The Underground Railroad
badly?" "Have been whipped, and they never give me anything; some people
give their servants at Christmas a dollar and a half and two dollars,
and some five, but my master would never give me anything." "What was
the name of your master?" "Fleming Bibbs." "Where did he live?" "In
Caroline county, fifty miles above Richmond." "What did he do?" "He was
a farmer." "Did you ever live with him?" "Never did; always hired me
out, and then I couldn't please him." "What kind of a man was he?" "A
man with a very severe temper; would drink at all times, though would do
it slyly." "Was he a member of any church?" "Baptist church--would curse
at his servants as if he wern't in any church." "Were his family members
of church, too?" "Yes." "What kind of family had he?" "His wife was a
tolerable fair woman, but his sons were dissipated, all of them
_rowdies_ and _gamblers. His sons has had children by the servants. One
of his daughters had a child by his grandson last April_. They are
traders, buy and sell."
"How many slaves did he own?" "Sam, Richmond, Henry, Dennis, Jesse,
Addison, Hilliard, Jenny, Lucius, Julia, Charlotte, Easte, Joe, Taylor,
Louisa, two more small children and Jim." Did any of them know that you
were going to leave? "No, I saw my brother Tuesday, but never told him a
word about it." "What put it into your head to leave?" "It was bad
treatment; for being put in jail for sale the 7th of last January; was
whipped in jail and after I came out the only thing they told me was
that I had been selling newspapers about the streets, and was half
free."
"Where did you live then?" "In Richmond, Va.; for twenty-two years I
have been living out." "How much did your master receive a year for your
hire?" "From sixty-five to one hundred and fifty dollars." "Did you have
to find yourself?" "The people who hired me found me. The general rule
is in Richmond, for a week's board, seventy-five cents is allowed; if he
gets any more than that he has got to find it himself." "How about
Sunday clothing?" "Find them yourself?" "How about a house to live in?"
"Have that to find yourself." "Suppose you have a wife and family." "It
makes no difference, they don't allow you anything for that at all."
"Suppose you are sick who pays your doctor's bill?" "He (master) pays
that." "How do you manage to make a little extra money?" "By getting up
before day and carrying out papers and doing other jobs, cleaning up
single men's rooms and the like of that." "What have you been employed
at in Richmond?" "Been working in tobacco factory in general; this year
I was hired at a printing-office. The National American. I carried
papers." "Had you a wife?" "I did, but her master was a very bad man and
was opposed to me, and was against my coming to his place to see my
wife, and he persuaded her to take another husband in preference to me;
being in his hands she took his advice." "How long ago was that?" "Very
near twelve months; she got married last fall." "Had you any children?"
"Yes." "How many?" "Five." "Where are they?" "Three are with Joel Luck,
her master, one with his sister Eliza, and the other belongs to Judge
Hudgins, of Bowling Green Court House." "Do you ever expect to see them
again?" "No, not till the day of the Great I am!" "Did you ever have any
chance of schooling?" "Not a day in my life." "Can you read?" "No, sir,
nor write my own name." "What do you think of Slavery any how?" "I think
it's a great curse, and I think the _Baptists_ in _Richmond_ will go to
the deepest hell, if there is any, for they are so wicked they will work
you all day and part of the night, and _wear cloaks and long faces_, and
try to get all the work out of you they can by telling you about Jesus
Christ. All the extra money you make they think you will give to hear
talk about Jesus Christ. Out of their extra money they have to pay a
white man _Five hundred dollars a year for preaching_." "What kind of
preaching does he give them?" "He tells them if they die in their sins
they will go to hell; don't tell them any thing about their elevation;
he would tell them obey their masters and mistresses, for good servants
make good masters." "Did you belong to the Baptist Church?" "Yes, Second
Baptist Church." "Did you feel that the preaching you heard was the true
Gospel?" "One part of it, and one part burnt me as bad as ever insult
did. They would tell us that we must take money out of our pockets to
send it to Africa, to enlighten the African race. I think that we were
about as blind in Richmond as the African race is in Africa. All they
want you to know, is to have sense enough to say master and mistress,
and _run_ like lightning, when they speak to you, to do exactly what
they want you to do," "When you made up your mind to escape, where did
you think you would go to?" "I made up my mind not to stop short of the
British protection; to shake hands with the _Lion's_ paw." "Were you not
afraid of being captured on the way, of being devoured by the
abolitionists, or of freezing and starving in Canada?" "Well, I had
often thought that I would be in a bad condition to come here, without
money and clothes, but I made up my mind to come, live or die." "What
are your impressions from what little you have seen of Freedom?" "I
think it is intended for all men, and all men ought to have it."
"Suppose your master was to appear before you, and offer you the
privilege of returning to Slavery or death on the spot, which would be
your choice?" "_Die right there_. I made up my mind before I started."
"Do you think that many of the slaves are anxious about their Freedom?"
"The third part of them ain't anxious about it, because the white people
have _blinded_ them, telling about the North,--they _can't live here_;
telling them that the people are worse off than they are there; they say
that the 'niggers' in the North have no houses to live in, stand about
freezing, dirty, no clothes to wear. They all would be very glad to get
their time, but want to stay where they are." Just at this point of the
interview, the hour of midnight admonished us that it was time to
retire. Accordingly, said Mr. Thompson, "I guess we had better close,"
adding, if he "could only write, he could give seven volumes!" Also,
said he, "give my best respects to Mr. W.W. Hardwicke, and Mr. Perry in
the National American office, and tell them _I wish they will pay the
two boys who carry the papers for me, for they are as ignorant of this
matter as you are_."
Charles was duly forwarded to Canada to shake hands with the Lion's paw,
and from the accounts which came from him to the Committee, he was
highly delighted. The following letter from him afforded gratifying
evidence, that he neither forgot his God nor his friends in freedom:
DETROIT, Sept. 17, 1862.
DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST--It affords me the greatest pleasure
imaginable in the time I shall occupy in penning these few lines
to you and your dear loving wife, not because I can write them
to you myself, but for the love and regard I have for you, for I
never can forget a man who will show kindness to his neighbor
when in distress. I remember when I was in distress and out of
doors, you took me in; I was hungry, and you fed me; for these
things God will reward you, dear brother. I am getting along as
well as I can expect. Since I have been out here, I have
endeavored to make every day tell for itself, and I can say, no
doubt, what a great many men cannot say, that I have made good
use of all the time that God has given me, and not one week has
been spent in idleness. Brother William, I expect to visit you
some time next summer to sit and have a talk with you and Mrs.
Still. I hope to see that time, if it is God's will. You will
remember me, with my wife, to Mrs. Still. Give my best respects
to all inquiring friends, and believe me to be yours forever.
Well wishes both soul and body. Please write to me sometimes.
C.W. THOMPSON.
* * * * *
BLOOD FLOWED FREELY.
ABRAM GALLOWAY AND RICHARD EDEN, TWO PASSENGERS SECRETED IN A VESSEL
LOADED WITH SPIRITS OF TURPENTINE. SHROUDS PREPARED TO PREVENT BEING
SMOKED TO DEATH.
The Philadelphia branch of the Underground Rail Road was not fortunate
in having very frequent arrivals from North Carolina. Of course such of
her slave population as managed to become initiated in the mysteries of
traveling North by the Underground Rail Road were sensible enough to
find out nearer and safer routes than through Pennsylvania. Nevertheless
the Vigilance Committee of Philadelphia occasionally had the pleasure of
receiving some heroes who were worthy to be classed among the bravest of
the brave, no matter who they may be who have claims to this
distinction.
In proof of this bold assertion the two individuals whose names stand at
the beginning of this chapter are presented. Abram was only twenty-one
years of age, mulatto, five feet six inches high, intelligent and the
picture of good health. "What was your master's name?" inquired a member
of the Committee. "Milton Hawkins," answered Abram. "What business did
Milton Hawkins follow?" again queried said member. "He was chief
engineer on the Wilmington and Manchester Rail Road" (not a branch of
the Underground Rail Road), responded Richard. "Describe him," said the
member. "He was a slim built, tall man with whiskers. He was a man of
very good disposition. I always belonged to him; he owned three. He
always said he would sell before he would use a whip. His wife was a
very mean woman; she would whip contrary to his orders." "Who was your
father?" was further inquired. "John Wesley Galloway," was the prompt
response. "Describe your father?" "He was captain of a government
vessel; he recognized me as his son, and protected me as far as he was
allowed so to do; he lived at Smithfield, North Carolina. Abram's
master, Milton Hawkins, lived at Wilmington, N.C." "What prompted you to
escape?" was next asked. "Because times were hard and I could not come
up with my wages as I was required to do, so I thought I would try and
do better." At this juncture Abram explained substantially in what sense
times were hard, &c. In the first place he was not allowed to own
himself; he, however, preferred hiring his time to serving in the usual
way. This favor was granted Abram; but he was compelled to pay $15 per
month for his time, besides finding himself in clothing, food, paying
doctor bills, and a head tax of $15 a year.
Even under this master, who was a man of very good disposition, Abram
was not contented. In the second place, he "always thought Slavery was
wrong," although he had "never suffered any personal abuse." Toiling
month after month the year round to support his master and not himself,
was the one intolerable thought. Abram and Richard were intimate
friends, and lived near each other. Being similarly situated, they could
venture to communicate the secret feelings of their hearts to each
other. Richard was four years older than Abram, with not quite so much
Anglo-Saxon blood in his veins, but was equally as intelligent, and was
by trade, a "fashionable barber," well-known to the ladies and gentlemen
of Wilmington. Richard owed service to Mrs. Mary Loren, a widow. "She
was very kind and tender to all her slaves." "If I was sick," said
Richard, "she would treat me the same as a mother would." She was the
owner of twenty, men, women and children, who were all hired out, except
the children too young for hire. Besides having his food, clothing and
doctor's expenses to meet, he had to pay the "very kind and
tender-hearted widow" $12.50 per month, and head tax to the State,