The Underground Railroad
James, for convenience' sake, was supplied with two other names (Milton
Brown and John Johnson), not knowing exactly how many he would need in
freedom or which would be the best adapted to keep his whereabouts the
most completely veiled from his master.
George reported that he fled from Henry Harris, who lived near Baltimore
on the Peach Orchard Road, and that he had lived with said Harris all
his life. He spoke of him as being a "blustering man, who never liked
the slaves to make anything for themselves." George bore witness that
the usage which he had received had been hard; evidently his intellect
had been seriously injured by what he had suffered under his
task-master. George was of a very dark hue, but not quite up to medium
size.
James Henry Thompson did not accompany George, but met him at the
station in Philadelphia. He contrasted favorably with George, being
about twenty-eight years of age, with a countenance indicative of
intelligence and spirit. He was of a chestnut color and of average size.
He charged one Dennis Mannard, of Johnsonville, with being his personal
enemy as an oppressor, and added that he could "say nothing good of
him." He could say, however, that Mannard was bitterly opposed to a
slave's learning how to read, would not listen to the idea of giving
them any privileges, and tried to impress them with the idea that they
needed to know nothing but simply how to work hard for the benefit of
their masters and mistresses; in fulfilling these conditions faithfully
the end for which they had been designed would be accomplished according
to his doctrine.
Notwithstanding so much pains had been resorted to throughout the South
to impress these ideas upon the slaves, no converts were made.
James thought that the doctrine was infamous, and that it was dangerous
to live with such a man as his master; that freedom was as much his
right as it was his master's; and so he resolved to leave for Canada as
soon as he could see any chance for escape.
* * * * *
ARRIVAL FROM QUEEN ANN COUNTY, 1858.
CATHARINE JONES AND SON HENRY, ETNA ELIZABETH DAUPHUS, AND GEORGE NELSON
WASHINGTON.
These passengers, although interesting, and manifesting a strong desire
to be free, had no remarkable tales of personal suffering to relate;
their lot had evidently been cast among the more humane class of
slave-holders, who had acted towards their slaves with some moderation.
Catharine was twenty-four years of age, of a dark chestnut color,
possessed a fair share of mother wit, and was fitted to make a favorable
impression. In no degree whatever did she think well of slavery; she had
had, as she thought, sufficient experience under Joshua Duvall (who
professed to own her) to judge as to the good or evil of the system.
While he was by no means considered a hard man, he would now and then
buy and sell a slave. She had no fault to find with her mistress.
Etna was about twenty years of age, of a "ginger-bread" color, modest in
demeanor, and appeared to have a natural capacity for learning. She was
also from under the Duvall yoke. In setting forth her reasons for
escaping she asserted that she was tired of slavery and an unbeliever in
the doctrine that God made colored people simply to be slaves for white
people; besides, she had a strong desire to "see her friends in Canada."
George also escaped from Duvall; happily he was only about nineteen
years of age, not too old to acquire some education and do well by
himself. He was greatly elated at the prospect of freedom in Canada.
William Henry was a plump little fellow only two years of age. At the
old price (five dollars per pound) he was worth something, fat as he
was. Being in the hands of his mother, the Committee considered him a
lucky child.
* * * * *
ARRIVAL FROM BALTIMORE.
ELIJAH BISHOP AND WILLIAM WILLIAMSON.
Elijah represented to the Committee that he had been held under the
enthrallment of a common "gambler and drunkard," who called himself by
the name of Campbell, and carried on his sporting operations in
Baltimore.
Under this gambler Elijah had been wronged up to the age of twenty-eight
years, when he resolved to escape. Having had several opportunities of
traveling through the United States and South America with his sporting
master, he managed to pick up quite an amount of information. For the
benefit of Elijah's relatives, if any should have occasion to look for
particulars concerning this lost individual, we add, that he was a
spare-built man of a dark color.
William Williamson fled from Mrs. Rebecca Davidge, of Perrymanville. He
declared that he had been used badly--had been worked hard and had been
fed and clothed but poorly. Under such treatment he had reached his
twenty-fourth year. Being of a resolute and determined mind, and feeling
considerably galled by the burdens heaped upon him, he resolved that he
would take his chances on the Underground Rail Road. The only complaint
that he had to make against his mistress was, that she hired him to a
man named Smith, a farmer, and a slave-holder of the meanest type, in
William's opinion. For many a day William will hold her responsible for
abuses he received from him.
* * * * *
ARRIVAL FROM DUNWOODY COUNTY, 1858.
DARIUS HARRIS.
One of the most encouraging signs connected with the travel _viâ_ the
Underground Rail Road was, that passengers traveling thereon were, as a
general thing, young and of determined minds. Darius, the subject of
this sketch, was only about twenty-one when he arrived. It could be seen
in his looks that he could not be kept in the prison-house unless
constantly behind bars. His large head and its formation indicated a
large brain. He stated that "Thomas H. Hamlin, a hard case, living near
Dunwoody," had professed to own him. Darius alleged that this same
Hamlin, who had thus stripped him of every cent of his earnings was
doing the same thing by sixty others, whom he held in his grasp.
With regard to "feeding and clothing" Darius set Hamlin down as "very
hoggish;" he also stated that he would sell slaves whenever he could. He
(Darius), had been hired out in Petersburg from the age of ten; for the
last three years previous to his escape he had been bringing one hundred
and fifty dollars a year into the coffers of his owners. Darius had not
been ignorant of the cruelties of the slave system up to the time of his
escape, for the fetters had been galling his young limbs for several
years; especially had the stringent slave laws given him the horrors.
Loathing the system of slavery with his whole heart, he determined to
peril his all in escaping therefrom; seeking diligently, he had found
means by which he could carry his designs into execution.
In the way of general treatment, however, Darius said that bodily he had
escaped "abuses tolerably well." He left in slavery his father and
mother, four brothers and one sister. He arrived by one of the Richmond
boats.
* * * * *
ARRIVED FROM ALEXANDRIA, VA., 1857.
TOWNSEND DERRIX.
The above-named escaped from a "Dutchman" by the name of Gallipappick,
who was in the confectionery business. For the credit of our German
citizens, it may be said, that slave-holders within their ranks were
very few. This was a rare case. The Committee were a little curious to
know how the German branch of civilization conducted when given
unlimited control over human beings.
In answering the requisite questions, and in making his statement,
Townsend gave entire satisfaction. His German master he spoke of as
being a tolerably fair man, "considering his origin." At least he
(Townsend), had not suffered much from him; but he spoke of a woman,
about sixty, who had been used very badly under this Dutchman. He not
only worked her very hard, but, at the same time, he would beat her over
the head, and that in the most savage manner. His mistress was also
"Dutch," a "great swabby, fat woman," with a very ill disposition.
Master and mistress were both members of the Episcopal Church. "Mistress
drank, that was the reason she was so disagreeable."
Townsend had been a married man for about seven months only. In his
effort to obtain his own freedom he sought diligently to deliver his
young wife. They were united heart and hand in the one great purpose to
reach free land, but unfortunately the pursuers were on their track; the
wife was captured and carried back, but the husband escaped. It was
particularly with a view of saving his poor wife that Townsend was
induced to peril his life, for she (the wife) was not owned by the same
party who owned Townsend, and was on the eve of being taken by her
owners some fifty miles distant into the country, where the chances for
intercourse between husband and wife would no longer be favorable.
Rather than submit to such an outrage, Townsend and his wife made the
attempt aforementioned.
* * * * *
ARRIVAL FROM MARYLAND, 1858.
EDWARD CARROLL.
Edward, a youthful passenger about twenty-one years of age, slow of
speech, with a stammering utterance, and apparently crushed in spirits,
claimed succor and aid of the Committee. At first the Committee felt a
little puzzled to understand, how one, apparently so deficient, could
succeed in surmounting the usual difficulties consequent upon traveling,
via the Underground Rail Road; but in conversing with him, they found
him possessed of more intelligence than they had supposed; indeed, they
perceived that he could read and write a little, and that what he lacked
in aptness of speech, he supplied as a thinker, and although he was slow
he was sure. He was owned by a man named John Lewis, who also owned
about seventy head of slaves, whom he kept on farms near the mouth of
the Sassafras River, in Sussex county.
Lewis had not only held Edward in bondage, but had actually sold him,
with two of his brothers, only the Saturday before his escape, to a
Georgia trader, named Durant, who was to start south with them on the
subsequent Monday. Moved almost to desperation at their master's course
in thus selling them, the three brothers, after reflection, determined
to save themselves if possible, and without any definite knowledge of
the journey, they turned their eyes towards the North Star, and under
the cover of night they started for Pennsylvania, not knowing whether
they would ever see the goodly land of freedom. After wandering for
about two weeks, having been lost often and compelled to lie out in all
weathers, a party of pursuers suddenly came upon them. Both parties were
armed; the fugitives therefore resolved to give their enemies battle,
before surrendering. Edward felt certain that one of the pursuers
received a cut from his knife, but the extent of the injury was unknown
to him. For a time the struggle was of a very serious character; by
using his weapons skillfully, however, Edward managed to keep the
hand-cuff off of himself, but was at this point separated from his two
brothers. No further knowledge of them did he possess; nevertheless, he
trusted that they succeeded in fighting their way through to freedom.
How any were successful in making their escape under such discouraging
circumstances is a marvel.
Edward took occasion to review his master's conduct, and said that he
"could not recommend him," as he would "drink and gamble," both of
which, were enough to condemn him, in Edward's estimation, even though
he were passable in other respects. But he held him doubly guilty for
the way that he acted in selling him and his brothers.