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. 277 - 314

[Pg. 277]

THE PROTECTION OF SLAVE PROPERTY IN VIRGINIA.

A BILL PROVIDING ADDITIONAL PROTECTION FOR THE SLAVE PROPERTY OF CITIZENS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.

     (1.)  Be it enacted, by the General Assembly, that it shall not be lawful for any vessel, of any size or description, whatever, owned in whole, or in part, by any citizen or resident of another State, and about to sail or steam for any port or place in this State, for any port or place north of and beyond the capes of Virginia, to depart from the waters of this commonwealth, until said vessel has undergone the inspection hereinafter provided for in this act, and received a certificate to that effect.  If any such vessel shall depart from the State without such certificate of inspection, the captain or owner thereof, shall forfeit and pay the sum of five hundred dollars, to be recovered by any person who will sue for the same, in any court of record in this State, in the name of the Governor of the Commonwealth.

[Pg. 278]
Pending said suit, the vessel of said captain or owner shall not leave the State until bond be given by the captain or owner, or other person for him, payable to the Governor, with two or three sureties satisfactory to the court, in the penalty of one thousand dollars, for the payment of the forfeit or fine, together with the cost and expenses incurred in enforcing the same; and in default of such bond, the vessel shall be held liable.   Provided that nothing contained in this section, shall apply to vessels belonging to the United States Government, or vessels, American or foreign, bound direct to any foreign country other than the British American Provinces.
     (2.) The pilots licensed under the laws of Virginia, and while attached to a vessel regularly employed as a pilot boat, are hereby constituted inspectors to execute this act, so far as the same may be applicable to the Chesapeake Bay, and the waters tributary thereto, within the jurisdiction of this State, together with such other inspectors as may be appointed by virtue of this act.
     (3.) The branch or license issued to a pilot according to the provisions of the 92d chapter of Code, shall be sufficient evidence that he is authorized and empowered to act as inspector as aforesaid.
     (4.) It shall be the duty of, the inspector, or other person authorized to act under this law, to examine and search all vessels hereinbefore described, to see that no slave or person held to service or labor in this State, or person charged with the commission of any crime within the State, shall be concealed on board said vessel.  Such inspection shall be made within twelve hours of the time of departure of such vessel from the waters of Virginia, and may be made in any bay, river, creek, or other water-course of the State, provided, however, that steamers plying as regular packets, between ports in Virginia and those north of, and outside of the capes of Virginia, shall be inspected at the port of departure nearest Old Point Comfort.
     (5.) A vessel so inspected and getting under way, with intent to leave the waters of the State, if she returns to an anchorage above Black River Point, or within Old Point Comfort, shall be again inspected and charged as if an original case.  If such vessel be driven back by stress of weather to seek a harbor, she shall be exempt from payment of a second fee, unless she holds intercourse with the shore. 
     (6.) If, after searching the vessel, the inspector see no just cause to detain her, he shall give to the captain a certificate to that effect.  If, however, upon such inspection, or in any other manner, any slave or person held to service or labor, or any person charged with any crime, he found on board of any vessel whatever, for the purpose aforesaid, or said vessel be detected in the act of leaving this commonwealth with any such slave or person on board, or otherwise violating the provisions of this act, he shall attach said vessel, and arrest all persons on board, to be delivered up to the sergeant or sheriff of the nearest port in this commonwealth, to be dealt with according to law.

[Pg. 279]
     (7.) If any inspector or other officer be opposed, or shall have reason to suspect that he will be opposed or obstructed in the discharge of any duty required of him under this act, he shall have power to summon and command the force of any county or corporation to aid him in the discharge of such duty, and every person who shall resist, obstruct, or refuse to aid any inspector or other officer in the discharge of such duty, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined and imprisoned as in other cases of misdemeanor.
     (8.) For every inspection of a vessel under this law, the inspector, or other officer shall be entitled to demand and receive the sum of five dollars; for the payment of which such vessel shall be liable, and the inspector or other officer may seize and hold her until the same is paid, together with all charges incurred in taking care of the vessel, as well as in enforcing the payment of the same.  Provided, that steam packets trading regularly between the waters of Virginia and ports north of and beyond the capes of Virginia, shall pay not more than five dollars for each inspection under the provisions of this act; provided, however, that for every inspection of a vessel engaged in the coal trade, the inspector shall not receive a greater sum than two dollars.
     (9.) Any inspector or other person apprehending a slave in the act of escaping from the state, on board a vessel trading to or belonging to a non slave-holding state, or who shall give information that will lead to the recovery of any slave, as aforesaid, shall be entitled to a reward of One Hundred Dollars, to be paid by the owner of such slave, or by the fiduciary having charge of the estate to which such slave belongs; and if the vessel be forfeited under the provisions of this act, he shall be entitled to one-half of the proceeds arising from the sale of the vessel; and if the same amounts to one hundred dollars, he shall not receive from the owner the above reward of one hundred dollars.
     (10.) An inspector permitting a. slave to escape for the want of proper exertion, or by neglect in the discharge of his duty, shall be fined One Hundred Dollars; or if for like causes he permit a vessel, which the law requires him to inspect, to leave the state without inspection, he shall be fined not less than twenty, nor more than fifty dollars, to be recovered by warrant by any person who will proceed against him. 
     (11.) No pilot acting under the authority of the laws of the state, shall pilot out of the jurisdiction of this state any such vessel as is described in this act, which has not obtained and exhibited to him the certificate of inspection hereby required; and if any pilot shall so offend, he shall forfeit and pay not less than twenty, or more than fifty dollars, to be recovered in the mode prescribed in the next preceding section of this act.
     (12.) The courts of the several counties or corporations situated on the Chesapeake Bay, or its tributaries, by an order entered on record, may

[Pg. 280]
appoint one or more inspectors, at such place or places within their respective districts as they may deem necessary, to prevent the escape or for the recapture of slaves attempting to escape beyond the limits of the state, and to search or otherwise examine all vessels trading to such counties or corporations.  The expenses in such cases to be provided for by a levy on negroes now taxed by law; but no inspection by county or corporation officers thus appointed, shall supersede the inspection of such vessels by pilots and other inspectors, as specially provided for in this act.
     (13.) It shall be lawful for the county court of any county, upon the application of five or more slave-holders, residents of the counties where the application is made, by an order of record, to designate one or more police stations in their respective counties, and a captain and three or more other persons as a police patrol on each station, for the recapture of fugitive slaves; which patrol shall be in service at such times, and such stations as the court shall direct by their order aforesaid; and the said court shall allow a reason able compensation, to be paid to the members of such patrol; and for that purpose, the said court may from time to time direct a levy on negroes now taxed by law, at such rate per capita as the court may think sufficient, to be collected and accounted for by the sheriff as other county levies, and to be called, “The fugitive slave tax.”  The owner of each fugitive slave in the act of escaping beyond the limits of the commonwealth, to a non-slave-holding state, and captured by the patrol aforesaid, shall pay for each slave over fifteen, and under forty-five years old, a reward of One Hundred dollars; for each slave over five, and under fifteen years old, the sum of sixty dollars; and for all others, the sum of forty dollars.  Which reward shall be divided equally among the members of the patrol retaking the slave and actually on duty at the time; and to secure the payment of said reward, the said patrol may retain possession and use of the slave until the reward is paid or secured to them.
     (14.) The executive of this State may appoint one or more inspectors for the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers, if he shall deem it expedient, for the due execution of this act.  The inspectors so appointed to perform the same duties, and to be invested with the same powers in their respective districts, and receive the same fees, as pilots acting as inspectors in other parts of the State.  A vessel subject to inspection under this law, departing from any of the above-named counties or rivers on her voyage to sea, shall be exempted from the payment of a fee for a second inspection by another officer, if provided with a certificate from the proper inspecting officer of, that district; but if, after proceeding on her voyage, she returns to the port or place of departure, or enters any other port, river, or roadstead in the State, the said vessel shall be again inspected, and pay a fee of five dollars, as if she had undergone no previous examination and received no previous certificate.

[Pg. 281]

     If driven by, stress of weather to seek a harbor, and she has no intercourse with the shord, then, and in that case, no second fee shall be paid by said vessel.
     (15). For the better execution of the provisions of this act, in regard to he inspection of vessels, the executive is hereby authorized and directed to appoint a chief inspector, to reside at Norfolk, whose duty it shall be, to direct and superintend the police, agents, or inspectors above referred to.  He shall keep a record of all vessels engaged in the piloting business, together with a list of such persons as may be employed as pilots and inspectors under this law.  The owner or owners of each boat shall make a monthly report to him, of all vessels inspected by persons attached to said pilot boats, the names of such vessels, the owner or owners thereof, and the places where owned or licensed, and where trading to or from, and the business in which they are engaged, together with a list of their crews.  Any inspector failing to make his report to the chief inspector, shall pay a fine of twenty dollars for each such failure, which fine shall be recovered by warrant, before a justice of the county or corporation.  The chief inspector may direct the time and station for the cruise of each pilot boat, and perform such other duty as the Governor may designate, not inconsistent with the other provisions of this act.  He shall make a quarterly return to the executive of all the transactions of his department, reporting to him any failure or refusal on the part of inspectors to discharge the duty assigned to them, and the Governor, for sufficient cause, may suspend or remove from office any delinquent inspector.  The chief inspector shall receive as his compensation, ten per cent. on all the fees and fines received by the inspectors acting under his authority, and may be removed at the pleasure of the executive.
      (16.) All fees and forfeitures imposed by this act, and not otherwise specially provided for, shall go one half to the informer, and the other be paid into the treasury of the State, to constitute a fund, to be called the “fugitive slave fund,” and to be used for the payment of rewards awarded by the Governor, for the apprehension of runaway slaves, and to pay other expenses incident to the execution of this law, together with such other purposes as may hereafter be determined on by the General Assembly.
     (17.) This act shall be in force from its passage.

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ESCAPING IN A CHEST

$150 REWARD.  Ran away from the subscriber, on Sunday night, 27th inst., my NEGRO GIRL.  Lear Green, about 18 years of age, black complexion, round-featured, good-looking and ordinary size; she had on and with her when she left, a tan-colored silk bonnet, a dark plaid silk dress, a light mouslin delaine, also one watered silk cape and one tan colored cape.  I have reason to be confident that she was per-

[Page 282]

     LEAR GREEN, so particularly advertised in the "Baltimore Sun" by "James Noble," won for herself a strong claim to a high place among the heroic women of the nineteenth century.  In regard to description and age the advertisement is tolerably accurate, although her master might have added, that her countenance was one of Peculiar modesty and grace.  Instead of being "black," she was of a "dark-brown color."  Of her bondage she made the following statement:  She was owned by James Noble, a butter Dealer" of Baltimore.  He fell heir to Learby the will of his wife's mother, Mrs. Rachel Howard, by whom she had previously been owned.  Lear was but a mere child when she came into the hands of  Noble's family.  She, therefore, remembered but little of her old mistress.  Her young mistress, however, had made a lasting impression upon her mind; for she was very exacting and oppressive in regard to the tasks she was daily in the habit of laying upon Lear’s shoulders, with no disposition whatever to allow her any liberties.  At least Lear was never indulged in this respect.  In this situation a young man by the name of William Adams proposed marriage to her.  This offer she was inclined to accept, but disliked the idea of being encumbered with the chains of slavery and the duties of a family at the same time.
     After a full consultation with her mother and also her intended upon the matter, she decided that she must be free in order to fill the station of a wife and mother.  For a time dangers and difficulties in the way of escape seemed utterly to set at defiance a hope of success.  Whilst every pulse was beating strong for liberty, only one chance seemed to be left, the trial of which required as much courage as it would to endure the cutting off the right arm or plucking out the right eye.  An old chest of substantial make, such as sailors commonly use, was procured.  A quilt, a pillow, and a few articles of raiment, with a small quantity of food and a bottle of water were put in it, and Lear placed therein; strong ropes were fastened around the chest and she was safely stowed amongst the ordinary freight on one of the Erricson line of steamers.  Her intended’s mother, who was a free woman, agreed to come as a passenger on the same boat.  How could she refuse?  The prescribed rules of the Company assigned colored passengers to the deck.  In this instance it was exactly where this guardian and mother desired to be - as near the chest as possible.  Once or twice, during the silent watches of the night, she was drawn irresisti-

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bly to the chest, and could not refrain from venturing to untie the rope and raise the lid a little, to see if the poor child still lived, and at the
same time to give her a breath of fresh air.  Without uttering a whisper, that frightful moment, this office was successfully performed.  That the
silent prayers of this oppressed young woman, together with her faithful protector’s, were momentarily ascending to the ear of the good God above, there can be no question.  Nor is it to be doubted for a moment but that some ministering angel aided the mother to unfasten the rope, and at the same time nerved the heart of poor Lear to endure the trying ordeal of her perilous situation.  She declared that she had no fear.       After she had passed eighteen hours in the chest, the steamer arrived at the wharf in Philadelphia, and in due time the living freight was brought off the boat, and at first was delivered at a house in Barley street, occupied by particular friends of the mother.  Subsequently chest and freight were removed to the residence of the writer, in whose family she remained several days under the protection and care of the Vigilance Committee.
     Such hungering and thirsting for liberty, as was evinced by Lear Green, made the efforts of the most ardent friends, who were in the habit of aiding fugitives, seem feeble in the extreme.  Of all the heroes in Canada, or out n of it, who have purchased their liberty by downright bravery, through perils the most hazardous, none deserve more praise than Lear Green.
     She remained for a time in this family, and was then forwarded to El mira. In this place she was married to William Adams, who has bee

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previously alluded to.  They never went to Canada, but took up their permanent abode in Elmira.  The brief space of about three years only was allotted her in which to enjoy freedom, as death came and terminated her career.  About the time of this sad occurrence, her mother-in-law died in this city.  The impressions made by both mother and daughter can never be effaced.  The chest in which Lear escaped has been preserved by the writer as a rare trophy, and her photograph taken, while in the chest, is an excellent likeness of her and, at the same time, a fitting memorial.

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ISAAC WILLIAMS, HENRY BANKS, AND KIT NICKLESS.

MONTHS IN A CAVE. - SHOT BY SLAVE-HUNTERS.

     Rarely were three travelers from the house of bondage received at the Philadelphia station whose narratives were more interesting than those of the above-named individuals. Before escaping they had encountered difficulties of the most trying nature.  No better material for dramatic effect could be found than might have been gathered from the incidents of their lives and travels.  But all that we can venture to introduce here is the brief account recorded at the time of their sojourn at the Philadelphia station when on their way to Canada in 1854.  The three journeyed together.  They had been slaves together in the same neighborhood.  Two of them had shared the same den and cave in the woods, and had been shot, captured, and confined in the same prison; had broken out of prison and again escaped; consequently their hearts were thoroughly cemented in the hope of reaching freedom together.

     ISAAC was a stout-made young man, about twenty-six years of age, possessing a good degree of physical and mental ability. Indeed his intelligence forbade his submission to the requirements of Slavery, rendered him unhappy and led him to seek his freedom.  He owed services to D. Fitehhugh up to within a short time before he escaped.  Against Fitchhugh he made grave charges, said that he was a “hard, bad man.”  It is but fair to add that Isaac was similarly regarded by his master, so both were dissatisfied with each other.  But the master had the advantage of Isaac, he could sell him.  Isaac, however, could turn the table on his master, by running off.  But the master moved quickly and sold Isaac to Dr. James, a negro trader.  The trader designed making a good speculation out of his investment: Isaac determined that he should be disappointed; indeed that he should lose every dollar that he paid for him.  So while the doctor was planning where and how he could get the best price for him, Isaac was planning how and where he might safely get beyond his reach.  The time for planning and acting with Isaac was, however, exceedingly short.  He

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was daily expecting to be called upon to take his departure for the South.  In this situation he made known his condition to a friend of his who was in a. precisely similar situation; had lately been sold just as Isaac had to the same trader James.  So no argument was needed to convince his friend and fellow-servant that if they meant to be free they would have to set off immediately.
     That night Henry Banks and Isaac Williams started for the woods together, preferring to live among reptiles and wild animals, rather than be any longer at the disposal of Dr. James.  For two weeks they successfully escaped their pursuers.  The woods, however, were being hunted in every direction, and one day the pursuers came upon them, shot them both, and carried them to King George’s Co. jail.  The jail being an old building had weak places in it; but the prisoners concluded to make no attempt to break out while suffering badly from their wounds.  So they remained one month in confinement.  All the while their brave spirits under suffering grew more and more daring.  Again they decided to strike for freedom, but where to go, save to the woods, they had not the slightest idea.  Of course they had heard, as most slaves had, of cave life, and pretty well understood all the measures which had to be resorted to for security when entering upon so hazardous an undertaking.  They concluded, however, that they could not make their condition any worse, let circumstances be what they might in this respect.  Having discovered how they could break jail, they were not long in accomplishing their purpose, and were out and off to the woods again.  This time they went far into the forest, and there they dug a cave, and with great pains had every thing so completely arranged as to conceal the spot entirely.  In this den they stayed three months.  Now and then they would manage to secure a pig.  A friend also would occasionally serve them with a meal.  Their sufferings at best were fearful; but great as they were, the thought of returning to Slavery never occurred to them, and the longer they stayed in the woods, the greater was their determination to be free. In the belief that their owner had about given them up they resolved to take the North Star for a pilot, and try in this way to reach free land.
     KIT, an old friend in time of need, having proved true to them in their cave, was consulted.  He fully appreciated their heroism, and determined that he would join them in the undertaking, as he was badly treated by his master, who was called General Washington, a common farmer, hard drinker, and brutal fighter, which Kit’s poor back fully evinced by the marks it bore.  Of course Isaac and Henry were only too willing to have him ac company them.
     In leaving their respective homes they broke kindred ties of the tenderest nature.  Isaac had a wife, Eliza, and three children, Isaac, Estella, and Ellen, all owned by Fitchhugh.  Henry was only nineteen, single, but left

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parents, brothers, and sisters, all owned by different slave-holders.  Kit had a wife, Matilda, and three children, Sarah Ann, Jane Frances, and Ellen, slaves.

_______________

ARRIVAL OF FIVE FROM THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND

CYRUS MITCHELL, alias JOHN STEEL; JOSHUA HANDY, alias HAMBLETON HAMBY; CHARLES DULTON, alias WILLIAM ROBINSON; EPHRAIM HUDSON, alias JOHN SPRY; FRANCIS MOLOCK, alias THOMAS JACKSON; all in "good order" and full of hope.

     The following letter from the fearless friend of the slave, Thomas Garrett, is a specimen of his manner of dispatching Underground Rail Road business.  He used Uncle Sam’s mail, and his own name, with as much freedom as though he had been President of the Pennsylvania Central Rail Road, instead of only a conductor and stockholder on the Underground Rail Road.

     RESPECTED FRIEND: - WILLIAM STILL, I send on to thy care this evening by Rail Road, 5 able-bodied men, on their way North; receive them as the Good Samaritan of old and oblige thy friend,                         THOMAS GARRETT.

     The "able-bodied men" duly arrived, and were thus recorded on the Underground Rail Road books as trophies of the success of the friends of humanity.

     CYRUS is twenty-six years of age, stout, and unmistakably dark, and was owned by James K. Lewis, a tore-keeper, and a "hard master."  He kept slaves for the express purpose of hiring them out, and it seemed to afford him as much pleasure to receive the hard-earned dollars of his bondmen as if he had labored for them with his own hands.  "It mattered not, how mean a man might be," if he would pay the largest price, he was the man whom the store-keeper preferred to hire to.  This always caused Cyrus to dislike him.  Latterly he had been talking of moving into the State of Virginia.  Cyrus disliked this talk exceedingly, but he “said nothing to the white people” touching the matter.  However, he was not long in deciding that such a move would be of no advantage to him; indeed, he had an idea if all was true that he had heard about that place, he would be still more miserable there, than he had ever been under his present owner.  At once, he decided that he would move towards Canada, and that he would be fixed in his new home before his master got off to Virginia, unless he moved sooner than Cyrus expected him to do.  Those nearest of kin, to whom he

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felt most tenderly allied, and from whom he felt that it would be hard to part, were his father and mother.  He, however, decided that he should have to leave them.  Freedom, he felt, was even worth the giving up of parents.
     Believing that company was desirable, he took occasion to submit his plan to certain friends, who were at once pleased with the idea of a trip on the Underground Rail Road, to Canada, etc; and all agreed to join him.  At first, they traveled on foot; of their subsequent travel, mention has already been made in friend Garrett’s epistle.

     JOSHUA is about twenty-seven years of age, quite stout, brown color, and would pass for an intelligent farm hand.  He was satisfied never to wear a yoke again that some one else might reap the benefit of his toil.  His master, Isaac Harris, he denounced as a “drunkard.”  His chief excuse for escaping, was because Harris had “sold” his “only brother.”  He was obliged to leave his father and mother in the hands of his master.

     CHARLES is twenty-two years of age, also stout, and well-made, and apparently possessed all the qualifications for doing a good day's work on a farm.  He was held to service by Mrs. Mary Hurley.  Charles gave no glowing account of happiness and comfort under the rule of the female sex, indeed, he was positive in saying that he had "been used rough."  During the present year, he was sold for $1200.

     EPHRAIM is twenty-two years of age, stout and athletic, one who appears in every way fitted for manual labor or anything else that he might be privileged to learn.  John Campbell Henry, was the name of the man whom he had been taught to address as master, and for whose benefit he had been compelled to labor up to the day he "took out."  In considering what he had been in Maryland and how he had been treated all his life, he alleged that John Campbell Henrywas a bad man."  Not only had Ephraim been treated badly by his master but he had been hired out to a man no better than his master, if as good.  Ephraim left his mother and six brothers and sisters.

     FRANCIS is twenty-one, an able-bodied "article," of dark color, and was owned by James A. Waddell.  All that he could say of his owner, was, that he was a "hard master," from whom he was very glad to escape.

_____________

SUNDRY ARRIVALS, ABOUT AUGUST 1ST, 1855.

Arrival 1st.  Francis Hilliard
Arrival 2d.  Louisa Harding, alias Rebecca Hall.
Arrival. 3d.  John Mackintosh.
Arrival 4th.  Maria Jane Houston.

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Arrival 5th. Miles Hoopes. (or Hooper)
Arrival 6th. Samuel Miles, alias Robert King.
Arrival 7th. James Henson, alias David Caldwell.
Arrival 8th. Laura Lewis.
Arrival 9th. Elizabeth Banks.
Arrival 10th. Simon Hill.
Arrival 11th. Anthony and Albert Brown
Arrival 12th. George Williams and Charles Holladay
Arrival 13th. William Govan

     While none in this catalogue belonged to the class whose daring adventures rendered their narratives marvellous, nevertheless they represented a very large number of those who were continually on the alert to get rid of their captivity.  And in all their efforts in this direction they manifested a marked willingness to encounter perils either by land or water, by day or by night, to obtain their God-given rights.  Doubtless, even among these names, will be found those who have been supposed to be lost, and mysteries will be disclosed which have puzzled scores of relatives longing and looking many years in vain to ascertain the whereabouts of this or that companion, brother, sister, or friend.  So, if impelled by no other consideration than the hope of consoling this class of anxious inquirers, this is a sufficient justification for not omitting them entirely, notwithstanding the risk of seeming to render these pages monotonous.

     ARRIVAL No. 1.  First on this record was a young mulatto woman, twenty-nine years of age - orange color, who could read and write very well, and was unusually intelligent and withal quite handsome.  She was known by the name of FRANCIS HILLIARD, and escaped from Richmond, Va., where she was owned by Beverly Blair.  The owner hired her out to a man by the name of Green, from whom he received seventy dollars per annum.  Green allowed her to hire herself for the same amount, with the understanding that Frances should find all her own clothes, board herself and find her own house to live in.  Her husband, who was also a slave, had fled nearly one year previous, leaving her widowed, of course.  Notwithstanding the above mentioned conditions, under which she had the privilege of living, Frances said that she “had been used well.”  She had been sold four times in her life.  In the first instance the failure of her master was given as the reason of her sale.  Subsequently she was purchased and sold by different traders, who designed to speculate upon her as a “ fancy article.”  They would dress her very elegantly, in order to show her off to the best advantage possible, but it appears that she had too much regard for her husband and her honor, to consent to fill the positions which had been basely assigned her by her owners.
     Frances assisted her husband to escape from his owner—Taits—and was

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never contented until she succeeded in following him to Canada.  In escaping, she left her mother, Sarah Corbin, and her sister, Maria.  On reaching the Vigilance Committee she learned an about her husband.  She was conveyed from Richmond secreted on a steamer under the care of one of the colored hands on the boat.  From here she was forwarded to Canada at the expense of the Committee.  Arriving in Toronto, and not finding her hopes fully realized, with regard to meeting her husband, she wrote back the following letter:

     MY DEAR MR. STILL:—Sir—I take the opportunity of writing you a few lines to inform you of my health.  I am very well at present, and hope that when these few lines reach you they may find you enjoying the same blessing.  Give my love to Mrs. Still and all the children, and also to Mr. Swan, and tell him that he must give you the money that he has, and you will please send it to me, as I have received a letter from my husband saying that I must come on to him as soon as I get the money from him.  I cannot go to him until I get the money that Mr. Swan has in hand.  Please tell Mr. Caustle that the clothes he spoke of .my mother did not know anything about them.  I left them with Hinson Brown and he promised to give them to Mr. Smith.  Tell him to ask Mr. Smith to get them from Mr. Brown for me, and when I get settled I will send him word and he can send them to me.  The letters that were sent to me I received them all.  I wish you would send me word if Mr. Smith is on the boat yet—if he is please write me word in your next letter.  Please send me the money as soon as you possibly can, for I am very anxious to see my husband.  I send to you for I think you will do what you can for me.  No more at present, but remain

     Send me word if Mr. Caustle had given Mr. Smith the money that he promised to give him.

    For one who had to steal the art of reading and writing, her letter bears studying.

     ARRIVAL No. 2. LOUISA HARDING, alias REBECCA HALL.  Louisa was a mulatto girl, seventeen years of age.  She reported herself from Baltimore, where she had been owned by lawyer Magill.  It might be said that she also possessed great personal attractions as an “article” of much value in the eye of a trader.  All the near kin whom she named as having left he hind, consisted of a mother and a brother.

     ARRIVAL No. 3. JOHN MACKINTOSH.  John’s history is short.  He represented himself as having arrived from Darien, Georgia, where he had seen “hard times.”  Age, forty-four; This is all that was recorded of John, except the expenses met by the Committee.

     ARRIVAL No. 4. MARIA JANE HOUSTON.  The little State of Delaware lost in the person of Maria, one of her nicest-looking bond-maids.  She had just arrived at the age of twenty-one, and felt that she had already been sufficiently wronged.  She was a tall, dark, young woman, from the neighborhood of Cantwell’s Bridge.  Although she had no horrible tales of suffering to relate, the Committee regarded her as well worthy of a

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     ARRIVAL NO. 5. MILES HOOPER. This subject came from North Carolina; he was owned by George Montigue, who lived at Federal Mills, was a decided opponent to the no-pay system, to flogging, and selling likewise.  In fact nothing that was auxiliary to Slavery was relished by him.  Consequently he concluded to leave the place altogether.  At the time that Miles took this stand he was twenty-three years of age, a dark-complexioned man, rather under the medium height, physically, but a full-grown man mentally.  “My owner was a hard man,” said Miles, in speaking of his characteristics.  His parents, brothers, and sisters were living, at least he had reason to believe so, although they were widely scattered.

     ARRIVAL No. 6. SAMUEL MILES, alias ROBERT KING.  Samuel was a representative of Revel’s Neck, Somerset Co., Md.  His master he regarded as a “ very fractious man, hard to please.”  The cause of the trouble or un pleasantness, which resulted in Samuel’s Underground adventure, was traceable to his master’s refusal to allow him to visit his wife.  Not only was Samuel denied this privilege, but he was equally denied all privileges.  His master probably thought that Sam had no mind, nor any need of a wife.  Whether this was really so or not, Sam was shrewd enough to “ leave his old master with the bag to hold,” which was sensible.  Thirty-one years of Samuel’s life were passed in Slavery, ere he escaped.  The remainder of his days he felt bound to have the benefit of himself.  In leaving home he had to part with his wife and one child, Sarah and little Henry, who were fortunately free. 
     On arriving in Canada Samuel wrote back for his wife, &c., as follows:

     To MR. WM. STILL, DEAR FRIEND:—It gives me pleasure to inform you that I have had the good fortune to reach this northern Canaan.  I got here yesterday and am in good health and happy in the enjoyment of Freedom, but am very anxious to have my wife and child here with me.
     I wish you to write to her immediately on receiving this and let her know where I am you will recollect her name Sarah Miles at Baltimore on the corner of Hamburg and Eutaw streets.  Please encourage her in making a start and give her the necessary directions how to come.  She will please to make the time as short as possible in getting through to Canada.  Say to my wife that I wish her to write immediately to the. friends that I told her to address as soon as she hears from me.  Inform her that I now stop in St. Catharines near the Niagara Falls that I am not yet in business but expect to get into business very soon—That I am in the enjoyment of good health and hoping that this communication may find my affectionate wife the same.  That I have been highly favored with friends throughout my journey I wish my wife to write to me as soon as she can and let me know how soon I may expect to see her on this side of the Niagara River.  My wife had better call on Dr. Perkins and perhaps he will let her have the money he had in charge for me but that I failed of receiving when I left Baltimore.  Please direct the letter for my wife to Mr. George Lister, in Hill street between Howard and Sharp.  My compliments to all enquiring friends.

     P. S. Please send the thread along as a token and my wife will understand that all is right.                   S. M.

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     ARRIVAL No. 7. JAMES HENSON, alias DAVID CALDWELL.  James fled from Cecil Co., Md.  He claimed that he was entitled to his freedom ac cording to law at the age of twenty-eight, but had been unjustly deprived of it.  Having waited in vain for his free papers for four years, he suspected that he was to be dealt with in a manner similar to many others, who had been willed free or who had bought their time, and had been shamefully cheated out of their freedom.  So in his judgment he felt that his only hope lay in making his escape on the Underground Rail Road.   He had no faith whatever in the man who held him in bondage, Jacob Johnson, but no other charges of ill treatment, &c., have been found against said Johnson on the books, save those alluded to above.  James was thirty-two years of age, stout and well proportioned, with more than average intelligence and resolution.   He left a wife and child, both free.

     ARRIVAL No. 8. LAURA LEWIS.  Laura arrived from Louisville, Kentucky.  She had been owned by a widow woman named Lewis, but as lately as the previous March her mistress died, leaving her slaves and other property to be divided among her heirs.  As this would necessitate a sale of the slaves, Laura determined not to be on hand when the selling day "came, so she took time by the forelock and left.  Her appearance indicated that she had been among the more favored class of slaves.  She was about twenty-five years of age, quite stout, of mixed blood, and intelligent, having traveled considerably with her mistress.  She had been North in this capacity.  She left her mother, one brother, and one sister in Louisville.

     ARRIVAL No. 9. ELIZABETH BANKS, from near Easton, Maryland.  Her lot had been that of an ordinary slave.  Of her slave-life nothing of interest was recorded.  She had escaped from her owner two and a half years prior to coming into the hands of the Committee, and had been living in Pennsylvania pretty securely as she had supposed, but she had been awakened to a. sense of her danger by well grounded reports that she was pursued by her claimant, and would. be likely to be captured if she tarried short of Canada.  With such facts staring her in the face she was sent to the Committee for counsel and protection, and by them she was forwarded on in the usual way.  She was about twenty-five years of age, of a dark, and spare structure.

     ARRIVAL No. 10. SIMON HILL.  This fugitive had escaped from Virginia.  The usual examination was made, and needed help given him by the Com mittee, who felt satisfied that he was a poor brother who had been shame fully wronged, and that he richly deserved sympathy.  He was aided and directed Canada-ward.  He was a very humble-looking specimen of the peculiar institution, about twenty-five years of age, medium size, and of a dark hue.

     ARRIVAL No. 11. ANTHONY and ALBERT BROWN (brothers), JONES ANDERSON and ISAIAH.

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     This party escaped from Tanner's Creek, Norfolk, Virginia, where they had been owned by John and Henry Holland, oystermen.  As slaves they alleged that they had been subjected to very brutal treatment from their profane and ill-natured owners.  Not relishing this treatment, Albert and Anthony came to the conclusion that they understood boating well enough to escape by water.   They accordingly selected one of their master’s small oyster-boats, which was pretty-well rigged with sails, and off they started for a Northern Shore.  They proceeded on a part of their voyage merely by guess work, but landed safely, however, about twenty-five miles north of Baltimore, though, by no means, on free soil.  They had no knowledge of the danger that they were then in, but they were persevering, and still determined to make their way North, and thus, at last, success attended their efforts.  Their struggles and exertions having been attended with more of the romantic and tragical elements than had characterized the undertakings of any of the other late passengers, the Committee felt inclined to make a fuller notice of them on the book, yet failed to do them justice in this respect.
     The elder brother was twenty-nine, the younger twenty-seven.  Both were mentally above the average run of slaves.  They left wives in Norfolk, named Alexenia and Ellen.  While Anthony and Albert, in seeking their freedom, were forced to sever their connections with their companions, they did not forget them in Canada.
     How great was their delight in freedom, and tender their regard for their wives, and the deep interest they felt for their brethren and friends generally, may be seen from a perusal of the following letters from them:

     MR. WM. STILL: - Sir: - I now take the opportunity of writing you a few lins hoping to find yourself and famly wellaas thee lines leves me at present, myself and brother, Anthony & Albert brown’s respects.  We have spent quite agreeable winter, we ware emploied in the new hotel name Anglo american, wheare we wintered and don very well, we also met with our too frends ho came from home with us, Jonas anderson and lzeas, now we are all safe in hamilton, I wish to cale you to youre prommos, if convenient to write to Norfolk, Va, for me, and let my wife mary Elen Brown, no where I am, and my brothers wife Elickzener Brown, as we have never heard a word from them since we left, tel them that we found our homes and situation in canady much better than we expected, tel them not to think hard of us, we was boun to flee from the rath to come, tel them we live in the hopes of meting them once more this side of the grave, tel them if we never ‘ more see them, we hope to meet them in the kingdom of heaven in pece, tel them to remember my love to my eherch and brethren, tel them I find there is the same prayer hearing God heare as there is in old Va; tel them to remember our love to all the enquiring frends, I have written sevrel times but have never reseived no answer, I find a gret meny of my old accuaintens from Va., heare we are no ways lonesom, Mr. Still, I have written to you once before, but reseve no answer. Pleas let us hear from yon by any means. Nothing more at present, but remane youre frends,

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     MR. WM. STILL—kine Sir—I am happy to say to you that I have jus reserved my, letter dated 5 of the present month, but previously had bin in form las night by Mr. J., H. Hall, he had jus reseved a letter from you stating that my wife was with you, oh my I was so glad it case me to shed tears.
     Mr. Still, I cannot return you the thanks for the care of my wife, for I am so Glad that I dont now what to say, you will pleas start her for canaday.  I am yet in hamilton, C. W, at the city hotel, my brother and Joseph anderson is at the angle american hotel, they send there respects to you and family my self also, and a greater part to my wife.  I came by the way of syracruse remember me to Mrs. logius, tel her to writ back to my brothers wife if she is living and tel her to com on tel her to send Joseph Andersons love to his mother.
     i now send her 10 Dollars and would send more but being out of employment some of winter it pulls me back, you will be so kine as to forward her on to me, and if life las I will satisfie you at some time, before long.  Give my respects and brothers to Mr. John Dennes, tel him Mr. Hills famly is wel and send there love to them, I now bring my letter to a close, And am youre most humble Servant, 

     P. S. I had given out the notion of ever seeing my wife again, so I have not been attending the office, but am truly sorry I did not, you mention in yours of Mr. Henry lewey, he has left this city for Boston about 2 weeks ago, we have not herd from him yet.

     ARRIVAL No. 12. GEORGE WILLIAMS and CHARLES HOLLADAY.  These two travelers were about the same age.  They were not, however, from the same neighborhood—they happened to meet each other as they were traveling the road.  George fled from St. Louis, Charles from Baltimore. George “owed service ” to Isaac Hill, a planter; he found no special fault with his master’s treatment of him; but with Mrs. Hill, touching this point, he was thoroughly dissatisfied.  She had treated him “cruelly,” and it was for this reason that he was moved to seek his freedom.
     Charles, being a Baltimorean, had not far to travel, but had pretty sharp hunters to elude.
     His claimant, F. Smith, however, had only a term of years claim upon him, which was within about two years of being out.  This contract for the term of years, Charles felt was made without consulting him, therefore he resolved to break it without consulting his master.  He also declined to have anything to do with the Baltimore and Wilmington R. R. Co., considering it a prescriptive institution, not worthy of his confidence.  He started on a fast walk, keeping his eyes wide open, looking out for slave-hunters on his right and left.  In this way, like many others, he reached the Committee safely and was freely aided, thenceforth traveling in a first class Underground Rail Road ear, till he reached his journey’s end.
     ARRIVAL No. 13. WILLIAM GOVAN. Availing himself of a passage on the schooner of Captain B., William left Petersburg, where he had been owned by “Mark Davis, Esq., a retired gentleman,” rather, a retired negro trader. 

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     William was about thirty-three years of age, and was of a bright orange color.  Nothing but an ardent love of liberty prompted him to escape.  He was quite smart, and a clever-looking man, worth at least $1,000.

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DEEP FURROWS ON THE BACK.
THOMAS MADDEN.

     Of all the passengers who had hitherto arrived with bruised and mangled bodies received at the hands of slave-holders, none brought a back so shame fully lacerated by the lash as Thomas Madden.  Not a single spot had been exempted from the excoriating cow-hide.  A most bloody picture did the broad back and shoulders of Thomas present to the eye as he hared his wounds for inspection.  While it was sad to think, that millions of men, women, and children throughout the South were liable to just such brutal outrages as Thomas had received, it was a satisfaction to think, that this outrage had made a freeman of him.

     He was only twenty-two years of age, but that punishment convinced him that he was fully old enough to leave such a master as E. Ray, who had almost murdered him.  But for this treatment, Thomas might have remained in some degree contented in Slavery.  He was expected to look after the fires in the house on Sunday mornings.  In a single instance desiring to be absent, perhaps for his own pleasure, two boys offered to be his substitute.  The services of the boys were accepted, and this gave offence to the master.  This Thomas declared was the head and front of his offending.  His simple narration of the circumstances of his slave life was listened to by the Committee with deep interest and a painful sense of the situation of slaves under the despotism of such men as Ray.

     After being cared for by the Committee he was sent on to Canada.  When there he wrote back to let the Committee know how he was faring, the narrow escape he had on the way, and likewise to convey the fact, that one named “Rachel,” left behind, shared a large place in his affections.  The subjoined letter is the only correspondence of his preserved:

     DEAR SIR :—I set down to inform you that I take the liberty to rite for a frend to inform you that he is injoying good health and hopes that this will finde you the same he got to this cuntry very well except that in Albany he was vary neig taking back to his cald home but escaped and when he came to the suspention bridg he was so glad that he run for freadums shore and when he arived it was the last of october and must look for sum wourk for the winter he choped wood until Feruary times are good but money is scarce he thinks a great deal of the girl he left behind him he thinks that there is non like her here non so hansom as his Rachel right and let him hear from you as soon as convaniant no more at presant but remain yours,

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"PETE MATTHEWS," ALIAS SAMUEL SPARROWS.
I MIGHT AS WELL BE IN THE PENITENTIARY, &C."

     Up to the age of thirty-five “Pete” had worn the yoke steadily, if not patiently under William S. Matthews, of Oak Hall, near Temperaneeville, in the State of Virginia.  Pete said that his “ master was not a hard man," but the man to whom he “was hired, George Matthews, was a very cruel man.”  “I might as well be in the penitentiary as in his hands,” was his declaration.

     One day, a short while before Pete “took out,” an ox broke into the truck patch, and helped himself to choice delicacies, to the full extent of his capacious stomach, making sad havoc with the vegetables generally.  Peter's attention being directed to the ox, he turned him out, and gave him what he considered proper chastisement, according to the mischief he had done.  At this liberty taken by Pete, the master became furious.  “He got his gun and threatened to shoot him.”  “Open your month if you dare, and I will put the whole load into you,” said the enraged master.  "He took out a large dirk-knife, and attempted to stab me, but I kept out of his way," said Pete.  Nevertheless the violence of the master did not abate until he had beaten Pete over the head and body till he was weary, inflicting severe injuries.  A great change was at once wrought in Pete’s mind.  He was now ready to adopt any plan that might hold out the least encouragement to escape.  Having capital to the amount of four dollars only, he felt that he could not do much towards employing a conductor, but he had a good pair of legs, and a heart stout enough to whip two or three slave-catchers, with the help of a pistol.  Happening to know a man who had a pistol for sale, he went to him and told him that he wished to purchase it.  For one dollar the pistol became Pete’s property.  He had but three dollars left, but he was determined to make that amount answer his purposes under the circumstances.  The last cruel beating maddened him almost to desperation, especially when he remembered how he had been compelled to work hard night and day, under Matthews.  Then, too, Peter had a wife, whom his master prevented him from visiting; this was not among the least offences with which Pete charged his master.  Fully bent on leaving, the following Sunday was fixed by him on which to commence his journey.

     The time arrived and Pete bade farewell to Slavery, resolved to follow the North Star, with his pistol in hand ready for action.  After traveling about two hundred miles from home he unexpectedly had an opportunity of using his pistol.  To his astonishment he suddenly came face to face with a former master, whom he had not seen for a long time.  Pete desired no friendly intercourse with him whatever;  but be perceived that his old

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master recognized him and was bent upon stopping him.  Pete held on to his pistol, but moved as fast as his wearied limbs would allow him, in an opposite direction.  As he was running, Pete cautiously, cast his eye over his shoulder, to see what had become of his old master, when to his amazement, he found that a regular chase was being made after him.  Need of redoubling his pace was quite obvious.  In this hour of peril, Pete's legs saved him.

     After this signal leg-victory, Pete had more confidence in his “under standings,” than he had in his old pistol, although he held on to it until he reached Philadelphia, where he left it in the possession of the Secretary of the Committee.  Considering it worth saving simply as a relic of the Underground Rail Road, it was carefully laid aside.  Pete was now christened Samuel Sparrows.  Mr. Sparrows had the rust of Slavery washed off as clean as possible and the Committee furnishing him with clean clothes,: I ticket, and letters of introduction, started him on Canada-ward, looking quite respectable.  And doubtless he felt even more so than he looked; free air had a powerful effect on such passengers as Samuel Sparrows.

     The unpleasantness which grew out of the mischief done by the ox on George Matthews’ farm took place the first of October, 1855.  Pete may be described as a man of unmixed blood, well-made, and intelligent.

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"MOSES" ARRIVES WITH SIX PASSENGERS.
NOT ALLOWED TO SEEK A MASTER;" - "VERY DEVILISH," - FATHER "LEAVES TWO LITTLE SONS;" - "USED HARD;" - "FEARED FALLING INTO THE HANDS OF YOUNG HEIRS," ETC.  JOHN CHASE, alias DANIEL FLOYD; BENJAMIN ROSS, alias JAMES STEWART; HENRY ROSS, alias LEVIN STEWART; PETER JACKSON, alias STAUNCH TILGHMAN; JANE KANE, alias CATHARINE KANE, AND ROBERT ROSS.

     The coming of these passengers was heralded by Thomas Garrett as follows:

THOMAS GARRETT'S LETTER

     ESTEEMED FRIEND, J. MILLER MCKIM:-We made arrangements last night, and sent away Harriet Tubman, with six men and one woman to Allen Agnew’s, to be forwarded across the country to the city. Harriet, and one of the men had worn their shoes 05 their feet, and I gave them two dollars to help fit them out, and directed a carriage to be hired at my expense, to take them out, but do not yet know the expense. I now have two more from the lowest county in Maryland, on the Peninsula, upwards of one hundred miles. I will try to get one of our trusty colored men to take them tomorrow morning to the Anti-slavery office.  You can then pass them on.

     HARRIET TUBMAN had been their "Moses," but not in the sense that Andrew Johnson was the "Moses of the colored people."  She had faith-

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fully gone down into Egypt, and had delivered these six bondmen by her own heroism.  Harriet was a woman of no pretensions, indeed, a more ordinary specimen of humanity could hardly be found among the most unfortunate-looking farm hands of the South.  Yet, in point of courage, shrewdness and disinterested exertions to rescue her fellow-men, by making personal visits to Maryland among the slaves, she was without her equal.
     Her success was wonderful.  Time and again she made successful visits to Maryland on the Underground Rail Road, and would be absent for weeks, at a time, running daily risks while making preparations for herself and passengers.  Great fears were entertained for her safety, but she seemed wholly devoid of personal fear.  The idea of being captured by slave hunters or slave-holders, seemed never to enter her mind.  She was apparently proof against all adversaries.  While she thus manifested such utter personal indifference, she was much more watchful with regard to those she was piloting.  Half of her time, she had the appearance of one asleep, and would actually sit down by the road-side and go fast asleep when on her errands of mercy through the South, yet, she would not suffer one of her party to whimper once, about “giving out and going back,” how ever wearied they might be from hard travel day and night.  She had a very short and pointed rule or law of her own, which implied death to any who talked of giving out and going back.  Thus, in an emergency she would give all to understand that “times were very critical and therefore no foolishness would be indulged in on the road.”  That several who were rather weak-kneed and faint-hearted were greatly invigorated by Harriet’s blunt and positive manner and threat of extreme measures, there could be no doubt.
     After having once enlisted, “they had to go through or die.”  Of course Harriet was supreme, and her followers generally had full faith in her, and would back up any word she might utter.  So when she said to them that “a live runaway could do great harm by going back, but that a dead one could tell no secrets,” she was sure to have obedience.  Therefore, none had to die as traitors on the “ middle passage.” It is obvious enough, however, that her success in going into Maryland as she did, was attributable to her adventurous spirit and utter disregard of consequences.  Her like it is probable was never known before or since.  On examining the six passengers who came by this arrival they were thus recorded:
     December 29th, 1854—John is twenty years of age, chestnut color, of spare build and smart.  He fled from a farmer, by the name of John Campbell Henry, who resided at Cambridge, Dorchester Co., Maryland.  On being interrogated relative to the character of his master, John gave no very amiable account of him.  He testified that he was a “hard man” and that he “owned about one hundred and forty slaves and sometimes he would

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sell,” etc. John was one of the slaves who were “hired out.”  He “desired to have the privilege of hunting his own master.”  His desire was not granted.  Instead of meekly submitting, John felt wronged, and made this his reason for running away.  This looked pretty spirited on the part of one so young as John.  The Committee's respect for him was not a little increased, when they heard him express himself.
     BENJAMIN was twenty-eight years of age, chestnut color, medium size, and shrewd.  He was the so-called property of Eliza Ann Brodins, who lived near Buckstown, in Maryland.  Ben did not hesitate to say, in unqualified terms, that his mistress was “very devilish.”  He considered his charges, proved by the fact that three slaves (himself one of them) were required to work hard and fare meagerly, to support his mistress’ family in idleness and luxury.  The Committee paid due attention to his ex parte statement, and was obliged to conclude that his argument, clothed in common and homely language, was forcible, if not eloquent, and that he was well worthy of aid.  Benjamin left his parents besides one sister, Mary Ann Williamson, who wanted to come away on the Underground Rail Road.
     HENRY left his wife, Harriet Ann, to be known in future by the name of “Sophia Brown.“  He was a fellow-servant of Ben’s, and one of the supports of Eliza A. Brodins.
     HENRY was only twenty-two, but had quite an insight into matters and things going on among slaves and slave-holders generally, in country life.  He was the father of two small children, whom he had to leave behind.
     PETER was owned by George Wenthrop, a farmer, living near Cambridge, Md.  In answer to the question, how he had been used, he said “hard.”  Not a pleasant thought did he entertain respecting his master, save that he was no longer to demand the sweat of Peter’s brow.  Peter left parents, who were free; he was born before they were emancipated, consequently, he was retained in bondage.
     JANE, aged twenty-two, instead of regretting that she had unadvisedly left a kind mistress and indulgent master, ‘who had afforded her necessary comforts, affirmed that her master, “Rash Jones, was the worst man in the country.”  The Committee were at first disposed to doubt her sweeping statement, but when they heard particularly how she had been treated, they thought Catharine had good ground for all that she said.   Personal abuse and hard usage, were the common lot of poor slave girls.
     ROBERT was thirty-five years of age, of a chestnut color, and well made.  His report was similar to that of many others.  He had been provided with plenty of hard drudgery—hewing of wood and drawing of water, and had hardly been treated as well as a gentleman would treat a dumb brute.  His feelings, therefore, on leaving his old master and home, were those of an individual who had been unjustly in prison for a dozen years and had at last regained his liberty.

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     The civilization, religion, and customs under which Robert and his companions had been raised, were, he thought, "very wicked."  Although these travelers were all of the field-hand order, they were, nevertheless, very promising, and they anticipated better days in Canada.  Good advice was proffered them on the subject of temperance, industry, education, etc.  Clothing, food and money were also given them to meet their wants, and they were sent on their way rejoicing.

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ESCAPED FROM "A WORTHLESS SOT."
JOHN ATKINSON

     John was a prisoner of hope under James Ray; of Portsmouth, Va., whom he declared to be “a worthless sot.”  This character was fully set forth, but the description is too disgusting for record.  John was a dark mulatto, thirty-one years of age, well-formed and intelligent.  For some years before escaping he had been in the habit of hiring his time for $120 per annum.  Daily toiling to support his drunken and brutal master, was a hardship that John felt keenly, but was compelled to submit to up to the day of his escape.
     A part of John's life he had suffered many abuses from his oppressor, and only a short while before freeing himself, the auction-block was held up before his troubled mind.  This caused him to take the first daring step or saying a word to her as to his intention of fleeing.
     John came as a private passenger on one of the Richmond steamers, and was indebted to the steward of the boat for his accommodations.  Having been received by the Committee he was cared for and sent on his journey Canada-ward  There he was happy, found employment and wanted for nothing but his wife and clothing left in Virginia.  On these two points he wrote several times with considerable feeling.
     Some slaves who hired their time in addition to the payment of their monthly hire, purchased nice clothes for themselves, which they usually valued highly, so much so, that after escaping they would not be contented until they had tried every possible scheme to secure them.  They would wright back continually, either to their friends in the North or South, hoping thus to procure them.
     Not unfrequently the persons who rendered them assistance in the South, would be entrusted with all their effects, with the understanding, that such valuables would be forwarded to a friend or to a Committed at thes earliest opportunity.  The Committee strongly protested against fugitives wright or bump the chairs.

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parties into danger, as all such letters were liable to be intercepted in order to the discovery of the names of such as aided the Underground Rail Road.  To render needless this writing to the South the Committee often submitted to be taxed with demands to rescue clothing as well as wives, etc., belonging to such as had been already aided.

     The following letters are fair samples of a large number which came to the Committee touching the matter of clothing, etc.:

     DEAR SIR:—I now embrace this favorable opportunity of writing you a few lines to inform you that I am quite well and arrived here safe, and I hope that these few lines may find you and your family the same.  I hope you will inter-cede for my clothes and as soon as they come please to send them to me, and if you have not time, get Dr. Lundy to look out for them, and when they come he very careful in sending them.  I wish you would copy off this letter and give it to the Steward, and tell him to give it to Henry Lewy and tell him to give it to my wife.  Brother sends his love to you and all the family and he is overjoyed at seeing me arrive safe, he can hardly contain himself; also he wants to see his wife very much, and says when she comes he hopes you will send her on as soon as possible.  Jerry Williams' love, together with all of us.  I had a message for Mr. Lundy, but I forgot it when I was there.  No more at present, but remain your ever grateful and sincere friend,                             JOHN ATKINSON

     MR. WM. STILL:—Dear Sir—I have learned of my friend, Richmond Bohm, that my clothes were in Philadelphia.  Will you have the kindness to see Dr. Lundy and if he has my clothes in charge, or knows about them, for him to send them on to me immediately, as I am in great need of them.  I would like to have them put in a small box, and the overcoat I left at your house to be put in the box with them, to be sent to the care of my friend, Hiram Wilson.  On receipt of this letter, I desire you to write a few lines to my wife, Mary Atkins, in the care of my friend, Henry Lowey, stating that I am well and hearty and hoping that she is the same.  Please tell her to remember my love to her mother and her cousin, Emelin, and her husband, and Thomas Hunter; also to my father and mother.  Please request her to write to me immediately, for her to be of good courage, that I love her better than ever.  I would like her to come on as soon as she can, but for her to write and let me know when she is going to start,

WILLIAM BUTCHER, ALIAS WILLIAM T. MITCHELL.
“HE WAS ABUSEFUL.”

    This passenger reported himself from Massey’s Cross-Roads, near Georgetown, Maryland.  William gave as his reason for being found destitute, and under the necessity of asking aid, that a man by the name of William Boyer, who followed farming, had deprived him of his hard earnings, and also claimed him as his property; and withal that he had abused him for

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years, and recently had "threatened to sell" him.  This threat made his yoke too intolerable to be borne.
     He here began to think and plan for the future as he had never done before.  Fortunately he was possessed with more than an average amount of mother wit, and he soon comprehended the requirements of the Underground Rail Road.  He saw exactly that he must have resolution and self-dependence, very decided, in order to gain the victory over Boyer.  In his hour of trial his wife, Phillis, and child, John Wesley, who were free, caused him much anxiety; but his reason taught him that it was his duty to throw off the yoke at all hazards, and he acted accordingly.  Of course he left behind his wife and child.  The interview which the Committee held with William was quite satisfactory, and he was duly aided and regularly despatched by the name of William T. Mitchell.   He was about twenty-eight years of age, of medium size, and of quite a dark hue.

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"WHITE ENOUGH TO PASS"

     JOHN WESLEY GIBSON represented himself to be not only the slave, but also the son of William Y. Day, of Taylor’s Mount, Maryland.  The faintest shade of colored blood was hardly discernible in this passenger.  He relied wholly on his father’s white blood to secure him freedom. Having resolved to serve no longer as a slave, he concluded to “hold up his head and put on airs.”   He reached Baltimore safely without being discovered or suspected of being on the Underground Rail Road, as far as he was aware of.  Here he tried for the first time to pass for white; the attempt proved a success beyond his expectation.  Indeed he could but wonder how it was that he had never before hit upon such an expedient to rid himself of his unhappy lot.  Although a man of only twenty eight years of age, he was foreman of his master’s farm, But he was not particularly favored in any way on this account.  His master and father endeavored to hold the reins very tightly upon him.  Not even allowing him the privilege of visiting around on neighboring plantations. Perhaps the master thought the family likeness was rather too discernible.  John believed that on this account all privileges were denied him, and be resolved to escape.  His mother, Harriet, and sister, Frances, were named as near kin whom he had left behind.  John was quite smart, and looked none the worse for having so much of his master’s blood in his veins.  The master was alone to blame for John’s escape, as he passed on his (the master’s) color.

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     One morning about the first of November, in 1855, the sleepy, slave holding neighborhood of Chestertown, Maryland, was doubtless deeply excited on learning that eleven head of slaves, four head of horses, and two carriages were missing.  It is, but reasonable to suppose that the first report must have produced a shock, searcely less stunning than an earthquake.  Abolitionists, emissaries, and incendiaries were farther below par than ever.  It may be supposed that cursings and threatenings were breathed out by a deeply agitated community for days in succession.
     HARRIET SHEPHERD, the mother of five children, for whom she felt of course a mother’s love, could not bear the thought of having her off spring compelled to wear the miserable yoke of Slavery, as she had been compelled to do.  By her own personal experience, Harriet could very well judge what their fate would be when reaching man and womanhood.  She declared that she had never received “kind treatment.”  It was not on this account, however, that she was prompted to escape.  She was actuated by a more disinterested motive than this.  She was chiefly induced to make the bold effort to save her children from having to drag the chains of Slavery as she herself had done.
     Anna Maria, Edwin, Eliza Jane, Mary Ann, and John Henry were the names of the children for whom she was willing to make any sacrifice.  They were young, and unable to walk, and she was penniless, and unable to

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hire a conveyance, even if she had known any one who would have been willing to risk the law in taking them a night’s journey.  So there was no hope in these directions.  Her rude intellect being considered, she was entitled to a great deal of credit for seizing the horses and carriages belonging to her master, as she did it for the liberation of her children.
     Knowing others at the same time, who were wanting to visit Canada, she consulted with five of this class, males and females, and they mutually decided to travel together.
     It is not likely that they knew much about the roads, nevertheless they reached Wilmington, Delaware, pretty direct, and ventured up into the heart of the town in carriages, looking as innocent as if they were going to meeting to hear an old-fashioned Southern sermon “Servants, obey your masters.”  Of course, the distinguished travelers were immediately reported to the noted Thomas Garrett, who was accustomed to transact the affairs of the Underground Rail Road in a cool masterly way.  But, on this occasion, there was but little time for deliberation, but much need of haste to meet the emergency.  He at once decided, that they must immediately be separated from the horses and carriages, and got out of Wilmington as quickly as possible.  With the courage and skill, so characteristic of Garrett, the fugitives, under escort, were soon on their way to Kennett Square (a hot-bed of abolitionists and stock-holders of the Underground Rail Road), which place they reached safely.  It so happened, that they reached Long Wood meeting-house in the evening, at which place a fair circle had convened.  Being invited, they stayed awhile in the meeting, then, after remaining all night with one of the Kennett friends, they were brought to Downingtown early in the morning and thence, by daylight, within a short distance of Kimberton, and found succor with friend Lewis, at the old head quarters of the fugitives.
     [A letter may be found from Miss G. A. Lewis, on page thirty-nine, throwing much light on this arrival].  After receiving friendly aid and advice while there, they were forwarded to the Committee in Philadelphia.  Here further aid was afforded them, and as danger was quite obvious, they were completely divided and disguised, so that the Committee felt that they might safely be sent on to Canada in one of the regular trains considered most private.
     Considering the condition of the slave mother and her children and friends, all concerned rejoiced, that they had had the courage to use their master's horses and vehicles as they did.

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EIGHT AND A HALF MONTHS SECRETED
WASHINGTON SOMLOR, ALIAS JAMES MORE

     But few could tell of having been eye-witnesses to outrages more revolting and disgraceful than Washington Somlor.  He arrived per steamer Pennsylvania (secreted), directly from Norfolk, Virginia, in 1855.  He was thirty-two years of age—a man of medium size and quite intelligent.  A merchant by the name of Smith owned Washington.
     Eight and a half months before escaping, Washington had been secreted in order to shun both master and auction-block.  Smith believed in selling, flogging, cobbing, paddling, and all other kinds of torture, by which he could inflict punishment in order to make the slaves feel his power.   He thus tyrannized over about twenty-five head.
     Being naturally passionate, when in a brutal mood, he made his slaves suffer unmercifully.  Said Washington, “On one occasion, about two months before I was secreted, he had five of the slaves (some of them women) tied across a barrel, lashed with the cow-hide and then cobbed—this was a common practice.”
     Such treatment was so inhuman and so incredible, that the Committee hesitated at first to give credence to the statement, and only yielded when facts and evidences were given which seemed incontestible.
     The first effort to come away was made on the steamship City of Richmond.  Within sixty miles of Philadelphia, in consequence of the ice obstruction in the river, the steamer had to go back.  How sad Washington felt at thus having his hopes broken to pieces may be imagined but can not be described.  Great as was his danger, when the steamer returned to Norfolk, he was safely gotten off the boat and under the eye of officers walked away.  Again he was secreted in his old doleful quarters, where he waited patiently for the Spring.  It came.  Again the opportunity for another trial was presented, and it was seized unhesitatingly.  This time, his tried faith was rewarded with success.  He came through safely to the Committee’s satisfaction as well as his own.  The recital of his sufferings and experience had a very inspiring effect on those who had the pleasure of seeing Wash. in Philadelphia.
     Although closely secreted in Norfolk, he had, through friends, some little communication with the outside world.  Among other items of information which came to his ears, was a report that his master was being pressed by his creditors, and had all his slaves advertised for sale.  An item still more sad also reached his ear, to the effect that his wife had been sold away to North Carolina, and thus separated from her child, two years old.  The child was given as a present to a niece of the master.  While this is only a meagre portion of his interesting story, it was considered at the time suffi-

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cient to identify him should the occasion ever require it.  We content our selves, therefore, simply with giving what was recorded on the book; Wash. spent a short while in Philadelphia in order to recruit, after which, he went on North, where colored men were free.

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ARTHUR FOWLER, ALIAS BENJAMIN JOHNSON.

     ARTHUR came from Spring Hill, Maryland.  Edward Fowler held Arthur in fetters and usurped authority over him as his lord and master.  Arthur saw certain signs connected with his master’s family which presaged to him that the day was not far distant, when somebody would have to be sold to raise money to pamper the appetites of some of the superior members of the patriarchal institution.  Among these provocations were indulgence in a great deal of extravagance, and the growing up of a number of young masters and mistresses.  Arthur would often look at the heirs, and the very thought of their coming into possession, would make him tremble.  Nothing so affected Arthur’s mind so much in moving him to make a bold stroke for freedom as these heirs.    
     Under his old master, the usage had been bad enough, but he feared that it would be a great deal worse under the sons and daughters.  He therefore wisely concluded to avoid the impending danger by availing himself of the Underground Rail Road.  After completing such arrangements as he deemed necessary, he started, making his way along pretty successfully, with the exception of a severe encounter with Jack Frost, by which his feet were badly bitten.  He was not discouraged, however, but was joyful over his victory and hopeful in view of his prospects in Canada.  Arthur was about thirty years of age, medium size, and of a dark color.  The Committee afforded him needed assistance, and sent him of.”

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SUNDRY ARRIVALS.

     About the 1st of June, 1855, the following arrivals were noted in the record book:

EMORY ROBERTS, alias WILLIAM KEMP, Talbot Co., Maryland; DANIEL PAYNE, Richmond, Virginia; HARRIET MAYO, JOHN JUDAH, and RICHARD BRADLEY, Petersburg and Richmond; JAMES CRUMMILL, SAMUEL JONES, TOLBERT JONES, and HENRY HOWARD, Haverford Co., Maryland; LEWIS CHILDS,* Richmond, DANIEL BENNETT, alias HENRY WASHINGTON, and wife (MARTHA,), and two children (GEORGE and a nameless babe).

-------------------
* Spelled Childs and Giles

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     The road at this time, was doing a fair business, in a quiet way.  Passengers were managing to come, without having to suffer in any very violent manner, as many had been called upon to do in making similar efforts.  The success attending some of these passengers was partly attributable to the intelligence of individuals, who, for years, had been planning and making preparations to effect the end in view.  Besides, the favorableness of the weather tended also to make travel more pleasant than in colder seasons of the year.
     While matters were thus favorable, the long stories of individual suffering and of practices and customs among young and old masters and mistresses, were listened to attentively, although the short summer nights hardly afforded sufficient opportunity for writing out details.
     EMORY arrived safely from Talbot county. As a slave, he had served Edward Lloyd.  He gave his master the character of treating his slaves with great severity.  The “lash” was freely used “on women as well as men, old and young.”  In this kind of property Lloyd had invested to the extent of “about five hundred head,” so Emory thought.  Food and clothing for this large number were dealt out very stintedly, and daily suffering was the common lot of slaves under Lloyd.
     EMORY was induced to leave, to avoid a terrible flogging, which had been promised him for the coming Monday.  He was a married man, but exercised no greater control over his wife than over himself.  She was hired on a neighboring plantation; the way did not seem open for her to accompany him, so he had to leave her behind.  His mother, brothers, and sisters had to be left also.  The ties of kindred usually strong in the breasts of slaves, were hard for Emory to break, but, by a firm resolution, that he would not stay on Lloyd’s plantation to endure the impending flogging, he was nerved to surmount every obstacle in the way of carrying his intention into execution.  He came to the Committee hungry and in want of clothing, and was aided in the usual way.
     DANIEL PAYNE. This traveler was a man who might be said to be full of years, infirm, and well-nigh used up under a Virginia task—master.  But within the old man’s breast a spark was burning for freedom, and he was desirous of reaching free land, on which to lay his body when life’s toil ended.  So the Committee sympathized with him, aided him and sent him on to Canada. He was owned by a man named M. W. Morris, of Richmond, whence he fled.
     HARRIET MAYO, JOHN JUDAH, and RICHARD BRADLEY were the next who brought joy and victory with them.
     HARRIET was a tall, well-made, intelligent young woman, twenty-two years of age.  She spoke with feelings of much bitterness against her master, James Cuthbert, saying that he was a “very hard man,” at the same time, adding that his “wife was still worse.”  Harriet “ had been sold once.”

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She admitted however, having been treated kindly a part of her life.  In escaping, she had to leave her “poor old mother” with no hope of ever seeing her again; likewise she regretted having to leave three brothers, who kindly aided her to escape.  But having her heart bent on freedom, she resolved that nothing should deter her from putting forth efforts. to get out of Slavery.
     JOHN was a mulatto, of genteel address, well clothed, and looked as if he had been “well fed.”   Miss Eliza Lambert had the honor of owning John, and was gracious enough to allow him to hire his time for one hundred and ten dollars per annum.  After this sum was punctually paid, John could do what he pleased with any surplus earnings.  Now, as he was fond of nice clothing, he was careful to earn a balance sufficient to gratify this love.  By similar means, many slaves were seen in southern cities elegantly dressed, and, strangers and travelers from the North gave all the credit to “indulgent masters,” not knowing the facts in the case.
     John accused his mistress of being hard in money matters, not caring how the servants fared, so she got “plenty of money out of them.”  For himself, however, he admitted that he had never experienced as great abuses as many had.  He was fortunate in being wedded to a free wife, who was privy to all his plans and schemes looking forth to freedom, and fully acquiesced in the arrangement of matters, promising to come on after he should reach Canada.  This promise was carried out in due time, and they were joyfully re-united under the protection of the British Lion.
     RICHARD was about twenty-seven.  For years the hope of freedom had occupied his thoughts, and many had been the longing desires to see the way open by which he could safely get rid of oppression.  He was sufficiently intelligent to look at Slavery in all its bearings, and to smart keenly under even ordinarily mild treatment.  Therefore, he was very happy in the realization of his hopes. In the recital of matters touching his slave life, he alluded to his master, Samuel Ball, as a “very hard man,” utterly unwilling to allow his servants any chance whatever.  For reasons which he considered judicious, he kept the matter of his contemplated escape wholly private, not even revealing it to his wife.  Probably he felt that she would not be willing to give him up, not even for freedom, as long as she could not go too.  Her name was Emily, and she belonged to William Bolden.  How she felt when she learned of her husband’s escape is for the imagination to picture.  These three interesting passengers were brought away snugly secreted in Captain B.’s. schooner.
     JAMES CRUMMILL, SAMUEL and TOLBERT JONES and HENRY HOWARD.  This party united to throw off the yoke in Haverford county, Md.  
     JAMES, SAMUEL and TOLBERT had been owned by William Hutchins.  They agreed in giving Hutchins the character of being a notorious “frolicker,”

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and a “very hard master.”  Under him, matters were growing “worse and worse.”   Before the old master’s death times were much better.
     HENRY did not live under the same authority that his three companions were subjected to, but belonged to Philip Garrison.  The continual threat to sell harassed Henry so much, that he saw no chance of peace or happiness in the future.  So one day the master laid the “last straw on the' camel’s back,” and not another day would Henry stay.  Many times it required a pretty heavy pressure to start off a number of young men, but in this instance they seemed unwilling to wait to be worn out under the yoke and violent treatment, or to become encumbered with wives and children before leaving.  All were single, with the exception of James, whose wife was free, and named Charlotte; she understood about his going to Canada, and, of course, was true to him.
     These young men had of course been reared under circumstances altogether unfavorable to mental development.  Nevertheless they had fervent aspirations to strike for freedom.
     LEWIS GILES belonged, in the prison-house of bondage, in the city of Richmond, and owed service to a Mr. Lewis Hill, who made it a business to keep slaves expressly to hire out, just as a man keeps a livery stable.  Lewis was not satisfied with this arrangement; he could see no fair play in it.  In fact, he was utterly at variance with the entire system of Slavery, and, a long time before he left, had plans laid with a view of escaping.  Through one of the Underground Rail Road Agents the glad tidings were borne to him that a passage might be procured on a schooner for twenty-five dollars.  Lewis at once availed himself of this offer, and made his arrangements accordingly.   He, however, made no mention of this contemplated movement to his wife, Louisa; and, to her astonishment, he was soon among the missing. Lewis was a fine-looking “article,” six feet high, well proportioned, and of a dark chestnut color, worth probably $1200, in the Richmond market.  Touching his slave life, he said that he had been treated “pretty well,” except that he “had been sold several times."  "Intellectually he was above the average run of slaves. He left on the twenty-third of April, and arrived about the second of June, having, in the meantime, encountered difficulties and discouragements of various kinds. His safe arrival, therefore, was attended with unusual rejoicing.
     DANIEL BENNETT and his wife and children were the next in order.  A woman poorly clad with a babe just one month old in her arms, and a little boy at her side, who could scarcely toddle, together with a husband who had never dared under penalty of the laws to protect her or her little ones, presented a most painfully touching picture.  It was easy enough to see, that they had been crushed.  The husband had been owned by Captain James Taylor—the wife and children by George Carter.

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     The young mother gave Carter a very bad character, affirming, that it was a "common practice with him to flog the slaves, stripped entirely naked" - that she had herself been so flogged, since she had been a married woman.  How the husband was treated, the record book is silent.  He was about thirty-two - the wife about twenty-seven.  Especial pains were taken to provided aid and sympathy to this family in their destitution, fleeing under such peculiarly trying circumstances and from such loathsome brutality.  They were from Aldie P. O., Loudon county, Virginia, and passed through the hands of the Committee about the 11th of June.  What has been their fate since is not known.

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SUNDRY ARRIVALS ABOUT JANUARY FIRST, 1855.
VERENEA MERCER

     The steamship Pennsylvania, on one of her regular trips from Richmond, brought one passenger, of whom the Captain had no knowledge; no permission had been asked of any officer of the boat.  Nevertheless, Verenea Mercer managed, by the most extraordinary strategy, to secrete herself on the steamer, and thus succeeded in reaching Philadelphia.  She was following her husband, who escaped about nine months before her.
     Verenea was about forty-one years of age, of a dark chestnut color, pre possessing in manners, intelligent and refined.  She belonged to the slave population of Richmond, and was earned by Thomas W. Quales.  According to her testimony, she had not received severe treatment during the eight and a half years that she had been in his hands. Previous to his becoming the owner of Verenea, it might have been otherwise, although nothing is recorded in proof of this inference, except that she had the misfortune to lose her first husband by a sale.  Of course she was left: a widow, in which state she remained nine years, at the expiration of which period, she married a man by the name of James Mercer, whose narrative may be found on p. 54.
     How James got off, and where he went, Verenea knew quite well; consequently, in planning to reach him, she resorted to the same means by which he achieved success. The Committee rendered her the usual aid, and sent her on direct to her husband in Canada.  Without difficulty of any kind she reached there safely, and found James with arms wide open to embrace her.  Frequent tidings reached the Committee, that they were getting along quite well in Toronto.
     On the same day (January 1st), PETER DERRICKSON and CHARLES PURNELL arrived from Berlin, Worcester county, Maryland.  Both were able-bodied young men, twenty-four and twenty-six years of age, just the kind that a trader, or an experienced slave-holder in the farming business

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would be most likely to select for doing full days’ work in the field, or for bringing high prices in the market.
     Peter toiled and toiled, with twenty others, on John Derrickson’s farm.  And although Derrickson was said to be a “mild master,” Peter decidedly objected to working for him for nothing.  He thought over his situation a great deal, and finally came to the conclusion, that he must get from under the yoke, if possible, before entering another New Year.  His friend Charles he felt could be confided in, therefore he made up his mind, that he would broach the question of Canada and the Underground Rail Road to him.  Charles was equally ready and willing to enter into any practical arrangements by which he could get rid of his no-pay task-master, and be landed safely in Canada.  After taking into account the dangers likely to attend such a struggle, they concluded that they would risk all and try their luck, as many had done before them.
     “ What made you leave, Charles?” said a member of the Committee.
     “ I left because I wanted my time and money for myself.”
     No one could gainsay such a plain common-sense answer as that. The fact, that he had to leave his parents, three brothers, and five sisters, all in slavery, brought sad reflections.
     LLOYD HACKET, alias PERRY WATKINS and WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON, alias JOHN WESLEY.
     No weather was too cold for travel, nor way too rough, when the slave was made to feel by his heartless master, that he was going to sell him or starve him to death.
     Lloyd had toiled on until he had reached fifty-five, before he came to the conclusion, that he could endure the treatment of his master, John Griffin, no longer, simply because “ he was not good to feed and clothe,” and was a “great fighter.”  Moreover, he would “never suffer his slaves to stop work on account of bad weather.”  Not only was his master cruel in these particulars, but he was equally cruel with regard to selling.   Georgia was continually held up to the slaves with a view of producing a wholesome fear, but in this instance, as in many similar ones, it only awakened desires to seek flight via the Underground Rail Road.
     Lloyd, convinced by experience, that matters with him would be no better, but worse and worse, resolved that he would start with the opening of the New Year to see if he could not find a better country than the one that he was then in.
     He consulted William, who, although a young man of only twenty-four years of age, had the hate of slavery exceedingly strong in his heart, and was at once willing to accompany Lloyd—ready to face cold weather and start on a long walk if freedom could be thus purchased, and his master, John Hall, thus defeated.  So Lloyd took a heroic leave of his wife, Mary Ann, and their little boy, one brother, one sister, and two nieces, and at once

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set out with William, like pilgrims and strangers seeking a better country - where they would not have to go "hungry" and be "worked hard in all weather," threatened with the auction-block, and brutally flogged if they merely seemed unwilling to endure a yoke too grievous to be borne.  Both these travelers were mulattoes, and but for the crushing influences that they had lived under would have made smart men - as it was they showed plainly, that they were men of shrewd sense.
     Inadvertently at the time of their arrival, the names of the State and place whence they fled were not entered on the book.
     In traveling they suffered severely from hunger and the long distance they had to walk, but having succeeded victoriously they were prepared to rejoice all the more.

     DAVID EDWARDS.  John J. Slater, coachmaker of Petersburg, Virginia, if he is still living, and should see these items, may have been for years a great mystery to him - namely, that David, his man-servant, was enjoying himself in Philadelphia about the first week in January, 1855, receiving free accommodations and obtaining letters of introduction to friends in Canada.  Furthermore, that David alleged that he was induced to escape because he (the coachmaker) was a very hard man, who took every dollar of his earnings, from which he would dole out to him only one dollar a week for board, etc., a sum less than David could manage to get along with.
     David was thirty years of age, black, weighed one hundred and forty-five pounds, and was worth one thousand dollars.  He left his wife behind.

     BEVERLY GOOD and GEORGE WALKER, alias Austin Valentine.  These passengers came from Petersburg, per steamship Pennsylvania.  Richard Perry was lording it over Beverly, who was a. young man of twenty-four years of age, dark, medium size, and possessed of a quick intellect—just the man that an Underground Rail Road agent in the South could approach with assurance with questions such as these—“What do you think of Slavery?"  “Did you ever hear of the Underground Rail Road?” “ How would you like to be free?" “Would you be willing to go to Canada if you could get off safely,” etc., etc.
     Such questions at once kindled into a flame the sparks of freedom lying dormant in the heart.  Although uttered in a whisper, they had a wondrous ring about them, and a wide-awake bondman instantly grasped their meaning.  Beverly was of this class; he needed no arguments to prove that he was daily robbed of his rights—that Slavery was merciless and freedom the God-given right of all mankind.  Of him, therefore, there was no fear that he would betray his trust or flinch too soon when cramped up in his hiding-place on the steamer.
     His comrade, George, was likewise of the same mettle, and was sided in the same way.  George, however, had more age on his side, being about

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forty-three.  He was about six feet high, with marked physical and mental abilities, but Slavery had had its heal upon his neck.  And who could then have risen?
     Eliza Jones held the deed for George, and by her he was hired as foreman in a tobacco factory, in which position his duties were onerous - especially to one with a heavy, bleeding heart, throbbing daily for freedom, while, at the same time, mournfully brooding over past wrongs.  Of these wrongs one incident must suffice.  He had been married twice, and had been the father of six children by his first wife; at the command of his owner the wedded relations were abruptly broken, and he was obliged to seek another wife. In entering this story on the book at the time of the arrival, the concluding words were written thus: “This story is thrilling, but time will not allow its being penned.”
     Although safely under the protection of the British Lion, George’s heart was in Virginia, where his wife was retained.  As he could not return for her deliverance, he was wise enough to resort to the pen, hoping in this way to effect his grand object, as the following letter will show:

     DEAR FRIEND STILL:-George Walker, of Petersburg, Va., is now in my office, and requests me to write a letter to you, and request you to write to his wife, after or according to the instructions he gave to his friend, John Brown, in your city, with whom he says you are acquainted.  You will understand, of course, his reason for wanting the letter Wrote and posted at Philadelphia.  You will please attend to it and address a letter to him (Walker) in my care.  He and Beverly Good, his comrade, tender much love to you.  Send them on; we are prepared for them.

     P. S. - Be sure and follow the directions given to Brown.

     ADAM BROOKS, alias William Smith.  Hardtown, Montgomery county, Maryland, lost a rather promising "articles of merchandise," in the person of Adam.  The particulars of his going are on this wise:  John Phillips, his so-called master, believed in selling, and practiced accordingly, to the extent at least of selling Adam's mother, brother, and sister only two years before his escape.
     If Adam had known nothing else against Phillips this was enough in all conscience to have awakened his deadly hate; but, added to this, Phillips was imprudent in his habit of threatening to "sell," etc.  This kept the old wound in Adam's heart continually bleeding and forced him to the conclusion, that his master was not only a hard man, as a driver on the farm, but that at heart he was actually a bad man.  Furthermore, that it was his duty to break his fetters and seek his freedom in Canada.

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desirable working-hand, a Pennsylvania farmer prevailed on him to stop for a time.  It was not long before the folly of this halt was plainly discernible, as his master had evidently got wind of his whereabouts, and was pretty hot in pursuit.  Word reached Adam, however, barely in-time for him to make his escape through the aid of friends.

     In coming into the hands of the Committee he needed no persuading to go to Canada; he was occupied with two interesting problems, to go back or to go forward.  But he set his face hopefully towards Canada, and had no thought of stopping short thereof.  In stature, he was small; color, black; countenance, pleasant, and intellect, medium.  As to his fitness for' making a good citizen in Canada the Committee had no doubt.

     SARAH A. DUNAGAN. Having no one to care for her, and, having been threatened with the auction-block, Sarah mustered pluck and started out in search of a new home among strangers beyond the borders of slave territory.  According to her story, she “was born free” in the State of Delaware, but had been “bound out” to a man by the name of George Churchman, living in Wilmington.  Here she averred, that she “had been flogged repeatedly,” and had been otherwise ill-treated, while no one interfered to take her part.  Consequently she concluded, that although she was born free, she would not be likely to be benefited thereby unless she made her escape on the Underground Rail Road.  This idea of freedom continued to agitate Sarah’s mind until she decided to leave forthwith.  She was a young mulatto woman, single, and told her story of hardships and of the dread of being sold, in a manner to elicit much sympathy.  She had a mother living in New Castle, named Ann Eliza Kingslow.  It was no uncommon thing for free-born persons in slave States to lose their birth-right in a manner similar to that by which Sarah feared that she had lost hers.
     “Arrived JOSEPH HALL, JR., son of Joseph Hall, of Norfolk, Virginia.”  This is all that is recorded of this passenger, yet it is possible that this item of news may lead to the recognition of Joseph, should he still happen to be of the large multitude of fugitives scattered over the land amongst the living.

     ISAAC D. DAVIS. In fleeing from bondage, in Maryland, Davis was induced to stop, as many others were, in Pennsylvania.  Not comprehending the Fugitive Slave Law he fancied that he would be safe so long as he kept matters private concerning his origin.  But in this particular he labored under a complete delusion—when he least dreamed of danger the slave catchers were scenting him close.  Of their approach, however, he was fortunate enough to be notified in time to place himself in the hands of the Committee, who soon held out Canada to him, as the only sure refuge for him, and all others similarly situated.  His fears of being carried back opened his eyes, and understanding, so that he could readily see the force of this argument, and accepting the proffered aid of the Committee was sent on

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his way rejoicing.  He had been away from his master eighteen months, and in the meanwhile had married a wife in Pennsylvania.  What became of them after this flight the book contains no record.

     JACOB MATTHIAS BOYER left at about the age of twenty.  He had no idea of working in the condition of a slave, but if he had not been threatened with the auction-block, he might have remained much longer than he did.  He had been owned by Richard Carman, cashier of one of the Annapolis banks, and who had recently died.  Jacob fled from Annapolis.  Very little record was made of either master or slave.  Probably no incidents were related of sufficient importance, still the Committee felt pleased to receive one so young. Indeed, it always afforded the Committee especial satisfaction to see children, young people, and females escaping from the prison-house.  Jacob was of a dark hue, a little below medium stature.

     ZECHARIAH MEAD, alias John Williams.  This traveler had been in the house of bondage in Maryland, doing service for Charles C. Owens, to whom he belonged.  According to Zechariah’s statement, his mistress had been very unfortunate with her slave property, having lost fifteen head out of twenty in a similar manner to that by which she lost Zechariah.  Thus she had been considerably reduced in circumstances.  But Zechariah had no compassion on her whatever, but insisted that she was a hard mistress.  Doubtless Zechariah was prompted to flee by the “ bad ” example of others who had succeeded in making good their escape, before he had made up his mind to leave.  He was not yet quite twenty-one, but was wide-awake, and it appeared from his conversation, that he had done some close thinking before he started for freedom.  He left his father, mother, and three brothers, all slaves except his father.
 

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