The Underground Railroad
they drank in the free air, the thought of their wrongs aroused all
their manhood. They were all young men, hale and stout, with strong
resolutions to make Canada their future home. The Committee encouraged
them in this, and aided them for humanity's sake.--Mr. Robert Dade's
advertisement speaks for itself as follows:
RAN AWAY--On Saturday night, 20th inst., from the subscriber,
living near Mount Airy P.O., Carroll county, two Negro men,
PERRY and CHARLES. Perry is quite dark, full face; is about 5
feet 8 or 9 inches high; has a scar on one of his hands, and one
on his legs, caused by a cut from a scythe; 25 years old.
Charles is of a copper color, about 5 feet 9 or 10 inches high;
round shouldered, with small whiskers; has one crooked finger
that he cannot straighten, and a scar on his right leg, caused
by the cut of a scythe; 22 years old. I will give two hundred
and fifty dollars each, if taken in the State and returned to
me, or secured in some jail so that I can get them again, or a
$1,000 for the two, or $500 each, if taken out of the State, and
secured in some jail in this State so that I can get them again.
ROBERT DADE.
s23-3f.
FROM RICHMOND AND NORFOLK, VA.
WILLIAM B. WHITE, SUSAN BROOKS AND WILLIAM HENRY ATKINS.--STOWED AWAY IN
THE STEAMSHIP CITY OF RICHMOND.
But for their hope of liberty, their uncomfortable position could hardly
have been endured by these fugitives. William had been compelled to dig
and delve, to earn bread and butter, clothing and luxuries, houses and
land, education and ease for H.B. Dickinson, of Richmond. William
smarted frequently; but what could he do? Complaint from a slave was a
crime of the deepest dye. So William dug away mutely, but continued to
think, nevertheless. He was a man of about thirty-six years of age, of
dark chestnut color, medium size, and of pleasant manners to say the
least. His owner was a tobacco manufacturer, who held some thirty slaves
in his own right, besides hiring a great many others. William was
regularly employed by day in his master's tobacco factory. He was
likewise employed, as one of the carriers of the Richmond Dispatch; the
time allotted to fill the duties of this office, was however, before
sunrise in the morning. It is but just to state, in favor of his master,
that William was himself the receiver of a part of the pay for this
night work. It was by this means William procured clothing and certain
other necessaries.
From William's report of his master, he was by no means among the worst
of slave-holders in Richmond; he did not himself flog, but the overseer
was allowed to conduct this business, when it was considered necessary.
For a long time William had cherished a strong desire to be free, and
had gone so far on several occasions as to make unsuccessful attempts to
accomplish this end. At last he was only apprised of his opportunity to
carry his wishes into practice a few moments before the hour for the
starting of the Underground Rail Road train.
Being on the watch, he hailed the privilege, and left without looking
back.
True he left his wife and two children, who were free, and a son also
who was owned by Warner Toliver, of Gloucester county, Va. We leave the
reader to decide for himself, whether William did right or wrong, and
who was responsible for the sorrow of both husband and wife caused by
the husband's course. The Committee received him as a true and honest
friend of freedom, and as such aided him.
* * * * *
SUSAN BROOKS.
Susan was also a passenger on the same ship that brought Wm. B. White.
She was from Norfolk. Her toil, body and strength were claimed by Thomas
Eckels, Esq., a man of wealth and likewise a man of intemperance. With
those who regarded Slavery as a "divine institution," intemperance was
scarcely a mote, in the eyes of such. For sixteen years, Susan had been
in the habit of hiring her time, for which she was required to pay five
dollars per month. As she had the reputation of being a good cook and
chambermaid, she was employed steadily, sometimes on boats. This sum may
therefore be considered reasonable.
Owing to the death of her husband, about a year previous to her escape,
she had suffered greatly, so much so, that on two or three occasions,
she had fallen into alarming fits,--a fact by no means agreeable to her
owner, as he feared that the traders on learning her failing health
would underrate her on this account. But Susan was rather thankful for
these signs of weakness, as she was thereby enabled to mature her plans
and thus to elude detection.
Her son having gone on ahead to Canada about six months in advance of
her, she felt that she had strong ties in the goodly land. Every day she
remained in bondage, the cords bound her more tightly, and "weeks seemed
like months, and months like years," so abhorrent had the peculiar
institution become to her in every particular. In this state of mind,
she saw no other way, than by submitting to be secreted, until an
opportunity should offer, via the Underground Rail Road.
So for four months, like a true and earnest woman, she endured a great
"fight of affliction," in this horrible place. But the thought of
freedom enabled her to keep her courage up, until the glad news was
conveyed to her that all things were ready, providing that she could get
safely to the boat, on which she was to be secreted. How she succeeded
in so doing the record book fails to explain.
One of the methods, which used to succeed very well, in skillful and
brave hands, was this: In order to avoid suspicion, the woman intending
to be secreted, approached the boat with a clean ironed shirt on her
arm, bare headed and in her usual working dress, looking good-natured of
course, and as if she were simply conveying the shirt to one of the men
on the boat. The attention of the officer on the watch would not for a
moment be attracted by a custom so common as this. Thus safely on the
boat, the man whose business it was to put this piece of property in the
most safe Underground Rail Road place, if he saw that every thing looked
favorable, would quickly arrange matters without being missed from his
duties. In numerous instances, officers were outwitted in this way.
As to what Susan had seen in the way of hardships, whether in relation
to herself or others, her story was most interesting; but it may here be
passed in order to make room for others. She left one sister, named Mary
Ann Tharagood, who was wanting to come away very much. Susan was a woman
of dark color, round built, medium height, and about forty years of age
when she escaped in 1854.
* * * * *
WILLIAM HENRY ATKINS.
William Henry was also a fellow-passenger on the same boat with William
B. White and Susan Cooke. These might be set down, as first-class
Underground Rail Road travelers.
Henry was a very likely-looking article. He was quite smart, about six
feet high, a dark mulatto, and was owned by a Baptist minister.
For some cause not stated on the books, not long before leaving, Henry
had received a notice from his owner, (the Baptist Minister) that he
might hunt himself a new master as soon as possible. This was a business
that Henry had no relish for. The owner he already had, he concluded bad
enough in all conscience, and it did not occur to him that hunting
another would mend the matter much. So in thinking over the situation,
he was "taken sick." He felt the need of a little time to reflect upon
matters of very weighty moment involving his freedom. So when he was
called upon one day to go to his regular toil, the answer was, "I am
sick, I am not able to budge hardly." The excuse took and Henry attended
faithfully to his "sick business," for the time being, while on the
other hand, the Baptist Minister waited patiently all the while for
William to get well enough for hunting a new master. What had to be
done, needed to be done quickly, before his master's patience was
exhausted. William soon had matters arranged for traveling North. He had
a wife, Eliza, for whom he felt the greatest affection; but as he viewed
matters at that time, he concluded that he could really do more for her
in Canada than he could in Norfolk. He saw no chance, either under the
Baptist minister, or under a new master. His wife was owned by Susan
Langely. When the hour arrived to start, as brave men usually do, Henry,
having counted all the cost, was in his place on the boat with his face
towards Canada.
How he looked at matters on John Bull's side of the house, letters from
Henry will abundantly reveal as follows:
ST. CATHARINES, August 4, 1854.
MY DEAR SIR:--It is with plesure that I now take my pen to
inform you that I am well at present and I hope that these few
lines may find you injoying good health, and will you plese to
be so kind as to send a leter down home for me if you plese to
my wife, the reason that I beg the favor of you I have written
to you several times and never recieve no answer, she don't no
whar I am at I would like her to no, if it is posible elizeran
Actkins, and when you write will you plese to send me all the
news, give my respect to all the fambley and allso to Mr lundey
and his fambley and tell him plese to send me those books if you
plese the first chance you can git. Mrs. Wood sends her love to
Mr. Still answer this as soon as on hand, the boys all send
their love to all, the reason why i sends for a answer write
away i expect to live this and go up west nex mounth not to stay
to git some land, i have no more at present, i remain your
friend.
W.H. ACTKINS.
ST. CATHARINES, C.W., October 5th, 1854.
MR. WILLIAM STILL:--_Dear Friend_:--I take the liberty to
address to you a few lines in behalf of my wife, who is still at
Norfolk, Va. I have heard by my friend Richmond Bohm, who
arrived lately, that she was in the hands of my friend Henry
Lovey (the same who had me in hand at the time I started). I
understood that she was about to make her start this month, and
that she was only waiting for me to send her some means. I would
like for you to communicate the substance of this letter to my
wife, through my friend Henry Lovey, and for her to come on as
soon as she can. I would like to have my wife write to me a few
lines by the first opportunity. She could write to you in
Philadelphia, 31 North Fifth street. I wish to send my love to
you & your family & would like for you to answer this letter
with the least possible delay in the care of Hiram Wilson.
Very respectfully yours,
W.H. ATKINS.
P.S. I would like for my friend Henry Lovey to send my wife
right on to Philadelphia; not to stop for want of means, for I
will forward means on to my friend Wm Still. My love to my
father & mother, my friend Lovey & to all my inquiring friends.
If you cannot find it convenient to write, please forward this
by the Boat. H.W.A.
* * * * *
FOUR ARRIVALS.
CHARLOTTE AND HARRIET ESCAPE IN DEEP MOURNING--MASTER IN THE SAME CAR
HUNTING FOR THEM, SEES THEM, BUT DOES NOT KNOW THEM--WHITE LADY AND
CHILD WITH A COLORED COACHMAN, TRAVELING--AT CHAMBERSBUEG AT A HOTEL,
THE PROPRIETOR DETECTS THEM AS U.G.R.R. PASSENGERS--THREE "LIKELY" YOUNG
MEN FROM BALTIMORE--"FOUR LARGE AND TWO SMALL HAMS"--POLICE OFFICES
IMPARTING INFORMATION AT THE ANTI-SLAVERY OFFICE--U.G.R.R. PASSENGERS
TRAVELING WITH THEIR MASTERS' HORSES AND CARRIAGES--"BREAK
DOWN"--CONFLICT WITH WHITE MEN--SIX PASSENGERS RIDING TWO HORSES, &c.