The Underground Railroad
however, allowed to enter the carriage that awaited her without
disturbance. She was accompanied by Mr. McKim, Secretary of the
Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, Lucretia Mott and George
Corson, one of our most manly and intrepid police officers. The
carriage was followed by another filled with officers as a
guard; and thus escorted she was taken back in safety to the
house from which she had been brought. Her title to Freedom
under the laws of the State will hardly again be brought into
question."
Mr. Williamson was committed to prison by Judge Kane for contempt of
Court, on the 27th day of July, 1855, and was released on the 3d day of
November the same year, having gained, in the estimation of the friends
of Freedom every where, a triumph and a fame which but few men in the
great moral battle for Freedom could claim.
* * * * *
THE ARRIVALS OF A SINGLE MONTH.
SIXTY PASSENGERS CAME IN ONE MONTH--TWENTY-EIGHT IN ONE ARRIVAL--GREAT
PANIC AND INDIGNATION MEETING--INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE FROM MASTERS
AND FUGITIVES.
The great number of cases to be here noticed forbids more than a brief
reference to each passenger. As they arrived in parties, their
narratives will be given in due order as found on the book of records:
William Griffen, Henry Moor, James Camper, Noah Ennells and Levin
Parker. This party came from Cambridge, Md.
William is thirty-four years of age, of medium size and substantial
appearance. He fled from James Waters, Esq., a lawyer, living in
Cambridge. He was "wealthy, close, and stingy," and owned nine head of
slaves and a farm, on which William served. He was used very hard, which
was the cause of his escape, though the idea that he was entitled to his
freedom had been entertained for the previous twelve years. On preparing
to take the Underground, he armed himself with a big butcher-knife, and
resolved, if attacked, to make his enemies stand back. His master was a
member of the Methodist Church.
Henry is tall, copper-colored, and about thirty years of age. He
complained not so much of bad usage as of the utter distaste he had to
working all the time for the "white people for nothing." He was also
decidedly of the opinion that every man should have his liberty. Four
years ago his wife was "sold away to Georgia" by her young master; since
which time not a word had he heard of her. She left three children, and
he, in escaping, also had to leave them in the same hands that sold
their mother. He was owned by Levin Dale, a farmer near Cambridge. Henry
was armed with a six-barreled revolver, a large knife, and a determined
mind.
James is twenty-four years of age, quite black, small size, keen look,
and full of hope for the "best part of Canada." He fled from Henry
Hooper, "a dashing young man and a member of the Episcopal Church." Left
because he "did not enjoy privileges" as he wished to do. He was armed
with two pistols and a dirk to defend himself.
Noah is only nineteen, quite dark, well-proportioned, and possessed of a
fair average of common sense. He was owned by "Black-head Bill LeCount,"
who "followed drinking, chewing tobacco, catching 'runaways,' and
hanging around the court-house." However, he owned six head of slaves,
and had a "rough wife," who belonged to the Methodist Church. Left
because he "expected every day to be sold"--his master being largely in
"debt." Brought with him a butcher-knife.
Levin is twenty-two, rather short built, medium size and well colored.
He fled from Lawrence G. Colson, "a very bad man, fond of drinking,
great to fight and swear, and hard to please." His mistress was "real
rough; very bad, worse than he was as 'fur' as she could be." Having
been stinted with food and clothing and worked hard, was the apology
offered by Levin for running off.
Stebney Swan, John Stinger, Robert Emerson, Anthony Pugh and Isabella
----. This company came from Portsmouth, Va. Stebney is thirty-four
years of age, medium size, mulatto, and quite wide awake. He was owned
by an oysterman by the name of Jos. Carter, who lived near Portsmouth.
Naturally enough his master "drank hard, gambled" extensively, and in
every other respect was a very ordinary man. Nevertheless, he "owned
twenty-five head," and had a wife and six children. Stebney testified
that he had not been used hard, though he had been on the "auction-block
three times." Left because he was "tired of being a servant." Armed with
a broad-axe and hatchet, he started, joined by the above-named
companions, and came in a skiff, by sea. Robert Lee was the brave
Captain engaged to pilot this Slavery-sick party from the prison-house
of bondage. And although every rod of rowing was attended with
inconceivable peril, the desired haven was safely reached, and the
overjoyed voyagers conducted to the Vigilance Committee.
John is about forty years of age, and so near white that a microscope
would be required to discern his colored origin. His father was white,
and his mother nearly so. He also had been owned by the oysterman
alluded to above; had been captain of one of his oyster-boats, until
recently. And but for his attempt some months back to make his escape,
he might have been this day in the care of his kind-hearted master. But,
because of this wayward step on the part of John, his master felt called
upon to humble him. Accordingly, the captaincy was taken from him, and
he was compelled to struggle on in a less honorable position.
Occasionally John's mind would be refreshed by his master relating the
hard times in the North, the great starvation among the blacks, etc. He
would also tell John how much better off he was as a "slave with a kind
master to provide for all his wants," etc. Notwithstanding all this
counsel, John did not rest contented until he was on the Underground
Rail Road.
Robert was only nineteen, with an intelligent face and prepossessing
manners; reads, writes and ciphers; and is about half Anglo-Saxon. He
fled from Wm. H. Wilson, Esq., Cashier of the Virginia Bank. Until
within the four years previous to Robert's escape, the cashier was
spoken of as a "very good man;" but in consequence of speculations in a
large Hotel in Portsmouth, and the then financial embarrassments, "he
had become seriously involved," and decidedly changed in his manners.
Robert noticed this, and concluded he had "better get out of danger as
soon as possible."
Anthony and Isabella were an engaged couple, and desired to cast their
lot where husband and wife could not be separated on the auction-block.
The following are of the Cambridge party, above alluded to. All left
together, but for prudential reasons separated before reaching
Philadelphia. The company that left Cambridge on the 24th of October may
be thus recognized: Aaron Cornish and wife, with their six children;
Solomon, George Anthony, Joseph, Edward James, Perry Lake, and a
nameless babe, all very likely; Kit Anthony and wife Leah, and three
children, Adam, Mary, and Murray; Joseph Hill and wife Alice, and their
son Henry; also Joseph's sister. Add to the above, Marshall Button and
George Light, both single young men, and we have twenty-eight in one
arrival, as hearty-looking, brave and interesting specimens of Slavery
as could well be produced from Maryland. Before setting out they counted
well the cost. Being aware that fifteen had left their neighborhood only
a few days ahead of them, and that every slave-holder and slave-catcher
throughout the community, were on the alert, and raging furiously
against the inroads of the Underground Rail Road, they provided
themselves with the following weapons of defense: three revolvers, three
double-barreled pistols, three single-barreled pistols, three
sword-canes, four butcher knives, one bowie-knife, and one paw.[A] Thus,
fully resolved upon freedom or death, with scarcely provisions enough
for a single day, while the rain and storm was piteously descending,
fathers and mothers with children in their arms (Aaron Cornish had
two)--the entire party started. Of course, their provisions gave out
before they were fairly on the way, but not so with the storm. It
continued to pour upon them for nearly three days. With nothing to
appease the gnawings of hunger but parched corn and a few dry crackers,
wet and cold, with several of the children sick, some of their feet bare
and worn, and one of the mothers with an infant in her arms, incapable
of partaking of the diet,--it is impossible to imagine the ordeal they
were passing. It was enough to cause the bravest hearts to falter. But
not for a moment did they allow themselves to look back. It was
exceedingly agreeable to hear even the little children testify that in
the most trying hour on the road, not for a moment did they want to go
back. The following advertisement, taken from _The Cambridge Democrat_
of November 4, shows how the Rev. Levi Traverse felt about Aaron--
[Footnote A: A paw is a weapon with iron prongs, four inches long, to be
grasped with the hand and used in close encounter.]
$300 Reward.--Ran away from the subscriber, from the
neighborhood of Town Point, on Saturday night, the 24th inst.,
my negro man, AARON CORNISH, about 35 years old. He is about
five feet ten inches high, black, good-looking, rather pleasant
countenance, and carries himself with a confident manner. He
went off with his wife, DAFFNEY, a negro woman belonging to
Reuben E. Phillips. I will give the above reward if taken out of
the county, and $200 if taken in the county; in either case to
be lodged in Cambridge Jail.
October 25, 1857.
Levi D. Traverse.
To fully understand the Rev. Mr. Traverse's authority for taking the
liberty he did with Aaron's good name, it may not be amiss to give
briefly a paragraph of private information from Aaron, relative to his
master. The Rev. Mr. Traverse belonged to the Methodist Church, and was
described by Aaron as a "bad young man; rattle-brained; with the
appearance of not having good sense,--not enough to manage the great
amount of property (he had been left wealthy) in his possession."
Aaron's servitude commenced under this spiritual protector in May prior
to the escape, immediately after the death of his old master. His
deceased master, William D. Traverse, by the way, was the father-in-law,
and at the same time own uncle of Aaron's reverend owner. Though the
young master, for marrying his own cousin and uncle's daughter, had been
for years the subject of the old gentleman's wrath, and was not allowed
to come near his house, or to entertain any reasonable hope of getting
any of his father-in-law's estate, nevertheless, scarcely had the old
man breathed his last, ere the young preacher seized upon the
inheritance, slaves and all; at least he claimed two-thirds, allowing
for the widow one-third. Unhesitatingly he had taken possession of all
the slaves (some thirty head), and was making them feel his power to the
fullest extent. To Aaron this increased oppression was exceedingly
crushing, as he had been hoping at the death of his old master to be
free. Indeed, it was understood that the old man had his will made, and
freedom provided for the slaves. But, strangely enough, at his death no
will could be found. Aaron was firmly of the conviction that the Rev.
Mr. Traverse knew what became of it. Between the widow and the
son-in-law, in consequence of his aggressive steps, existed much
hostility, which strongly indicated the approach of a law-suit;
therefore, except by escaping, Aaron could not see the faintest hope of
freedom. Under his old master, the favor of hiring his time had been
granted him. He had also been allowed by his wife's mistress (Miss Jane