The Underground Railroad
present of nearly one hundred. Wind and tide were now what they prayed
for to speed on the U.G.R.R. schooner, until they might reach the depot
at Philadelphia.
The Richmond _Dispatch_, an enterprising paper in the interest of
slaveholders, which came daily to the Committee, was received in advance
of the passengers, when lo! and behold, in turning to the interesting
column containing the elegant illustrations of "runaway negroes," it was
seen that the unfortunate Slater had "lost $1500 in North Carolina
money, and also his dark orange-colored, intelligent, and good-looking
turnkey, Bob." "Served him right, it is no stealing for one piece of
property to go off with another piece," reasoned a member of the
Committee.
In a couple of days after the Dispatch brought the news, the three
U.G.R.R. passengers were safely landed at the usual place, and so
accurate were the descriptions in the paper, that, on first seeing them,
the Committee recognized them instantly, and, without any previous
ceremonies, read to them the advertisement relative to the "$1500 in
N.C. money, &c.," and put the question to them direct: "Are you the
ones?" "We are," they owned up without hesitation. The Committee did not
see a dollar of their money, but understood they had about $900, after
paying the captain; while Bob considered he made a "very good grab," he
did not admit that the amount advertised was correct. After a reasonable
time for recruiting, having been so long in the hole of the vessel, they
took their departure for Canada.
From Joseph, the elder brother, is appended a short letter, announcing
their arrival and condition under the British Lion--
SAINT CATHARINE, April 16, 1855.
MR. WILLIAM STILL, DEAR SIR:--Your letter of date April 7th I
have just got, it had been opened before it came to me. I have
not received any other letter from you and can get no account of
them in the Post Office in this place, I am well and have got a
good situation in this city and intend staying here. I should be
very glad to hear from you as soon as convenient and also from
all of my friends near you. My Brother is also at work with me
and doing well.
There is nothing here that would interest you in the way of
news. There is a Masonic Lodge of our people and two churches
and societys here and some other institutions for our benefit.
Be kind enough to send a few lines to the Lady spoken of for
that mocking bird and much oblige me. Write me soon and believe
me your obedient Serv't
Love & respects to Lady and daughter
JOSEPH ROBINSON.
As well as writing to a member of the Committee, Joe and Bob had the
assurance to write back to the trader and oyster-house keeper. In their
letter they stated that they had arrived safely in Canada, and were
having good times,--in the eating line had an abundance of the
best,--also had very choice wines and brandies, which they supposed that
they (trader and oyster-house keeper) would give a great deal to have a
"smack at." And then they gave them a very cordial invitation to make
them a visit, and suggested that the quickest way they could come, would
be by telegraph, which they admitted was slightly dangerous, and without
first greasing themselves, and then hanging on very fast, the journey
might not prove altogether advantageous to them. This was wormwood and
gall to the trader and oyster-house man. A most remarkable coincidence
was that, about the time this letter was received in Richmond, the
captain who brought away the three passengers, made it his business for
some reason or other, to call at the oyster-house kept by the owner of
Joe, and while there, this letter was read and commented on in torrents
of Billingsgate phrases; and the trader told the captain that he would
give him "two thousand dollars if he would get them;" finally he told
him he would "give every cent they would bring, which would be much over
$2000," as they were "so very likely." How far the captain talked
approvingly, he did not exactly tell the Committee, but they guessed he
talked strong Democratic doctrine to them under the frightful
circumstances. But he was good at concealing his feelings, and obviously
managed to avoid suspicion.
* * * * *
GEORGE SOLOMON, DANIEL NEALL, BENJAMIN R. FLETCHER AND MARIA DORSEY.
The above representatives of the unrequited laborers of the South fled
directly from Washington, D.C. Nothing remarkable was discovered in
their stories of slave life; their narratives will therefore be brief.
George Solomon was owned by Daniel Minor, of Moss Grove, Va. George was
about thirty-three years of age; mulatto, intelligent, and of
prepossessing appearance. His old master valued George's services very
highly, and had often declared to others, as well as to George himself,
that without him he should hardly know how to manage. And frequently
George was told by the old master that at his "death he was not to be a
slave any longer, as he would have provision made in his will for his
freedom." For a long time this old story was clung to pretty faithfully
by George, but his "old master hung on too long," consequently George's
patience became exhausted. And as he had heard a good deal about Canada,
U.G.R.R., and the Abolitionists, he concluded that it would do no harm
to hint to a reliable friend or two the names of these hard places and
bad people, to see what impression would be made on their minds; in
short, to see if they were ready to second a motion to get rid of
bondage. In thus opening his mind to his friends, he soon found a
willing accord in each of their hearts, and they put their heads
together to count up the cost and to fix a time for leaving Egypt and
the host of Pharaoh to do their own "hewing of wood and drawing of
water." Accordingly George, Daniel, Benjamin and Maria, all of one heart
and mind, one "Saturday night" resolved that the next Sunday should find
them on the U.G.R.R., with their faces towards Canada.
Daniel was young, only twenty-three, good looking, and half white, with
a fair share of intelligence. As regards his slave life, he acknowledged
that he had not had it very rough as a general thing; nevertheless, he
was fully persuaded that he had "as good a right to his freedom" as his
"master had to his," and that it was his duty to contend for it.
Benjamin was twenty-seven years of age, small of stature, dark
complexion, of a pleasant countenance, and quite smart. He testified,
that "ill-treatment from his master," Henry Martin, who would give him
"no chance at all," was the cause of his leaving. He left a brother and
sister, belonging to Martin, besides he left two other sisters in
bondage, Louisa and Letty, but his father and mother were both dead.
Therefore, the land of slave-whips and auction-blocks had no charms for
him. He loved his sisters, but he knew if he could not protect himself,
much less could he protect them. So he concluded to bid them adieu
forever in this world.
Turning from the three male companions for the purpose of finding a
brief space for Maria, it will be well to state here that females in
attempting to escape from a life of bondage undertook three times the
risk of failure that males were liable to, not to mention the additional
trials and struggles they had to contend with. In justice, therefore, to
the heroic female who was willing to endure the most extreme suffering
and hardship for freedom, double honors were due.
Maria, the heroine of the party, was about forty years of age, chestnut
color, medium size, and possessed of a good share of common sense. She
was owned by George Parker. As was a common thing with slave-holders,
Maria had found her owners hard to please, and quite often, without the
slightest reason, they would threaten to "sell or make a change." These
threats only made matters worse, or rather it only served to nerve Maria
for the conflict. The party walked almost the entire distance from
Washington to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
In the meantime George Parker, the so-called owner of Daniel and Maria,
hurriedly rushed their good names into the "Baltimore Sun," after the
following manner--
"FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD.--Ranaway from my house on Saturday
night, August 30, my negro man 'Daniel,' twenty-five years of
age, bright yellow mulatto, thick set and stout made.
Also, my negro woman, 'Maria,' forty years of age, bright
mulatto. The above reward will be paid if delivered in
Washington city. GEORGE PARKER."
While this advertisement was in the Baltimore papers, doubtless these
noble passengers were enjoying the hospitalities of the Vigilance
Committee, and finally a warm reception in Canada, by which they were
greatly pleased. Of Benjamin and Daniel, the subjoined letter from Rev.
H. Wilson is of importance in the way of throwing light upon their
whereabouts in Canada:
ST. CATHARINE, C.W., Sept. 15th, 1856.
MR. WILLIAM STILL:--_Dear Sir_--Two young men arrived here on
Friday evening last from Washington, viz: Benjamin R. Fletcher
and Daniel Neall. Mr. Neall (or Neale) desires to have his box
of clothing forwarded on to him. It is at Washington in the care
of John Dade, a colored man, who lives at Doct. W.H. Gilman's,
who keeps an Apothecary store on the corner of 4-1/2 and
Pennsylvania Avenue. Mr. Dade is a slave, but a free dealer. You
will please write to John Dade, in the care of Doct. W.H.
Gilman, on behalf of Daniel Neale, but make use of the name of
George Harrison, instead of Neale, and Dade will understand it.
Please have John Dade direct the box by express to you in
Philadelphia; he has the means of paying the charges on it in
advance, as far as Philadelphia; and as soon as it comes, you
will please forward it on to my care at St. Catherine. Say to
John Dade, that George Harrison sends his love to his sister and
Uncle Allen Sims, and all inquiring friends. Mr. Fletcher and
Mr. Neale both send their respects to you, and I may add mine.
Yours truly,
HIRAM WILSON.
P.S.--Mr. Benjamin R. Fletcher wishes to have Mr. Dade call on
his brother James, and communicate to him his affectionate
regards, and make known to him that he is safe, and cheerful and
happy. He desires his friends to know, through Dade, that he
found Mrs. Starke here, his brother Alfred's wife's sister; that
she is well, and living in St. Catharine, C.W., near Niagara
Palls. H.W.
* * * * *
HENRY BOX BROWN.
ARRIVED BY ADAMS' EXPRESS.
Although the name of Henry Box Brown has been echoed over the land for a
number of years, and the simple facts connected with his marvelous
escape from slavery in a box published widely through the medium of
anti-slavery papers, nevertheless it is not unreasonable to suppose that
very little is generally known in relation to this case.
Briefly, the facts are these, which doubtless have never before been
fully published--
Brown was a man of invention as well as a hero. In point of interest,
however, his case is no more remarkable than many others. Indeed,
neither before nor after escaping did he suffer one-half what many
others have experienced.
He was decidedly an unhappy piece of property in the city of Richmond,
Va. In the condition of a slave he felt that it would be impossible for
him to remain. Full well did he know, however, that it was no holiday
task to escape the vigilance of Virginia slave-hunters, or the wrath of
an enraged master for committing the unpardonable sin of attempting to
escape to a land of liberty. So Brown counted well the cost before