FROM MARYLAND,
JOHN JANNEY, TALBOT JOHNSON, SAM GROSS, PETER GROSS, JAMES HENRY JACKSON, AND SAM SMITH.

     So far as Messrs. Bond, Ireland, and Griffiss may be concerned (if they are still living), they may not care to have the reward kept in view, or to hear anything about the "ungrateful" fellows.  It may be different, however, with other parties concerned.  This company, some of whom bore names agreeing with those in the above advertisement, are found described in the record book as follows:
     "Sept. 10th, 1858.  JOHN JANNEY is a fine specimen of the peculiar institution; color brown, well-formed, self-possessed and intelligent.  He says that he fled from master Joseph Griffiss of Culbert county, Maryland; that he has been used to "tight work,"  "allowed no chances," and but "half fed."  His reason for leaving was partly "hard treatment," and partly became he could "get along better in freedom than in slavery."  He found fault with his master for not permitting him to "learn to read," etc.  He referred to his master as a man of "fifty years of age, with a wife and

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three children."  John said that "she was a large, portly woman, with an evil disposition, always wanted to be quarreling and fighting, and was stingy."  He said, however, that his "master's children, Ann Rebecca, Dorcas and Joe were not allowed to meddle with the slaves on the farm."  Thirty head of slaves belonged to the place.

     PETER GROSS says that he too was owned by Joseph Griffiss.  Peter is, he thinks, thirty-nine years of age, - tall of a dark chestnut color, and in intellect mediocre.  He left his wife and five children behind.  He could not bring them with him, therefore he did not tell them that he was about to leave.  He was much dissatisfied with Slavery and felt that he had been badly dealt with, and that he could do better for himself in Canada.

     TALBOT JOHNSON, is thirty-five years of age, quite dark, and substantially built.  He says that he has been treated very badly, and that Duke  Bond was the name of the "tyrant" who held him.  He pictured his master as "a lean--faced man - not stout - of thirty-eight or thirty-nine years of age, a member of the Episcopal Church."  "He had a wife and two children; his last wife was right pleasant - he was a farmer, and was rich, had sold slaes, and was severe when he flogged."  Talbot had been promised a terrible beating on the return of his master from the Springs, whither he had gone to recruit his health, "as he was poorly."  This was the sole caue of Talbot's flight.

     SAM GROSS is about forty, a man of apparent vigor physically, and wide awake mentally.  He confesses that he fled from George Island, and wide awake mentally.  He confesses that he fled from George Island, part Port Republic, Md.  He thought that times with him had been bad enough all his life, and he would try to get away where he could do better.  In referring to his master and mistress, he says that "they are both Episcopalians, hard to please, and had as bad dispositions as could be, - would try to knock the slaves in the head sometimes."  This spirit Sam condemned in strong terms, and averred that it was on account of such treatment that he was moved to seek out the Underground Rail Road.  Sam left his wife, Mary Ann, and four children, all under bonds.  His children, he said, were treated horribly.  They were owned by Joseph Griffiss spoken of above.

     JAMES HENRY JACKSON is seventeen years of age; he testified that he fled from Frederica, Delaware, where he had been owned by Joseph Brown.  Jim does not make any serious complaint against his master, except that he had him in the market for sale.  To avert this fate, Jim  was moved to flee.  His mother, Ann Jackson, lived nine miles from Milford, and was owned by Jim Loflin and lived on his place.  Of the going of her son she had no knowledge.
     These narratives have been copied form the book as they were hastily recorded at the time.  During their sojourn at the station, the subjoined letter came to hand from Thomas Garrett, which may have caused anxiety and haste:

[Page 476]

WILMINGTON, 9th mo 6th, 1858

     ESTEEMED FRIENDS, J. M. McKIM  AND WM. STILL:  I have a mixture of good and bad news for you.  Good is having passed five of God's poor safely to Jersey, and Chester county, last week; and this day sent on four more, that have caused me much anxiety.  They were within twenty miles of here on the sixth day last, and by agreement I had a man out all seventh day night watching for them, to pilot them safely, as 1,000 dollars reward was offered for four of the five; and I went several miles yesterday in the country to try to learn what had become of them, but could not hear of them.  A man of tried integrity just called to say that they arrived at his house last night, about midnight, and I employed him to pilot them to a place of safety in Pennsylvania, to-night, after which I trust they will be out of reach of their pursuers.  Now for the bad news.  That old scoundrel, who applied to me some three weeks since, pretending that he wished me to assist him in getting his seven slaves into a free state, to avoid the sheriff, and which I agreed to do, if he would bring them here; but positively refused to send for them.  Ten days since I received another letter from him saying that the sheriff had been there, and taken away two of the children, which he wished me to raise money to purchase and set free, and then closed by Saying that his other slaves, a man, his wife, and three children had left the same evening and he had no doubt I would find them at a colored man's house, he named, here, and wished me to ascertain at once and let him know.  I at once was convinced he wished to know so as to have them arrested and taken back.  I found the man had arrived; but the woman and children had given out, and he left them with a colored family in Cecil.  I wrote him word the family had not got here, but said nothing of a man being here.  On seventh day evening I saw a colored woman from the neighborhood; she told me that the owner and sheriff were out hunting five days for them before they found them, and says there is not a greater hypocrite in that part of the world.  I wrote him a letter yesterday letting him know just what I thought of him.  Your Friend, THOS. GARRETT.

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ARRIVAL FROM MARYLAND.
BIRTH-DAY PRESENT FROM THOMAS GARRETT.

     ESTEEMED FRIEND: - WILLIAM STILL:- This is my 69th birth-day, and I do not know any better way to celebrate it in a way to accord with y feelings, then to send to these two fugitives, an and wife; and man has been here a week waiting for his wife, who is expected in time to leave at 9 this evening in the cars for thy house with a pilot, who knows where thee lives, but I cannot help but feel some anxiety about the woman, as there is great commotion just now in the neighborhood where she resides.  There were 4 slaves betrayed near the Maryland line by a colored man named Jesse Perry a few nights since.  One of them made a confidant of him, and he agreed to pilot them on their way, and had several white men secreted to take them as soon as they got in his house; he is the scoundrel that was to have charge of the 7 I wrote you about two weeks since; their master was to take or send them there, and he wanted me to send for them.  I have since been confirmed it was a trap set to catch one of our colored men and me likewise, but it was no go.  I suspected him from the first, but afterwards was fully confirmed in my suspicions.  We have found the two Rust boys, John and Elsey Bradley, who the villain of a Rust took out of jail and sold to a trader of the name of Morris, who sold them to a trader who took them to Richmond, Virginia, where they were sold at public sale two days be

[Page 477]
fore we found them, for $2600, but fortunately the man had not paid for them; our Attorney had them by habeas corpus before a Judge, who detained them till we can prove their identity and freedom; they are to have a hearing on 2d day next, when we hope to have a person on there to prove them.  In haste, thine,           THOS. GARRETT.

     Unfortunately all the notice that the record contains of the two passengers referred to, is in the following words: "Two cases not written out for want of time."
     The "boys" alluded to as having been "found" &c., were free born, but had been kidnapped and carried south and sold.
     Three days after the above letter, the watchful Garrett further light touching the hair-breadth escape of the two that he had written about, and at the same time gave an interesting account of the efforts which were made to save the poor kidnapped boys, &c.

SECOND LETTER FROM THOMAS GARRETT.

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ARRIVAL FROM THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 1858.
REBECCA JACKSON AND DAUGHTER, AND ROBERT SHORTER

     The road to Washington was doing about this time a marvellously large business.  "William Penn" and other friends in Washington were most vigilant, and knew where to find passengers who were daily thirsting for deliverance.
     REBECCA JACKSON was a woman of about thirty-seven years of age, of a yellow color, and of bright intellect, prepossessing in her manners.  She

[Page 478]
had pined in bondage in Georgetown under Mrs. Margaret Dick, a lady of wealth and far advanced life, a firm believer in slavery and the Presbyterian Church, of which she was a member.
     Rebecca had been her chief attendant, knew all her whims and ways to perfection.  According to Rebecca's idea, “she was a peevish, fretful, ill natured, but kind-hearted creature."  Being very tired of her old mistress and heartily sick of bondage, and withal desiring to save her daughter, she ascertained the doings of the Underground Rail Road, —was told about Canada, &c.  She therefore resolved to make a bold adventure.  Mrs. Dick had resided a long time in Georgetown, but owned three large plantations in the country, over which she kept three overseers to look after the slaves.  Rebecca had a free husband, but she was not free to serve him, as she had to be digging day and night for the “white people.” Robert, a son of the mistress, lived with his mother.  While Rebecca regarded him as “a man with a very evil disposition,” she nevertheless believed that he had “sense enough to see that the present generation of slaves would not bear so much as slaves had been made to bear the generation past.”

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ARRIVAL FROM HONEY BROOK TOWNSHIP, 1858
FRANK CAMPBELL

     FRANK was a man of blunt features, rather stout, almost jet black, and about medium height and weight.  He was not certain about his age, rather thought that he was between thirty and forty years.  He had been deprived of learning to read and write, but with  hard treatment he had been made fully acquainted under a man named Henry Campbell, who called himself Frank's master, and without his consent managed to profit by his daily sweat and toil.  This Campbell was a farmer, and was said to be the owner of about one hundred head of slaves, besides having large investments in other directions.  He did not hesitate to sell slaves if he could get his price.  Every now and then one and another would find it his turn to be sold.  Frank resolved to try and get out of danger before times were worse.  So he struck out resolutely for freedom and succeeded.

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ARRIVAL FROM ALEXANDRIA, VA., 1858.
RICHARD BAYNE, CARTER DOWLING AND BENJAMIN TAYLOR.

     RICHARD stated that a man named "Rudolph Massey, a merchant tailor, hard rum-drinker, card player, etc." claimed to own him, and had held him, up to the time of his escape, as with hands of brass.

[Page 479]

     Richard said, “I was hired out for ten dollars a month, but I never suffered like many-didn't leave because I have been abused, but simply to keep from falling into the hands of some heirs that I had been willed to."  In case of a division, Richard did not see how he could be divided without being converted into money.  Now, as he could have no fore-knowledge as to the place or person into whose hands he might be consigned by the auctioneer, he concluded that he could not venture to risk himself in the hands of the young heirs.  Richard began to consider what Slavery was, and his eyes beheld chains, whips, hand-cuffs, auction-blocks, separations and countless sufferings that had partially been overlooked before; he felt the injustice of having to toil hard to support a drunkard and gambler.  At the age of twenty-three Richard concluded to “lay down the shovel and the hoe," and look out for himself.  His mother was owned by Massey, but his father belonged to the "superior race" or claimed so to do, and if anything could be proved by appearances it was evident that he was the son of a white man.  Richard was endowed with a good share of intelligence.  He not only left his mother but also one sister to clank their chains together.
     CARTER, who accompanied Richard, had just reached his majority.  He stated that he escaped from a “maiden lady" living in Alexandria, known by the name of Miss Maria Fitchhugh, the owner of twenty-five slaves.  Opposed to Slavery as he was, he nevertheless found no fault with his mistress, but on the contrary, said that she was a very respectable lady, and a member of the Episcopal Church.  She often spoke of freeing her servants when she died; such talk was too uncertain for Carter, to pin his faith to, and he resolved not to wait.  Such slave-holders generally lived a great while, and when they did die, they many times failed to keep their promises.  He concluded to heed the voice of reason, and at once leave the house of bondage.  His mother, father, five brothers and six sisters all owned by Miss Fitchhugh, formed a strong tie to keep him from going; he "conferred not with flesh and blood," but made a determined stroke for freedom.
     BENJAMIN, the third in this company, was only twenty years of age, but a better-looking specimen for the auction - block could hardly be found.  He fled from the Meed estate; his mistress had recently died leaving her affairs, including the disposal of the slaves, to be settled at an early date.  He spoke of his mistress as “a very clever lady to her servants,” but since her death he had realized the danger that he was in of being run off south with a coffle gang.  He explained the course frequently resorted to by slave-holders under similar circumstances thus: “frequently slaves would be snatched up, hand cuffed and hurried off south on the night train without an hour's notice.”  Fearing that this might be his fate, he deemed it prudent to take a northern train via the Underground Rail Road without giving any notice.

[Page 480]

     He left no parents living, but six brothers and four sisters, all slaves with the exception of one brother who had bought himself.  In order to defend themselves if molested on the road, the boys had provided themselves with pistols and dirks, and declared that they were fully bent on using them rather than be carried back to slavery.

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ARRIVAL FROM THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.
HANSON WILLIAMS, NACE SHAW, GUSTA YOUNG, AND DANIEL M'NORTON SMITH.

 These four fugitives were full of enthusiasm for Canada, although by no means among the worst abused of their class.
     Hanson was about forty years of age, with apparently a good degree of intellect, and of staid principles.
     In the above advertisement clipped from the Baltimore Sun, he is more fully described by Mr. Levi Pumphrey; it can now be taken for what it is worth.  But, and Hanson left home suddenly without appraising his owner, or any of his owner's intimate white friends, of the circumstances which led him to thus leave, his testimony and explanation, although late, may not be wholly uninteresting to Mr. Pumphrey and others dwho took an interest in the missing "Hanson."  "How have you had it in slavery?" he was asked.  "I have had it pretty rough,"  answered Hanson.  "Who held you in bondage, and how it pretty rough," answered Hanson.  "Who held you in bondage, and how have you been treated?"  "I was owned by Levi Pumphrey, an old man with one eye, a perfect savage; he allowed no privileges of any kind, Sunday or Monday."

     GUSTA, who was also described in Pumphrey's advertisement, was a rugged-looking specimen, and his statement tended to strengthen Hanson's in every particular.  It was owing to the bad treatment of Pumphrey, that Gusta left in the manner that he did.
     After deciding to take his departure for Canada, he provided himself with a Colt's revolver, and resolved that if any man should attempt to put his hand on him while he was on the "King's highway," he would shoot him down, not excepting his old master.

[Page 481]

     NACE, advertised by Miss Sarah Ann Talburtt, was a remarkably good-natured looking piece of merchandise.  He gave a very interesting account of his so called mistress, how he came to leave her, etc.  Said Nace: "My mistress was an old maid, and lived on a farm.  I was her foreman on the farm.  She lived near Marlborough Forest, in Prince George's county, Md., about twelve miles from Washington; she was a member of the Episcopal Church.  She fed well, and quarrelled a caution, from Monday morning till Saturday night, not only with the slaves, but among the inmates of the big house.  My mistress had three sisters, all old maids living with her, and a niece besides; their names were Rebecca, Rachel, Caroline, and Sarah Ann, and a more disagreeable family of old maids could not be found in a year's time.  To arise in the morning before my mistress, Sarah Ann, was impossible.”  Then, without making it appear that he or other of the slaves had been badly treated under Miss Talburtt, he entered upon the cause of escape, and said: "I left simply because I wanted a chance for my life; I wanted to die a free man if it pleased God to have it so.  "His wife and a grown-up son he was obliged to leave, as no opportunity offered to bring them away with him.
     DAN was also of this party.  He was well tinctured with Anglo-Saxon blood.  His bondage had been in Alexandria, with a mill-wright, known by the name of James Garnett.  Dan had not been in Garnett's hands a great while.  Mr. Garnett's ways and manners were not altogether pleasing to him; besides, Dan, stated that he was trying to sell him, and he made up his mind that at an early opportunity, he would avail himself of a ticket for Canada, via the Underground Rail Road.  He left his mother and brothers all scattered.

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CROSSING THE BAY IN A SKIFF.
WILLIAM THOMAS COPE, JOHN BOICE GREY, HENRY BOICE AND ISAAC WHITE.

     These young bondmen, whilst writhing under the tortures heaped upon them, resolved, at the cost of life, to make a desperate trial for free land; to rid themselves of their fetters, at whatever peril they might have to encounter.  The land route presented less encouragement than by water; they knew but little, however, concerning either way.  After much

[Page 482]
anxious reflection, they finally decided to make their Underground Rail Road exit by water.  Having lived all their lives not far from the bay, they had some knowledge of small boats, skiffs in particular, but of course they were not the possessors of one.  Feeling that there was no time to lose, they concluded to borrow a skiff, though they should never return it.  So one Saturday evening, toward the latter part of January, the four young slaves stood on the beach near Lewes, Delaware, and cast their longing eyes in the direction of the Jersey shore.  A fierce gale was blowing, and the waves were running fearfully high; not daunted, however, but as one man they resolved to take their lives in their hands and make the bold adventure.

     With simple faith they entered the skiff ; two of them took the oars, man fully to face uncertain dangers from the waves. But they remained steadfast, oft as they felt that they were making the last stroke with their oars, on the verge of being overwhelmed with the waves. At every new stage of danger they summoned courage by remembering that they were escaping for their lives.
     Late on Sunday afternoon, the following day, they reached their much desired haven, the Jersey shore. The relief and joy were unspeakably great, yet they were strangers in a strange land. They knew not which way to steer. True, they knew that New Jersey bore the name of being a Free State ; but they had reason to fear that they were in danger. In this dilemma they were discovered by the captain of an oyster boat whose sense of humanity was so strongly appealed to by their appearance that he engaged to pilot them to Philadelphia. The following account of them was recorded :
    WILLIAM THOMAS was a yellow man , twenty-four years of age, and possessing a vigorous constitution . He accused Shepherd P. Houston of having restrained him of his liberty, and testified that said Houston was a very bad man . His vocation was that of a farmer, on a small scale ; as a slave-holder he was numbered with the “ small fry .” Both master and

[Page 483]
mistress were members of the Methodist Church.  According to William Thomas' testimony his mistress as well as his master was very hard on the slaves in various ways, especially in the matter of food and clothing.  It would require a great deal of hard preaching to convince him that such Christianity was other than spurious.
     JOHN stated that David Henry Houston, a farmer, took it upon himself to exercise authority over him.  Said John, “If you didn't do the work right, he got contrary, and wouldn't give you anything to eat for a whole day at a time; he said a nigger and a mule hadn't any feeling .' ”  He de scribed his stature and circumstances somewhat thus: “Houston is a very small man; for some time his affairs had been in way; he had been broke, some say he had bad luck for killing my brother.  My brother was sick, but master said he wasn't sick, and he took a chunk, and beat on him, and he died a few days after.”  John firmly believed that his brother had been the victim of a monstrous outrage, and that he too was liable to the same treatment.
     John was only nineteen years of age, spare built, chestnut color, and represented the rising mind of the slaves of the South.
     HENRY was what might be termed a very smart young man, considering that he had been deprived of a knowledge of reading.  He was a brother of John, and said that he also had been wrongfully enslaved by David Houston, alluded to above.  He fully corroborated the statement of his brother, and declared, moreover, that his sister had not long since been sold South, and that he had heard enough to fully convince him that he and his brother were to be put up for sale soon.
     Of their mistress John said that she was a “pretty easy kind of a woman, only she didn't want to allow enough to eat, and wouldn't mend any clothes for us."
     ISAAC was twenty-two, quite black, and belonged to the “rising young slaves of Delaware.  He stated that he had been owned by a “blacksmith, a very hard man, by the name of Thomas Carper.”  Isaac was disgusted with his master's ignorance, and criticised him , in his crude way, to a considerable extent.  Isaac had learned blacksmithing under Carper.  Both master and mistress were Methodists.  Isaac said that he “could not recommend his mistress, as she was given to bad practices,” so much so that he could hardly endure her.  He also charged the blacksmith with being addicted to bad habits.  Sometimes Isaac would be called upon to receive correction from his master, which would generally be dealt out with a “chunk of wood” over his “no feeling” head.  On a late occasion, when Isaac was being chunked beyond measure, he resisted, but the persistent black smith did not yield until he had so far disabled Isaac that he was rendered helpless for the next two weeks.  While in this state he pledged himself to freedom and Canada, and resolved to win the prize by crossing the Bay.

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     While these young passengers possessed brains and bravery of a rare order, at the same time they brought with them an unusual amount of the soil of Delaware; their persons and old worn-out clothing being full of it.  Their appearance called loudly for immediate cleansing.  A room-free water-free soap, and such other assistance as was necessary was tendered them in order to render the work as thorough as possible.  This healthy process over, clean and comfortable clothing were furnished, and the change in their appearance was so marked, that they might have passed as strangers, if not in the immediate corn-fields of their masters, certainly among many of their old acquaintances, unless subjected to the most careful inspection.  Raised in the country and on farms, their masters and mistresses had never dreamed of encouraging them to conform to habits of cleanliness; washing their persons and changing their garments were not common occurrences.  The coarse garment once on would be clung to without change as long as it would hold together.  The filthy cabins allotted for their habitations were in themselves incentives to personal uncleanliness.  In some districts this was more apparent than in others.  From some portions of Maryland and Delaware, in particular, passengers brought lamentable evidence of a want of knowledge and improvement in this direction.  But the master, not the slave, was blameworthy.  The master, as has been intimated, found but one suit for working (and sometimes none for Sunday), consequently if Tom was set to ditching one day and became muddy and dirty, and the next day he was required to haul manure, his ditching suit had to be used, and if the next day he was called into the harvest-field, he was still obliged to wear his barn-yard suit, and so on to the end.  Frequently have such passengers been thoroughly cleansed for the first time in their lives at the Philadelphia station.  Some needed practical lessons before they understood the thoroughness necessary to cleansing.  Before undertaking the operation, therefore, in order that they might be made to feel the benefit to be derived therefrom, they would need to have the matter brought home to them in a very gentle way, lest they might feign to fear taking cold, not having been used to it, etc.
     It was customary to say to them:  “We want to give you some clean clothing, but you need washing before putting them on.  It will make you feel like a new man to have the dirt of slavery all washed off.  Nothing that could be done for you would make you feel better after the fatigue of travel than a thorough bath.  Probably you have not been allowed the opportunity of taking a good bath, and so have not enjoyed one since your mother bathed you.  Don't be afraid of the water or soap - the harder you rub yourself the better you will feel.  Shall we not wash your back and neck for you?  We want you to look well while traveling on the Underground Rail Road , and not forget from this time forth to try to take care of yourself,” &c., &c.  By this course the reluctance where it existed

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would be overcome and the proposition would be readily acceded to, if the water was not too cool; on the other hand, if cool, a slight shudder might be visible, sufficient to raise a hearty laugh.  Yet, when through, the candidate always expressed a hearty sense of satisfaction, and was truly thankful for his attention.

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ARRIVAL FROM KENT COUNTY, MD., 1858.
ASBURY IRWIN, EPHRAIM ENNIS, AND LYDIA ANN JOHNS.

     The party whose narratives are here given brought grave charges against a backsliding member of the Society of Friends — a renegade Quaker.
     Doubtless rare instances may be found where men of the Quaker persuasion, emigrating from free and settling in slave States and among slave holders, have deserted their freedom-loving principle and led captive by the force of bad examples, have linked hands with the oppressor against the oppressed.   It is probable, however, that this is the only case that may turn up in these records to the disgrace of this body of Christians in whom dwelt in such a signal degree large sympathy for the slave and the fleeing bondman.  Many fugitives were indebted to Friends who aided them in a quiet way, not allowing their left hand to know what their right hand did, and the result was that Underground Rail Road operations were always pretty safe and prosperous where the line of travel led through “Quaker settlements.” We can speak with great confidence on this point especially with regard to Pennsylvania, where a goodly number might be named, if necessary, whose hearts, houses, horses, and money were always found ready and willing to assist the fugitive from the prison-house.  It is with no little regret that we feel that truth requires us to connect the so-called owner of Asbury, Ephraim, and Lydia with the Quakers.
     ASBURY was first examined, and his story ran substantially thus: “I run away because I was used bad; three years ago I was knocked dead with an axe by my master; the blood run out of my head as if it had been poured out of a tumbler; you can see the mark plain enough -look here,” (with his finger on the spot).  I left Millington, at the head of Chester in Kent County, Maryland, where I had been held by a farmer who called himself Michael Newbold.  He was originally from Mount Holly, New Jersey, but had been living in Maryland over twenty years.  He was called a Hickory Quaker, and he had a real Quaker for a wife.  Before he was in Maryland five years he bought slaves, became a regular slave-holder, got to drinking and racing horses, and was very bad-treated all hands bad, his wife too, so that she had to leave him and go to Philadelphia to her kins-folks.  It was because he was so bad we all had to leave," &c.

[Page 486]

     While Asbury's story appeared truthful and simple, a portion of it was too shocking to morality and damaging to humanity to be inserted in these pages.
     Asbury was about forty years of age, a man of dark hue, size and height about mediocrity, and mental ability quite above the average.
     EPHRAIM was a fellow-servant and companion of Asbury.  He was a man of superior physical strength, and from all outward appearance, he possessed qualities susceptible of ready improvement.  He not only spoke of Newbold in terms of strong condemnation but of slave-holders and slavery everywhere.  The lessons he had learned gave him ample opportunity to speak from experience and from what he had observed in the daily practices of slave-holders; consequently, with his ordinary gifts, it was impossible for him to utter his earnest feelings without making a deep impression.
     LYDIA also fled from Michael Newbold.  She was a young married woman, only twenty-two years of age, of a chestnut color and a pleasant countenance.  Her flight for liberty cost her her husband, as she was obliged to leave him behind.  What understanding was entered into between them prior to her departure we failed to note at the time.  It was very clear that she had decided never to wear the yoke again.

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ARRIVAL FROM WASHINGTON, 1858.
JOSEPHINE ROBINSON.

     Many reasons were given by Josephine for leaving the sunny South.  She had a mistress, but was not satisfied with her - hadn't a particle of love for her; "she was all the time fussing and scolding, and never could be satisfied."  She was very well off, and owned thirteen or fourteen head of slaves.  She was a member of the Methodist Church, was stingy and very mean towards her slaves.  Josephine having lived with her all her life, professed to have a thorough knowledge of her ways and manners, and seemed disposed to speak truthfully of her.  The name of her mistress was Eliza Hambleton, and she lived in Washington.  Josephine had fully thought over the matter of her rights, so much so, that she was prompted to escape.  So hard did she feel her lot to be, that she was compelled to resign her children, uncle and aunt to the cruel mercy of slavery.  What became of the little ones, David, Ogden and Isaiah, is a mystery.

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ARRIVAL FROM CECIL COUNTY, 1858.
ROBERT JOHNS AND HIS WIFE "SUE ANN."

     Fortunately, in this instance, man and wife succeeded in making their way out of Slavery together.  Robert was a man of small stature, and the farthest.

[Page 487]
shade from white. In appearance and intellect he represented the ordinary Maryland slave, raised on a farm , surrounded with no refining influences or sympathy. . He stated that a man by the name of William Cassey had claimed the right to his labor, and that he had been kept in bondage on his farm .
     For a year or more before setting out for freedom , Robert had watched his master pretty closely, and came to the conclusion , that he was “ a monstrous blustery kind of a man ; one of the old time fellows, very hard and rash-not fit to own a dog.” He owned twelve slaves ; Robert resolved that he would make one less in a short while. He laid the matter before his wife, “ Sue," who was said to be the property of Susan Flinthrew, wife of John Flin threw, of Cecil county, Maryland. “ Sue ” having suffered severely, first from one and then another, sometimes from floggings, and at other times from hunger, and again from not being half clothed in cold weather, was pre pared to consider any scheme that looked in the direction of speedy deliverance. The way that they were to travel, and the various points of danger to be passed on the road were fully considered ; but Robert and Sue were united and agreed that they could not fare much worse than they had fared, should they be captured and carried back. In this state of mind, as in the case of thousands of others, they set out for a free State, and in due time reached Pennsylvania and the Vigilance Committee, to whom they made known the facts here recorded, and received aid and comfort in return .
     SUE was a young woman of twenty -three, of a brown color, and some what under medium size.

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ARRIVAL FROM GEORGETOWN, D. C., 1858.
PERRY CLEXTON, JIM BANKS AND CHARLES NOLE.

     This party found no very serious obstacles in their travels, as their plans were well arranged , and as they had at least natural ability sufficient for ordinary emergencies.
     PERRY reported that he left" a man by the name of Johu M. Williams, of Georgetown, D. C., who was in the wood business, and kept a wharf. ” As to treatment, he said that he had not been used very hard , but had been worked hard and allowed but few privileges. The paltry sum of twenty -five cents a week, was all that was allowed him out of his hire. With a wife and one child this might seem a small sum, but in reality it was a liberal outlay compared with what many slaves were allowed . Perry being a ready -witted article, thought that it was hardly fair that Mr. Wil liams should live by the sweat of his brow instead of his own ; he was a large, portly man, and able to work for himself in Perry's opinion. For

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a length of time, the notion of leaving and going to Canada was uppermost in his heart; probably he would have acted with more promptness but for the fact that his wife and child rested with great weight on his mind . Finally the pressure became so great that he felt that he must leave at all hazards, forsaking wife and child, master and chains. He was a young man, of about twenty - five years of age, of a dark shade, ordinary build, and full of grit. His wife was named Amelia ; whether she ever afterwards heard from her husband is a question.
     JIM, who accompanied Perry, brought the shoe -making art with him . He had been held a slave under John J. Richards, although he was quite as much a white man as he was black . He was a mulatto, twenty nine years of age, well -made, and bore a grum countenance, but a brave and manly will to keep up his courage on the way. He said that he had been used very well, had no fault to find with John J. Richards, who was possibly a near relative of his. He forsook his mother, four brothers and three sisters with no hope of ever seeing them again.
     CHARLES bore strong testimony in favor of his master, Blooker W. Hansborough, a farmer, a first -rate man to his servants, said Charles. “ I was used very well, can't complain.” “ Why did you not remain then ?” asked a member of the Committee. “ I left, " answered C., “ because I was not allowed to live with my wife. She with our six children, lived a long distance from my master's place, and he would not hire me out where I could live near my wife, so I made up my mind that I would try and do better. I could see no enjoyment that way.” As the secret of his master's treatment is here brought to light, it is very evident that Charles, in speak ing so highly in his favor, failed to take a just view of bim, as no man could really be first - rate to his servants, who would not allow a man to live with his wife and children, and who would persist in taking from another what he had no right to take. Nevertheless, as Charles thought his master “ first-rate, ” he shall have the benefit of the opinion , but it was suspected that Charles was not disposed to find fault with his kin, as it was very likely that the old master claimed some of the white blood in his veins.

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ARRIVAL FROM SUSSEX COUNTY, 1858.
JACOB BLOCKSON, GEORGE ALLIGOOD, JIM ALLIGOOD, AND GEORGE LEWIS.

     The coming of Jacob and his companions was welcomed in the usual way.  The marks of Slavery upon them were evident; however they were subjected to the usual critical examination, which they bore with composure, and without the least damage.  The following notes in the main were recorded from their statements:

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     JACOB was a stout and healthy-looking man, about twenty-seven years of age, with a countenance indicative of having no sympathy with Slavery.  Being invited to tell his own story, describe his master, etc., he unhesitatingly relieved himself somewhat after this manner; "I escaped from a man by the name of Jesse W. Paten; he was a man of no business, except drinking whiskey, and farming.  He was a light complected man, tall large, and full-faced, with a large nose.  He was a widower.  He belonged to no society of any kind.  He lived near Seaford, in Sussex county, Delaware."
     "I left because I didn't want to stay with him any longer.  My master was about to be sold out this Fall, and I made up my mind that I did not want to be sold like a horse, the way they generally sold darkies then; so when I started resolved to die sooner than I would be taken back; this was my intention all the while.
     "I left my wife, and one child; the wife's name was Lear, and the child was called Alexander.  I want to get them on soon too.  I made some arrangements for their coming if I got off safe to Canada."
     GEORGE was next called upon to give his statement concerning where he was from, etc.  I "scraped" from Sussex too, from a man by the name of George M. Davis, a large man, dark-complected, and about fifty years of age; he belonged to the old side Methodist Church, was a man with a family, and followed farming, or hand farming done by me and others.  Besides he was a justice of the peace.  I always believed that the Master above had no wish for me to be held in bondage all my days; but I thought if I made upmy mind to stay in Slavery, and not to make a desperate trial for my freedom, I would never have any better times.  I had heard that my old mistress had willed me to her children, and children's children.  I thought at this rate there was no use of holding on any longer for the good time to come, so here I said, I am going, if I die a trying.  I got me a dagger, and made up my mind if they attempted to take me on the road,  I would have one man.  As for my part, I have not had it so slavish as many, but I have never had any privileges to learn to read, or to go about anywhere.  Now and then they let me go to church.  My master belonged to church, and so did I.
     For a young man, being only twenty-two years of age, who had been kept from the light of freedom, as much as he had, his story was thought to be exceedingly well told throughout.
     JAMES, a brother of George, said:  "I came from Horse's Cross-Roads, and far from where my brother George came from.  William Gray, rail road ticket agent at Bridgewater, professed to own me.  He was a tolerable sized man, with very large whiskers, and dark hair; he was rather a steady kind of a man, he had a wife, but no child.  The reason I left, I thought I had served Slavery long enough, as I had been treated none the best.  I did not believe in working my life out just to support some body else.  My master

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had as many hands and feet as I have, and is as able to work for his bread as I am; and I made up my mind that I wouldn't stay to be a slave under him any longer, but that I would go to Canada, and be my own master."
     James left his poor wife, and three children, slaves perhaps for life.  The wife's name was Ester Ann, the children were called Mary, Henry, and Harriet.  All belonged to Jesse Laten.
     GEORGE LEWIS had more years than any of his companions, being about forty years of age.  He had been kept in as low as a state of ignorance as the ingenuity of a slave-holder of Delaware could keep one possessed of as much mother-wit as he was, for he was not quite so ignorant as the interests of the system required. His physical make and mental capacity were good.  He was decidedly averse to the peculiar institution in every particular.  He stated, that a man named Samuel Lewis had held him in bondage - that this "Laws was a man of no business - just sat about the house and went about from store to store and sat; that he was an old man, pretty grey, very long hair.  He was a member of a church in the neighborhood, which was called Radical."  Of this church and its members he could give but little account, either of their peculiarities or creed; he said, however, that they worshipped a good deal like the Methodists, and allowed their members to swear heartily for slavery.
     "Something told" George that he had worked long enough as a slave, and that he should be man enough to take the Underground Rail Road and go off to a free country.  Accordingly George set out.  When he arrived at the station he was so highly delighted with his success and the prospect before him, that he felt very sorry that he hadn't started ten years sooner.  He said that he would have done so, but he was afraid, as slave-holders were always making the slaves believe that if they should ever escape they would catch them and bring them back and sell them down South, certain; that they always did catch every one who ran off but never brought them home, but sold them right off where they could never run away any more, or get to see their relatives again.  This threat, George said, was continually run in the ears of the slaves, and with the more timid it was very effective.
     JACOB BLOCKSON, after reaching Canada, true to the pledge that he made to his bosom companion, wrote back as follows:

     DEAR WIFE: - I now infom you I am in Canada and am well and hope you are the same, and would wish you to be here next august, you come to suspension bridge and from there to St. Catharines, write and let me know.  I am doing well working for a Butcher this winter, and will get good wages in the spring I now get $2.50 a week.
     I Jacob Blockson, George Lewis, George Alligood and James Alligood are all in St. Catharines, and met George Ross from Lewis Wright's, Jim Blockson is in Canada West, and Jim Delany, Plunnoth Connon.  I expect you my wife Lea Ann Blockson, my son

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Alexander & Lewis and Ames will all be here and Isabella also, if you cant bring all bring Alexander surely, write when you will come and I will meet you in Albany.  Love to you all, from your loving Husband,
                                                                                   JACOB BLOCKSON
fare through $12,30 to here.
     MR. STILL: SIR:- you will please Envelope this and send it to John Sheppard Bridgeville P office in Sussex county Delaware, seal it in black and oblige me, write to her to come to you.

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SUNDRY ARRIVALS IN 1859.
SARAH ANN MILLS, Boonsborough; CAROLINE GASSWAY, Mt. Airy; LEVIN HOLDEN, Laurel; WILLIAM JAMES CONNER, with his wife, child, and four brothers; JAMES LAZARUS, Delaware; RICHARD WILLIAMS, Richmond, Virginia; SYDNEY HOPKINS and HENRY WHEELER, Havre de Grace.

     SARAH MILLS set out for freedom long before she reached womanhood; being about sixteen years of age.   She stated that she had been very cruelly treated, that she was owned by a man named Joseph O'Neil, "a tax collector and a very bad man."  Under said O'Neil she had been required to chop wood, curry horses, work in the field like a man, and all one winter she had been compelled to go barefooted.  Three weeks before Sarah fled, her mistress was called away by death; nevertheless Sarah could not forget how badly she had been treated by his while living.  According to Sarah's testimony the mistress was no better than her husband.  Sarah came from Boonsborough, near Hagerstown, Md., leaving her mother and other relatives in that neighborhood.
     It was gratifying to know that such bond-women so early got beyond the control of slave-holders; yet girls of her age from having had no pains take for their improvement, appealed loudly for more than common sympathy and humanity, but rarely ever found it; on the contrary, their paths were beset with great danger.

     CAROLINE GASSWAY, after being held to service by Summersett Walters until she had reached her twenty-seventh year, was forced, by hard treatment and the love of freedom, to make an effort for deliverance.  Her appearance at once indicated, although she was just out of the prison-house, that she possessed more than an ordinary share of courage, and that she had had a keen insight into the system under which she had been oppressed.  She was of a dark chestnut color, well-formed, with a large and high forehead, indicative of intellect.  She had much to say of the ways and practices of slave-holders; of the wrongs of the system.  She dwelt especially upon her own situation as a slave, and the character of her master; she told not only of his ill treatment of her, but described his physical appearance as well.  "He was a spare-made man, with a read head and quick temper; he

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would go off in a flurry like a flash of powder, and would behave shamefully ' towards the slaves when in these fits of passion.”  His wife, however, Caroline confessed was of a different temper, and was a pretty good kind of a woman.  If he had been anything like his wife in disposition, most likely Caroline would have remained in bondage. Fortunately, Caro line was a single woman. She left her mother.

     LEVIN HOLDEN, having been sold only a few weeks prior to his escape, was so affected by the change which awaited him, that he was irresistibly led to seek the Underground Rail Road.  Previous to being sold he was under a master by the name of Jonathan Bailey, who followed farming in the neighborhood of Laurel, Delaware, and, as a master, was considered a moderate man—was also well to do in the world; but the new master he could not endure, as he had already let the secret out that Levin was to be sent South.  Levin had a perfect horror of a more Southern latitude; he made up his mind that he would try his luck for Canada.  Levin was a man of twenty seven years of age, smart, dark color, and of a good size for all sorts of Work.

     WILLIAM JAMES CONNER, his wife, child, and four brothers came next.  The brothers were hale-looking fellows, and would have commanded high prices in any market South of Mason and Dixon’s Line.  It was said, that they were the property of Kendall Major Lewis, who lived near Laurel, Delaware.  It was known, however, that he never had any deed from the Almighty, but oppressed them without any just right so to do; they were perfectly justifiable in leaving Kendall Major Lewis, and all his sympathizers, to take care of themselves as best they could.
     No very serious charges were made against Lewis, but on the contrary they said, that he had been looked upon as a “ moderate slave-holder;” they also said, that “he had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for fifty years, and stood high in that body.”  Furthermore they stated, that he sold slaves occasionally.  Eight had been sold by him some time before this party escaped (two of them to Georgia); besides William James had been sold and barely found opportunity to escape. Wm. James, Major Lewis, Dennis Betts, Peter, and Lazarus, with the wife and child of the former, not only found themselves stripped from day to day of their hard earnings, but fearful forebodings of the auction-block were ever uppermost in their minds.  While they spoke of Lewis as “moderate,” etc., they all said that he allowed no privileges to his slaves.

     RICHARD WILLIAMS gave a full account of himself, but only a meagre report was recorded.  He said that he came from Richmond, and left be cause he was on the point of being sold by John A. Smith, who owned him.  He gave Smith credit for being a tolerable fair kind of a slave-holder, but added, that “his wife was a notoriously hard woman;” she had made a very deep impression on Richard’s mind by her treatment of him.  In finding

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himself on free ground, however, with cheering prospects ahead, he did not stop to brood over the ills that he had suffered, but rejoiced heartily.  He left his wife, Julia, who was free.

     SYDNEY HOPKINS and HENRY WHEELER.  These young men made their way out of Slavery together.  While Sydney lives he will forever regard Jacob Hoag, of Havre-de-Grace, as the person who cheated him out of himself, and prevented him from becoming enlightened and educated.

     HENRY, his companion, was also from Havre De Grace.  He had had trouble with a man by the name of Amos Barnes, or in other words Barnes claimed to own him, just as he owned a horse or a mule, and daily con trolled him in about the same manner that he would manage the animals above alluded to.  Henry could find no justification for such treatment. He suffered greatly under the said Barnes, and finally his eyes were open to see that there was an Underground Rail Road for the benefit of all such slavery-sick souls as himself.  So he got a ticket as soon as possible, and came through without accident, leaving Amos Barnes to do the best he could for a living.  This candidate for Canada was twenty-one years of age, and a likely-looking boy.

     JOSEPH HENRY HILL. The spirit of freedom in this passenger was truly the “one idea” notion.  At the age of twenty-eight his purpose to free himself by escaping on the Underground Rail Road was successfully carried into effect, although not without difficulty.  Joseph was a fair specimen of a man physically and mentally, could read and write, and thereby keep the run of matters of interest on the Slavery question.
     James Thomas, Jr., a tobacco merchant, in Richmond, had Joe down in his ledger as a marketable piece of property, or a handy machine to save labor, and make money.  To Joe’s great joy he heard the sound of the Underground Rail Road bell in Richmond,—had a satisfactory interview with the conductor,—received a favorable response, and was soon a traveler on his way to Canada.  He left his mother, a free woman, and two sisters in chains.  He had been sold twice, but he never meant to be sold again.

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