The Underground Railroad
The subjoined letter, from Rev. L.D. Mansfield, expressed on behalf of
Romulus' companion, his sad feelings on hearing of his friend's death.
And here it may not be inappropriate to add, that clearly enough is it
to be seen, that Rev. Mansfield was one of the rare order of ministers,
who believed it right "to do unto others as one would be done by" in
practice, not in theory merely, and who felt that they could no more be
excused for "falling down," in obedience to the Fugitive Slave Law under
President Fillmore, than could Daniel for worshiping the "golden image"
under Nebuchadnezzar.
AUBURN, NEW YORK, MAY 4TH, 1857.
DEAR BR. STILL:--Henry Lemmon wishes me to write to you in reply
to your kind letter, conveying the intelligence of the death of
your fugitive guest, Geo. Weems. He was deeply affected at the
intelligence, for he was most devotedly attached to him and had
been for many years. Mr. Lemmon now expects his sister to come
on, and wishes you to aid her in any way in your power--as he
knows you will.
He wishes you to send the coat and cap of Weems by his sister
when she comes. And when you write out the history of Weems'
escape, and it is published, that you would send him a copy of
the papers. He has not been very successful in getting work yet.
Mr. and Mrs. Harris left for Canada last week. The friends made
them a purse of $15 or $20, and we hope they will do well.
Mr. Lemmon sends his respects to you and Mrs. Still. Give my
kind regards to her and accept also yourself,
Yours very truly,
L.D. MANSFIELD.
* * * * *
JAMES MERCER, WM. H. GILLIAM, AND JOHN CLAYTON.
STOWED AWAY IN A HOT BERTH.
This arrival came by Steamer. But they neither came in State-room nor as
Cabin, Steerage, or Deck passengers.
A certain space, not far from the boiler, where the heat and coal dust
were almost intolerable,--the colored steward on the boat in answer to
an appeal from these unhappy bondmen, could point to no other place for
concealment but this. Nor was he at all certain that they could endure
the intense heat of that place. It admitted of no other posture than
lying flat down, wholly shut out from the light, and nearly in the same
predicament in regard to the air. Here, however, was a chance of
throwing off the yoke, even if it cost them their lives. They considered
and resolved to try it at all hazards.
Henry Box Brown's sufferings were nothing, compared to what these men
submitted to during the entire journey.
They reached the house of one of the Committee about three o'clock, A.M.
All the way from the wharf the cold rain poured down in torrents and
they got completely drenched, but their hearts were swelling with joy
and gladness unutterable. From the thick coating of coal dust, and the
effect of the rain added thereto, all traces of natural appearance were
entirely obliterated, and they looked frightful in the extreme. But they
had placed their lives in mortal peril for freedom.
Every step of their critical journey was reviewed and commented on, with
matchless natural eloquence,--how, when almost on the eve of suffocating
in their warm berths, in order to catch a breath of air, they were
compelled to crawl, one at a time, to a small aperture; but scarcely
would one poor fellow pass three minutes being thus refreshed, ere the
others would insist that he should "go back to his hole." Air was
precious, but for the time being they valued their liberty at still
greater price.
After they had talked to their hearts' content, and after they had been
thoroughly cleansed and changed in apparel, their physical appearance
could be easily discerned, which made it less a wonder whence such
outbursts of eloquence had emanated. They bore every mark of determined
manhood.
The date of this arrival was February 26, 1854, and the following
description was then recorded--
Arrived, by Steamer Pennsylvania, James Mercer, William H. Gilliam and
John Clayton, from Richmond.
James was owned by the widow, Mrs. T.E. White. He is thirty-two years of
age, of dark complexion, well made, good-looking, reads and writes, is
very fluent in speech, and remarkably intelligent. From a boy, he had
been hired out. The last place he had the honor to fill before escaping,
was with Messrs. Williams and Brother, wholesale commission merchants.
For his services in this store the widow had been drawing one hundred
and twenty-five dollars per annum, clear of all expenses.
He did not complain of bad treatment from his mistress, indeed, he spoke
rather favorably of her. But he could not close his eyes to the fact,
that at one time Mrs. White had been in possession of thirty head of
slaves, although at the time he was counting the cost of escaping, two
only remained--himself and William, (save a little boy) and on himself a
mortgage for seven hundred and fifty dollars was then resting. He could,
therefore, with his remarkably quick intellect, calculate about how long
it would be before he reached the auction block.
He had a wife but no child. She was owned by Mr. Henry W. Quarles. So
out of that Sodom he felt he would have to escape, even at the cost of
leaving his wife behind. Of course he felt hopeful that the way would
open by which she could escape at a future time, and so it did, as will
appear by and by. His aged mother he had to leave also.
Wm. Henry Gilliam likewise belonged to the Widow White, and he had been
hired to Messrs. White and Brother to drive their bread wagon. William
was a baker by trade. For his services his mistress had received one
hundred and thirty-five dollars per year. He thought his mistress quite
as good, if not a little better than most slave-holders. But he had
never felt persuaded to believe that she was good enough for him to
remain a slave for her support.
Indeed, he had made several unsuccessful attempts before this time to
escape from slavery and its horrors. He was fully posted from A to Z,
but in his own person he had been smart enough to escape most of the
more brutal outrages. He knew how to read and write, and in readiness of
speech and general natural ability was far above the average of slaves.
He was twenty-five years of age, well made, of light complexion, and
might be put down as a valuable piece of property.
This loss fell with crushing weight upon the kind-hearted mistress, as
will be seen in a letter subjoined which she wrote to the unfaithful
William, some time after he had fled.
LETTER FROM MRS. L.E. WHITE.
RICHMOND, 16th, 1854.
DEAR HENRY:--Your mother and myself received your letter; she is
much distressed at your conduct; she is remaining just as you
left her, she says, and she will never be reconciled to your
conduct.
I think Henry, you have acted most dishonorably; had you have
made a confidant of me I would have been better off; and you as
you are. I am badly situated, living with Mrs. Palmer, and
having to put up with everything--your mother is also
dissatisfied--I am miserably poor, do not get a cent of your
hire or James', besides losing you both, but if you can
_reconcile_ so do. By renting a cheap house, I might have lived,
now it seems starvation is before me. Martha and the Doctor are
living in Portsmouth, it is not in her power to do much for me.
I know you will repent it. I heard six weeks before you went,
that you were trying to persuade him off--but we all liked you,
and I was unwilling to believe it--however, I leave it in God's
hands He will know what to do. Your mother says that I must tell
you servant Jones is _dead_ and old _Mrs. Galt_. Kit is well,
but we are very uneasy, losing your and _James' hire_, I fear
poor little fellow, that he will be obliged to go, as I am
compelled to live, and it will be your fault. I am quite unwell,
but of course, you don't care.
Yours,
L.E. WHITE.
If you choose to come back you could. I would do a very good
part by you, Toler and Cooke has none.
This touching epistle was given by the disobedient William to a member
of the Vigilant Committee, when on a visit to Canada, in 1855, and it
was thought to be of too much value to be lost. It was put away with
other valuable U.G.R.R. documents for future reference. Touching the
"rascality" of William and James and the unfortunate predicament in
which it placed the kind-hearted widow, Mrs. Louisa White, the following
editorial clipped from the wide-awake Richmond Despatch, was also highly
appreciated, and preserved as conclusive testimony to the successful
working of the U.G.R.R. in the Old Dominion. It reads thus--
"RASCALITY SOMEWHERE.--We called attention yesterday to the
advertisement of two negroes belonging to Mrs. Louisa White, by Toler &
Cook, and in the call we expressed the opinion that they were still
lurking about the city, preparatory to going off. Mr. Toler, we find, is
of a different opinion. He believes that they have already cleared
themselves--have escaped to a Free State, and we think it extremely
probable that he is in the right. They were both of them uncommonly
intelligent negroes. One of them, the one hired to Mr. White, was a
tip-top baker. He had been all about the country, and had been in the
habit of supplying the U.S. Pennsylvania with bread; Mr. W. having the
contract. In his visits for this purpose, of course, he formed
acquaintances with all sorts of sea-faring characters; and there is
every reason to believe that he has been assisted to get off in that
way, along with the other boy, hired to the Messrs. Williams. That the
two acted in concert, can admit of no doubt. The question is now to find
out how they got off. They must undoubtedly have had white men in the
secret. Have we then a nest of Abolition scoundrels among us? There
ought to be a law to put a police officer on board every vessel as soon
as she lands at the wharf. There is one, we believe for inspecting
vessels before they leave. If there is not there ought to be one.
"These negroes belong to a widow lady and constitute all the property
she has on earth. They have both been raised with the greatest
indulgence. Had it been otherwise, they would never have had an
opportunity to escape, as they have done. Their flight has left her
penniless. Either of them would readily have sold for $1200; and Mr.
Toler advised their owner to sell them at the commencement of the year,
probably anticipating the very thing that has happened. She refused to
do so, because she felt too much attachment to them. They have made a
fine return, truly."
No comment is necessary on the above editorial except simply to express
the hope that the editor and his friends who seemed to be utterly
befogged as to how these "uncommonly intelligent negroes" made their
escape, will find the problem satisfactorily solved in this book.
However, in order to do even-handed justice to all concerned, it seems
but proper that William and James should be heard from, and hence a
letter from each is here appended for what they are worth. True they
were intended only for private use, but since the "True light" (Freedom)
has come, all things may be made manifest.
LETTER FROM WILLIAM HENRY GILLIAM.
ST. CATHARINES, C.W., MAY 15th, 1854.
My Dear Friend:--I receaved yours, Dated the 10th and the papers
on the 13th, I also saw the pice that was in Miss Shadd's paper
About me. I think Tolar is right About my being in A free State,
I am and think A great del of it. Also I have no compassion on
the penniless widow lady, I have Served her 25 yers 2 months, I