The Underground Railroad
this state of mind he concluded that nothing would afford him more
pleasure before leaving, than to spend his last hours at the wash house,
"under the floor." To this place he went with no fear of hunters before
his eyes. Charles had scarcely been three hours in this place, however,
before three officers came in search of him. Two of them talked with
Isabella, asked her about her "boarders," etc.; in the meanwhile, one of
them uninvited, made his way up stairs. It so happened, that Charles was
in this very portion of the house. His case now seemed more hopeless
than ever. The officer up stairs was separated from him simply by a thin
curtain. Women's garments hung all around. Instead of fainting or
surrendering, in the twinkling of an eye, Charles' inventive intellect,
led him to enrobe himself in female attire. Here, to use his own
language, a "thousand thoughts" rushed into his mind in a minute. The
next instant he was going down stairs in the presence of the officers,
his old calico dress, bonnet and rig, attracting no further attention
than simply to elicit the following simple questions: "Whose gal are
you?" "Mr. Cockling's, sir." "What is your name?" "Delie, sir." "Go on
then!" said one of the officers, and on Charles went to avail himself of
the passage on the steamer which his mother had procured for him for the
sum of thirty dollars.
In due time, he succeeded in getting on the steamer, but he soon
learned, that her course was not direct to Philadelphia, but that some
stay would be made in Norfolk, Va. Although disappointed, yet this being
a step in the right direction, he made up his mind to be patient. He was
delayed in Norfolk four weeks. From the time Charles first escaped, his
owner (Davis the negro trader), had kept a standing reward of $550
advertised for his recovery. This showed that Davis was willing to risk
heavy expenses for Charles as well as gave evidence that he believed him
still secreted either about Richmond, Petersburg, or Old Point Comfort.
In this belief he was not far from being correct, for Charles spent most
of his time in either of these three places, from the day of his escape
until the day that he finally embarked. At last, the long looked-for
hour arrived to start for Philadelphia.
He was to leave his mother, with no hope of ever seeing her again, but
she had purchased herself and was called free. Her name was Margaret
Johnson. Three brothers likewise were ever in his thoughts, (in chains),
"Henry," "Bill," and "Sam," (half brothers). But after all the hope of
freedom outweighed every other consideration, and he was prepared to
give up all for liberty. To die rather than remain a slave was his
resolve.
Charles arrived per steamer, from Norfolk, on the 11th day of November,
1854. The Richmond papers bear witness to the fact, that Benjamin Davis
advertised Charles Gilbert, for mouths prior to this date, as has been
stated in this narrative. As to the correctness of the story, all that
the writer has to say is, that he took it down from the lips of Charles,
hurriedly, directly after his arrival, with no thought of magnifying a
single incident. On the contrary, much that was of interest in the story
had to be omitted. Instead of being overdrawn, not half of the
particulars were recorded. Had the idea then been entertained, that the
narrative of this young slave-warrior was to be brought to light in the
manner and time that it now is, a far more thrilling account of his
adventures might have been written. Other colored men who knew both
Davis and Charles, as well as one man ordinarily knows another, rejoiced
at seeing Charles in Philadelphia, and they listened with perfect faith
to his story. So marvellous were the incidents of his escape, that his
sufferings in Slavery, previous to his heroic struggles to throw off the
yoke, were among the facts omitted from the records. While this may be
regretted it is, nevertheless, gratifying on the whole to have so good
an account of him as was preserved. It is needless to say, that the
Committee took especial pleasure in aiding him, and listening to so
remarkable a story narrated so intelligently by one who had been a
slave.
* * * * *
LIBERTY OR DEATH.
JIM BOW-LEGS, _alias_ BILL PAUL.
In 1855 a traveler arrived with the above name, who, on examination, was
found to possess very extraordinary characteristics. As a hero and
adventurer some passages of his history were most remarkable. His
schooling had been such as could only be gathered on plantations under
brutal overseers;--or while fleeing,--or in swamps,--in prisons,--or on
the auction-block, etc.; in which condition he was often found.
Nevertheless in these circumstances his mind got well stored with
vigorous thoughts--neither books nor friendly advisers being at his
command. Yet his native intelligence as it regarded human nature, was
extraordinary. His resolution and perseverance never faltered. In all
respects he was a remarkable man. He was a young man, weighing about one
hundred and eighty pounds, of uncommon muscular strength. He was born in
the State of Georgia, Oglethorpe county, and was owned by Dr. Thomas
Stephens, of Lexington. On reaching the Vigilance Committee in
Philadelphia, his story was told many times over to one and another.
Hour after hour was occupied by friends in listening to the simple
narrative of his struggles for freedom. A very full account of "Jim,"
was forwarded in a letter to M.A. Shadd, the then Editress of the
"Provincial Freeman." Said account has been carefully preserved, and is
here annexed as it appeared in the columns of the above named paper:
"I must now pass to a third adventurer. The one to whom I
allude, is a young man of twenty-six years of age, by the name
of 'Jim,' who fled from near Charleston, S.C. Taking all the
facts and circumstances into consideration respecting the
courageous career of this successful adventurer for freedom, his
case is by far more interesting than any I have yet referred to.
Indeed, for the good of the cause, and the honor of one who
gained his liberty by periling his life so frequently:--shot
several times,--making six unsuccessful attempts to escape from
the far South,--numberless times chased by
bloodhounds,--captured, imprisoned and sold repeatedly,--living
for months in the woods, swamps and caves, subsisting mainly on
parched corn and berries, &c., &c., his narrative ought, by all
means, to be published, though I doubt very much whether many
could be found who could persuade themselves to believe
one-tenth part of this marvellous story.
Though this poor Fugitive was utterly ignorant of letters, his
natural good sense and keen perception qualified him to arrest
the attention and interest the heart in a most remarkable
degree.
His master finding him not available, on account of his
absconding propensities, would gladly have offered him for sale.
He was once taken to Florida, for that purpose; but, generally,
traders being wide awake, on inspecting him, would almost
invariably pronounce him a 'd----n rascal,' because he would
never fail to eye them sternly, as they inspected him. The
obedient and submissive slave is always recognized by hanging
his head and looking on the ground, when looked at by a
slave-holder. This lesson Jim had never learned, hence he was
not to be trusted.
His head and chest, and indeed his entire structure, as solid as
a rock, indicated that he was physically no ordinary man; and
not being under the influence of the spirit of "non-resistance,"
he had occasionally been found to be a rather formidable
customer.
His father was a full-blooded Indian, brother to the noted
Indian Chief, Billy Bowlegs; his mother was quite black and of
unmixed blood.
For five or six years, the greater part of Jim's time was
occupied in trying to escape, and in being in prison for sale,
to punish him for running away.
His mechanical genius was excellent, so were his geographical
abilities. He could make shoes or do carpenter's work very
handily, though he had never had the chance to learn. As to
traveling by night or day, he was always road-ready and having
an uncommon memory, could give exceedingly good accounts of what
he saw, etc.
When he entered a swamp, and had occasion to take a nap he took
care first to decide upon the posture he must take, so that if
come upon unexpectedly by the hounds and slave-hunters, he might
know in an instant which way to steer to defeat them. He always
carried a liquid, which he had prepared, to prevent hounds from
scenting him, which he said had never failed. As soon as the
hounds came to the place where he had rubbed his legs and feet
with said liquid, they could follow him no further, but howled
and turned immediately.
Quite a large number of the friends of the slave saw this
noble-hearted fugitive, and would sit long and listen with the
most undivided attention to his narrative--none doubting for a
moment, I think, the entire truthfulness of his story. Strange
as his story was, there was so much natural simplicity in his
manner and countenance, one could not refrain from believing
him."
* * * * *
SALT-WATER FUGITIVE.
This was an exceptional case, as this passenger did not reach the
Vigilance Committee of Philadelphia, yet to exclude him on this account,
would be doing an injustice to history.
The facts in his case were incontestably established in the Philadelphia
Register in April, 1854, from which the following thrilling account is
taken:
The steamship, Keystone State, which arrived at this port on
Saturday morning, had just entered Delaware Bay, when a man was
discovered secreted outside of the vessel and under the guards.
When brought from his hiding-place, he was found to be a
Fugitive Slave, who had secreted himself there before the vessel
left Savannah on Wednesday, and had remained in that place from
the time of starting!
His position was such, that the water swept over and around him
almost constantly. He had some bread in his pocket, which he had
intended for subsistence until he could reach a land of liberty.
It was saturated with sea-water and dissolved to a pulp.
When our readers remember the high winds of Friday, and the
sudden change to cold during that night, and the fact that the
fugitive had remained in that situation for three days and
nights, we think it will be conceded that he fully earned his
liberty, and that the "institution," which was so intolerable
that he was willing to run the risk of almost certain death to
escape from it had no very great attractions for him. But the
poor man was doomed to disappointment. The captain ordered the
vessel to put into Newcastle, where, the fugitive, hardly able
to stand, was taken on shore and incarcerated, and where he now
awaits the order of his owner in Savannah. The following
additional particulars are from the same paper of the 21st.
The Keystone State case.--Our article yesterday morning brought
us several letters of inquiry and offers of contributions to aid
in the purchase from his master of the unfortunate inmate of
Newcastle jail. In answer to the former, we would say, that the
steamer Keystone State, left Savannah, at 9 A.M., last
Wednesday. It was about the same hour next morning that the men
engaged in heaving lead, heard a voice from under the guards