The Underground Railroad
acknowledged themselves to be slaves of Smith and Grove. The
commissioner considering the testimony sufficient, ordered their
surrender, and they were accordingly given up to their
claimants, who hurried them off at once, and they are now on
their way to Baltimore. A telegraph despatch has been sent to
Philadelphia, as it is understood an attempt will be made to
rescue the parties, when the cars arrive. There was no
excitement around the commissioner's office, owing to a
misunderstanding as to the time of examination. The men were
traced to this city by the claimants, who made application to
the United States Court, when officers Horton and De Angeles
were deputied by the marshal to effect their arrest, and those
officers, with deputy Marshal Thompson scoured the city, and
finally found them secreted in a house in Broome St. They were
brought before Commissioner Morton this morning. No counsel
appeared for the fugitives. The case being made out, the usual
affidavits of fear of rescue were made, and the warrants
thereupon issued, and the three fugitives were delivered over to
the U.S. Marshal, and hurried off to Maryland. They were a
father and his two sons, father about forty-five and sons
eighteen or nineteen. The evidence shows them to have recently
escaped. The father is the brother of the Rev. Dr. Pennington, a
highly respected colored preacher of this city.
NEW YORK, May 28.
Last evening the church at the corner of Prince and Marion
streets was filled with an intelligent audience of white and
colored people, to hear Dr. Pennington relate the circumstance
connected with the arrest of his brother and nephews. He showed,
that he attempted to afford his brother the assistance of
counsel, but was unable to do so, the officers at the Marshal's
office having deceived him in relation to the time the trial was
to take place before the Commissioners. Hon. E.F. Culver next
addressed the audience, showing, that a great injustice had been
done to the brother of Dr. Pennington, and though he, up to that
time, had advocated peace, he now had the spirit to tear down
the building over the Marshal's head. Intense interest was
manifested during the proceedings, and much sympathy in behalf
of Dr. Pennington.
THE FUGITIVE SLAVES IN BALTIMORE.
The U.S. Marshal, A.T. Hillyer, Esq., received a dispatch this
morning from officers Horton and Dellugelis, at Baltimore,
stating, that they had arrived there with the three slaves,
arrested here yesterday (the Penningtons), the owners
accompanying them. The officers will return to New York, this
evening.--_N.Y. Express_, 27_th_.
NEW YORK, May 30.
The Rev. Dr. Pennington has received a letter from Mr. Grove,
the claimant of his brother, who was recently taken back from
this city, offering to sell him to Dr. Pennington, should he
wish to buy him, and stating, that he would await a reply,
before "selling him to the slave-drivers." Mr. Groce, who
accompanied his "sweet heart," Matilda, in the same train which
conveyed the Penningtons to New York, had reason to apprehend
danger to all the Underground Rail Road passengers, as will
appear from his subjoined letter:
ELMIRA, May 28th.
DEAR LUKE:--I arrived home safe with my precious charge,
and found all well. I have just learned, that the
Penningtons are taken. Had he done as I wished him he
would never have been taken. Last night our tall friend
from Baltimore came, and caused great excitement here by
his information. The lady is perfectly safe now in
Canada. I will write you and Mr. Still as soon as I get
over the excitement. This letter was first intended for
Mr. Gains, but I now send it to you. Please let me hear
their movements.
Yours truly,
C.L. GROCE.
But sadly as this blow was felt by the Vigilance Committee, it did not
cause them to relax their efforts in the least. Indeed it only served to
stir them up to renewed diligence and watchfulness, although for a
length of time afterwards the Committee felt disposed, when sending, to
avoid New York as much as possible, and in lieu thereof, to send _viâ_
Elmira, where there was a depot under the agency of John W. Jones. Mr.
Jones was a true and prompt friend of the fugitive, and wide-awake with
regard to Slavery and slave-holders, and slave hunters, for he had known
from sad experience in Virginia every trait of character belonging to
these classes.
In the midst of the Doctor's grief, friends of the slave soon raised
money to purchase his brother, about $1,000; but the unfortunate sons
were doomed to the auction block and the far South, where, the writer
has never exactly learned.
"FLEEING GIRL OF FIFTEEN," IN MALE ATTIRE.
PROFESSORS H. AND T. OFFER THEIR SERVICES--CAPTAINS B. ALSO ARE
ENLISTED--SLAVE-TRADER GRASPING TIGHTLY HIS PREY, BUT SHE IS
RESCUED--LONG CONFLICT, BUT GREAT TRIUMPH--ARRIVAL ON THANKSGIVING DAY,
NOV. 25, 1855. It was the business of the Vigilance Committee, as it was
clearly understood by the friends of the Slave, to assist all needy
fugitives, who might in any way manage to reach Philadelphia, but, for
various reasons, not to send agents South to incite slaves to run away,
or to assist them in so doing. Sometimes, however, this rule could not
altogether be conformed to. Cases, in some instances, would appeal so
loudly and forcibly to humanity, civilization, and Christianity, that it
would really seem as if the very stones would cry out, unless something
was done. As an illustration of this point, the story of the young girl,
which is now to be related, will afford the most striking proof. At the
same time it may be seen how much anxiety, care, hazard, delay and
material aid, were required in order to effect the deliverance of some
who were in close places, and difficult of access. It will be necessary
to present a considerable amount of correspondence in this case, to
bring to light the hidden mysteries of this narrative. The first letter,
in explanation, is the following:
LETTER FROM J. BIGELOW, ESQ.
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 27, 1854.
MR. WM. STILL--_Dear Sir_:--I have to thank you for the prompt
answer you had the kindness to give to my note of 22d inst.
Having found a correspondence so quick and easy, and withal so
very flattering, I address you again more fully.
The liberal appropriation for _transportation_ has been made
chiefly on account of a female child of ten or eleven years old,
for whose purchase I have been authorized to offer $700
(refused), and for whose sister I have paid $1,600, and some
$1,000 for their mother, &c.
This child sleeps in the same apartment with its master and
mistress, which adds to the difficulty of removal. She is some
ten or twelve miles from the city, so that really the chief
hazard will be in bringing her safely to town, and in secreting
her until a few days of _storm_ shall have abated. All this, I
think, is now provided for with entire safety.
The child has two cousins in the immediate vicinity; a young man
of some twenty-two years of age, and his sister, of perhaps
seventeen--_both Slaves_, but bright and clear-headed as
anybody. The young man I have seen often--the services of _both_
seem indispensable to the main object suggested; but having once
rendered the service, they cannot, and ought not return to
Slavery. They look for _freedom_ as the reward of what they
shall now do.
Out of the $300, cheerfully offered for the whole enterprise, I
must pay some reasonable sum for transportation to the city and
sustenance while here. It cannot be much; for the balance, I
shall give a draft, which will be _promptly paid_ on their
arrival in New York.
If I have been understood to offer the whole $300, _it shall be
paid_, though I have meant as above stated. Among the various
ways that have been suggested, has been that of taking _all of
them_ into the cars here; that, I think, will be found
impracticable. I find so much vigilance at the depot, that I
would not deem it safe, though, in any kind of carriage they
might leave in safety at any time.
All the rest I leave to the experience and sagacity of the
gentleman who maps out the enterprise.
Now I will thank you to reply to this and let me know that it
reaches you in safety, and is not put in a careless place,
whereby I may be endangered; and state also, whether all my
propositions are understood and acceptable, and whether, (pretty
quickly after I shall inform you that _all things are ready_),
the gentleman will make his appearance?
I live alone. My office and bed-room, &c., are at the corner of
E. and 7th streets, opposite the east end of the General Post
Office, where any one may call upon me.
It would, of course, be imprudent, that this letter, or any
other _written_ particulars, be in his pockets for fear of
accident.
Yours very respectfully,
J. BIGELOW.
While this letter clearly brought to light the situation of things, its
author, however, had scarcely begun to conceive of the numberless
difficulties which stood in the way of success before the work could be
accomplished. The information which Mr. Bigelow's letter contained of
the painful situation of this young girl was submitted to different
parties who could be trusted, with a view of finding a person who might
possess sufficient courage to undertake to bring her away. Amongst those
consulted were two or three captains who had on former occasions done
good service in the cause. One of these captains was known in
Underground Rail-Road circles as the "powder boy."[A] He was willing to
undertake the work, and immediately concluded to make a visit to
Washington, to see how the "land lay." Accordingly in company with
another Underground Rail Road captain, he reported himself one day to
Mr. Bigelow with as much assurance as if he were on an errand for an
office under the government. The impression made on Mr. Bigelow's mind
may be seen from the following letter; it may also be seen that he was
fully alive to the necessity of precautionary measures.
[Footnote A: He had been engaged at different times in carrying powder
in his boat from a powder magazine, and from this circumstance, was
familiarly called the "Powder Boy."]
SECOND LETTER FROM LAWYER BIGELOW.
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 9th, 1855.
MR. WM. STILL, DEAR SIR:--I strongly hope the little matter of
business so long pending and about which I have written you so
many times, will take a move now. I have the promise that the
merchandize shall be delivered in this city to-night. Like so
many other promises, this also may prove a failure, though I
have reason to believe that it will not. I shall, however, know
before I mail this note. In case the goods arrive here I shall
hope to see your long-talked of "Professional gentleman" in
Washington, as soon as possible. He will find me by the enclosed
card, which shall be a satisfactory introduction for him. You
have never given me his name, nor am I anxious to know it. But
on a pleasant visit made last fall to friend Wm. Wright, in
Adams Co., I suppose I accidentally learned it to be a certain
Dr. H----. Well, let him come.
I had an interesting call a week ago from two gentlemen, masters