The Underground Railroad
meantime he was growing very naturally in favor of the Underground Rail
Road. From his experience Robert did not hesitate to say that his master
was "mean," "a very hard man," who would work his servants early and
late, without allowing them food and clothing sufficient to shield them
from the cold and hunger. Robert certainly had unmistakable marks about
him, of having been used roughly. He thought very well of Nathan Harris,
a fellow-servant belonging to the same owner, and he made up his mind,
if Nathan would join him, neither the length of the journey, the
loneliness of night travel, the coldness of the weather, the fear of the
slave-hunter, nor the scantiness of their means should deter him from
making his way to freedom. Nathan listened to the proposal, and was
suddenly converted to freedom, and the two united during Christmas week,
1854, and set out on the Underground Rail Road. It is needless to say
that they had trying difficulties to encounter. These they expected, but
all were overcome, and they reached the Vigilance Committee, in
Philadelphia safely, and were cordially welcomed. During the interview,
a full interchange of thought resulted, the fugitives were well cared
for, and in due time both were forwarded on, free of cost.
* * * * *
HANSEL WAPLES.
This traveler arrived from Millsboro, Indian River, Delaware, where he
was owned by Wm. E. Burton. While Hansel did not really own himself, he
had the reputation of having a wife and six children. In June, some six
months prior to her husband's arrival, Hansel's wife had been allowed by
her mistress to go out on a begging expedition, to raise money to buy
herself; but contrary to the expectation of her mistress she never
returned. Doubtless the mistress looked upon this course as a piece of
the most highhanded stealing. Hansel did not speak of his owner as being
a hard man, but on the contrary he thought that he was about as "good"
as the best that he was acquainted with. While this was true, however,
Hansel had quite good ground for believing that his master was about to
sell him. Dreading this fate he made up his mind to go in pursuit of his
wife to a Free state. Exactly where to look or how to find her he could
not tell.
The Committee advised him to "search in Canada." And in order to enable
him to get on quickly and safely, the Committee aided him with money,
&c., in 1853.
* * * * *
ROSE ANNA TONNELL ALIAS MARIA HYDE.
She fled from Isaac Tonnell of Georgetown, Delaware, in Christmas week,
1853. A young woman with a little boy of seven years of age accompanied
Rose Anna. Further than the simple fact of their having thus safely
arrived, except the expense incurred by the Committee, no other
particulars appear on the records.
* * * * *
MARY ENNIS ALIAS LICIA HEMMIN.
Mary arrived with her two children in the early Spring of 1854.
The mother was a woman of about thirty-three years of age, quite tall,
with a countenance and general appearance well fitted to awaken sympathy
at first sight. Her oldest child was a little girl seven years of age,
named Lydia; the other was named Louisa Caroline, three years of age,
both promising in appearance. They were the so called property of John
Ennis, of Georgetown, Delaware. For their flight they chose the dead of
Winter. After leaving they made their way to West Chester, and there
found friends and security for several weeks, up to the time they
reached Philadelphia. Probably the friends with whom they stopped
thought the weather too inclement for a woman with children dependent on
her support to travel. Long before this mother escaped, thoughts of
liberty filled her heart. She was ever watching for an opportunity, that
would encourage her to hope for safety, when once the attempt should be
made. Until, however, she was convinced that her two children were to be
sold, she could not quite muster courage to set out on the journey. This
threat to sell proved in multitudes of instances, "the last straw on the
camel's back." When nothing else would start them this would. Mary and
her children were the only slaves owned by this Ennis, consequently her
duties were that of "Jack of all trades;" sometimes in the field and
sometimes in the barn, as well as in the kitchen, by which, it is
needless to say, that her life was rendered servile to the last degree.
To bind up the broken heart of such a poor slave mother, and to aid such
tender plants as were these little girls, from such a wretched state of
barbarism as existed in poor little Delaware, was doubly gratifying to
the Committee.
* * * * *
"SAM," "ISAAC," "PERRY," "CHARLES," AND "GREEN."
ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS REWARD.--Ran away on Saturday night, the
20th September, 1856, from the subscriber, living in the ninth
district of Carroll county, Maryland, two Negro Men, SAM and
ISAAC. Sam calls himself Samuel Sims; he is very black; shows
his teeth very much when he laughs; no perceptible marks; he is
5 feet 8 inches high, and about thirty years of age, but has the
appearance of being much older.
Isaac calls himself Isaac Dotson he is about nineteen years of
age, stout made, but rather chunky; broad across his shoulders,
he is about five feet five or six inches high, always appears to
be in a good humor; laughs a good deal, and runs on with a good
deal of foolishness; he is of very light color, almost yellow,
might be called a yellow boy; has no perceptible marks.
They have such a variety of clothing that it is almost useless
to say anything about them. No doubt they will change their
names.
I will give the above reward for them, of one thousand dollars,
or five hundred dollars for either of them, if taken and lodged
in any jail in Maryland, so that I get them again.
Also two of Mr. Dade's, living in the neighborhood, went the
same time; no doubt they are all in company together. THOMAS B.
OWINGS.
s24-6tWit*||
These passengers reached the Philadelphia station, about the 24th of
September, 1856, five days after they escaped from Carroll county. They
were in fine spirits, and had borne the fatigue and privation of travel
bravely. A free and interesting interview took place, between these
passengers and the Committee, eliciting much information, especially
with regard to the workings of the system on the farms, from which they
had the good luck to flee. Each of the party was thoroughly questioned,
about how time had passed with them at home, or rather in the prison
house, what kind of men their masters were, how they fed and clothed, if
they whipped, bought or sold, whether they were members of church, or
not, and many more questions needless to enumerate bearing on the
domestic relation which had existed between themselves and their
masters. These queries they answered in their own way, with
intelligence. Upon the whole, their lot in Slavery had been rather more
favorable than the average run of slaves.
No record was made of any very severe treatment. In fact, the notices
made of them were very brief, and, but for the elaborate way in which
they were described in the "Baltimore Sun," by their owners, their
narratives would hardly be considered of sufficient interest to record.
The heavy rewards, beautiful descriptions, and elegant illustrations in
the "Sun," were very attractive reading. The Vigilance Committee took
the "Sun," for nothing else under the sun but for this special
literature, and for this purpose they always considered the "Sun" a
cheap and reliable paper.
A slave man or woman, running for life, he with a bundle on his back or
she with a babe in her arms, was always a very interesting sight, and
should always be held in remembrance. Likewise the descriptions given by
slave-holders, as a general rule, showed considerable artistic powers
and a most thorough knowledge of the physical outlines of this peculiar
property. Indeed, the art must have been studied attentively for
practical purposes. When the advertisements were received in advance of
arrivals, which was always the case, the descriptions generally were
found so lifelike, that the Committee preferred to take them in
preference to putting themselves to the labor of writing out new ones,
for future reference. This we think, ought not to be complained of by
any who were so unfortunate as to lose wayward servants, as it is but
fair to give credit to all concerned. True, sometimes some of these
beautiful advertisements were open to gentle criticism. The one at the
head of this report, is clearly of this character. For instance, in
describing Isaac, Mr. Thomas B. Owings, represents him as being of a
"very light color," "almost yellow," "might be called a yellow boy." In
the next breath he has no perceptible marks. Now, if he is "very light,"
that is a well-known southern mark, admitted everywhere. A hint to the
wise is sufficient. However, judging from what was seen of Isaac in
Philadelphia, there was more cunning than "foolishness" about him.
Slaves sometimes, when wanting to get away, would make their owners
believe that they were very happy and contented. And, in using this kind
of foolishness, would keep up appearances until an opportunity offered
for an escape. So Isaac might have possessed this sagacity, which
appeared like nonsense to his master. That slave-holders, above all
others, were in the habit of taking special pains to encourage
foolishness, loud laughing, banjo playing, low dancing, etc., in the
place of education, virtue, self-respect and manly carriage,
slave-holders themselves are witnesses.
As Mr. Robert Dade was also a loser, equally with Mr. Thomas B. Owings,
and as his advertisement was of the same liberality and high tone, it
seems but fitting that it should come in just here, to give weight and
completeness to the story. Both Owings and Dade showed a considerable
degree of southern chivalry in the liberality of their rewards.
Doubtless, the large sums thus offered awakened a lively feeling in the
breasts of old slave-hunters. But it is to be supposed that the artful
fugitives safely reached Philadelphia before the hunters got even the
first scent on their track. Up to the present hour, with the owners all
may be profound mystery; if so, it is to be hoped, that they may feel
some interest in the solution of these wonders. The articles so
accurately described must now be permitted to testify in their own
words, as taken from the records.
Green Modock acknowledges that he was owned by William Dorsey, Perry by
Robert Dade, Sam and Isaac by Thomas Owings, all farmers, and all
"tough" and "pretty mean men." Sam and Isaac had other names with them,
but not such a variety of clothing as their master might have supposed.
Sam said he left because his master threatened to sell him to Georgia,
and he believed that he meant so to do, as he had sold all his brothers
and sisters to Georgia some time before he escaped.
But this was not all. Sam declared his master had threatened to shoot
him a short while before he left. This was the last straw on the camel's
back. Sam's heart was in Canada ever after that. In traveling he
resolved that nothing should stop him. Charles offered the same excuse
as did Sam. He had been threatened with the auction-block. He left his
mother free, but four sisters he left in chains. As these men spoke of
their tough owners and bad treatment in Slavery, they expressed their
indignation at the idea that Owings, Dade and Dorsey had dared to rob
them of their God-given rights. They were only ignorant farm hands. As