The Underground Railroad
and would back up any word she might utter. So when she said to them
that "a live runaway could do great harm by going back, but that a dead
one could tell no secrets," she was sure to have obedience. Therefore,
none had to die as traitors on the "middle passage." It is obvious
enough, however, that her success in going into Maryland as she did, was
attributable to her adventurous spirit and utter disregard of
consequences. Her like it is probable was never known before or since.
On examining the six passengers who came by this arrival they were thus
recorded:
December 29th, 1854--John is twenty years of age, chestnut color, of
spare build and smart. He fled from a farmer, by the name of John
Campbell Henry, who resided at Cambridge, Dorchester Co., Maryland. On
being interrogated relative to the character of his master, John gave no
very amiable account of him. He testified that he was a "hard man" and
that he "owned about one hundred and forty slaves and sometimes he would
sell," etc. John was one of the slaves who were "hired out." He "desired
to have the privilege of hunting his own master." His desire was not
granted. Instead of meekly submitting, John felt wronged, and made this
his reason for running away. This looked pretty spirited on the part of
one so young as John. The Committee's respect for him was not a little
increased, when they heard him express himself.
Benjamin was twenty-eight years of age, chestnut color, medium size, and
shrewd. He was the so-called property of Eliza Ann Brodins, who lived
near Buckstown, in Maryland. Ben did not hesitate to say, in unqualified
terms, that his mistress was "very devilish." He considered his charges,
proved by the fact that three slaves (himself one of them) were required
to work hard and fare meagerly, to support his mistress' family in
idleness and luxury. The Committee paid due attention to his ex parte
statement, and was obliged to conclude that his argument, clothed in
common and homely language, was forcible, if not eloquent, and that he
was well worthy of aid. Benjamin left his parents besides one sister,
Mary Ann Williamson, who wanted to come away on the Underground Rail
Road.
Henry left his wife, Harriet Ann, to be known in future by the name of
"Sophia Brown." He was a fellow-servant of Ben's, and one of the
supports of Eliza A. Brodins.
Henry was only twenty-two, but had quite an insight into matters and
things going on among slaves and slave-holders generally, in country
life. He was the father of two small children, whom he had to leave
behind.
Peter was owned by George Wenthrop, a farmer, living near Cambridge, Md.
In answer to the question, how he had been used, he said "hard." Not a
pleasant thought did he entertain respecting his master, save that he
was no longer to demand the sweat of Peter's brow. Peter left parents,
who were free; he was born before they were emancipated, consequently,
he was retained in bondage.
Jane, aged twenty-two, instead of regretting that she had unadvisedly
left a kind mistress and indulgent master, who had afforded her
necessary comforts, affirmed that her master, "Rash Jones, was the worst
man in the country." The Committee were at first disposed to doubt her
sweeping statement, but when they heard particularly how she had been
treated, they thought Catharine had good ground for all that she said.
Personal abuse and hard usage, were the common lot of poor slave girls.
Robert was thirty-five years of age, of a chestnut color, and well made.
His report was similar to that of many others. He had been provided with
plenty of hard drudgery--hewing of wood and drawing of water, and had
hardly been treated as well as a gentleman would treat a dumb brute. His
feelings, therefore, on leaving his old master and home, were those of
an individual who had been unjustly in prison for a dozen years and had
at last regained his liberty.
The civilization, religion, and customs under which Robert and his
companions had been raised, were, he thought, "very wicked." Although
these travelers were all of the field-hand order, they were,
nevertheless, very promising, and they anticipated better days in
Canada. Good advice was proffered them on the subject of temperance,
industry, education, etc. Clothing, food and money were also given them
to meet their wants, and they were sent on their way rejoicing.
ESCAPED FROM "A WORTHLESS SOT."
JOHN ATKINSON.
John was a prisoner of hope under James Ray, of Portsmouth, Va., whom he
declared to be "a worthless sot." This character was fully set forth,
but the description is too disgusting for record. John was a dark
mulatto, thirty-one years of age, well-formed and intelligent. For some
years before escaping he had been in the habit of hiring his time for
$120 per annum. Daily toiling to support his drunken and brutal master,
was a hardship that John felt keenly, but was compelled to submit to up
to the day of his escape.
A part of John's life he had suffered many abuses from his oppressor,
and only a short while before freeing himself, the auction-block was
held up before his troubled mind. This caused him to take the first
daring step towards Canada,--to leave his wife, Mary, without bidding
her good-bye, or saying a word to her as to his intention of fleeing.
John came as a private passenger on one of the Richmond steamers, and
was indebted to the steward of the boat for his accommodations. Having
been received by the Committee, he was cared for and sent on his journey
Canada-ward. There he was happy, found employment and wanted for nothing
but his wife and clothing left in Virginia. On these two points he wrote
several times with considerable feeling.
Some slaves who hired their time in addition to the payment of their
monthly hire, purchased nice clothes for themselves, which they usually
valued highly, so much so, that after escaping they would not be
contented until they had tried every possible scheme to secure them.
They would write back continually, either to their friends in the North
or South, hoping thus to procure them.
Not unfrequently the persons who rendered them assistance in the South,
would be entrusted with all their effects, with the understanding, that
such valuables would be forwarded to a friend or to the Committee at the
earliest opportunity. The Committee strongly protested against fugitives
writing back to the South (through the mails) on account of the
liability of getting parties into danger, as all such letters were
liable to be intercepted in order to the discovery of the names of such
as aided the Underground Rail Road. To render needless this writing to
the South the Committee often submitted to be taxed with demands to
rescue clothing as well as wives, etc., belonging to such as had been
already aided.
The following letters are fair samples of a large number which came to
the Committee touching the matter of clothing, etc.:
ST. CATHARINES, Sept. 4th.
DEAR SIR:--I now embrace this favorable opportunity of writing
you a few lines to inform you that I am quite well and arrived
here safe, and I hope that these few lines may find you and your
family the same. I hope you will intercede for my clothes and as
soon as they come please to send them to me, and if you have not
time, get Dr. Lundy to look out for them, and when they come be
very careful in sending them. I wish you would copy off this
letter and give it to the Steward, and tell him to give it to
Henry Lewy and tell him to give it to my wife. Brother sends his
love to you and all the family and he is overjoyed at seeing me
arrive safe, he can hardly contain himself; also he wants to see
his wife very much, and says when she comes he hopes you will
send her on as soon as possible. Jerry Williams' love, together
with all of us. I had a message for Mr. Lundy, but I forgot it
when I was there. No more at present, but remain your ever
grateful and sincere friend,
JOHN ATKINSON.
ST. CATHARINES, C.W., Oct. 5th, 1854.
MR. WM. STILL:--Dear Sir--I have learned of my friend, Richmond
Bohm, that my clothes were in Philadelphia. Will you have the
kindness to see Dr. Lundy and if he has my clothes in charge, or
knows about them, for him to send them on to me immediately, as
I am in great need of them. I would like to have them put in a
small box, and the overcoat I left at your house to be put in
the box with them, to be sent to the care of my friend, Hiram
Wilson. On receipt of this letter, I desire you to write a few
lines to my wife, Mary Atkins, in the care of my friend, Henry
Lowey, stating that I am well and hearty and hoping that she is
the same. Please tell her to remember my love to her mother and
her cousin, Emelin, and her husband, and Thomas Hunter; also to
my father and mother. Please request her to write to me
immediately, for her to be of good courage, that I love her
better than ever. I would like her to come on as soon as she
can, but for her to write and let me know when she is going to
start.
Affectionately Yours,
JOHN ATKINS.
W.H. ATKINSON, Fugitive, Oct., 1854.
* * * * *
WILLIAM BUTCHER, ALIAS WILLIAM T. MITCHELL.
"HE WAS ABUSEFUL."
This passenger reported himself from Massey's Cross-Roads, near
Georgetown, Maryland. William gave as his reason for being found
destitute, and under the necessity of asking aid, that a man by the name
of William Boyer, who followed farming, had deprived him of his hard
earnings, and also claimed him as his property; and withal that he had
abused him for years, and recently had "threatened to sell" him. This
threat made his yoke too intolerable to be borne.
He here began to think and plan for the future as he had never done
before. Fortunately he was possessed with more than an average amount of
mother wit, and he soon comprehended the requirements of the Underground
Rail Road. He saw exactly that he must have resolution and
self-dependence, very decided, in order to gain the victory over Boyer.
In his hour of trial his wife, Phillis, and child, John Wesley, who were
free, caused him much anxiety; but his reason taught him that it was his
duty to throw off the yoke at all hazards, and he acted accordingly. Of
course he left behind his wife and child. The interview which the
Committee held with William was quite satisfactory, and he was duly
aided and regularly despatched by the name of William T. Mitchell. He
was about twenty-eight years of age, of medium size, and of quite a dark
hue.
"WHITE ENOUGH TO PASS."
John Wesley Gibson represented himself to be not only the slave, but
also the son of William Y. Day, of Taylor's Mount, Maryland. The
faintest shade of colored blood was hardly discernible in this
passenger. He relied wholly on his father's white blood to secure him
freedom. Having resolved to serve no longer as a slave, he concluded to
"hold up his head and put on airs." He reached Baltimore safely without
being discovered or suspected of being on the Underground Rail Road, as
far as he was aware of. Here he tried for the first time to pass for
white; the attempt proved a success beyond his expectation. Indeed he
could but wonder how it was that he had never before hit upon such an
expedient to rid himself of his unhappy lot. Although a man of only
twenty-eight years of age, he was foreman of his master's farm, but he
was not particularly favored in any way on this account. His master and
father endeavored to hold the reins very tightly upon him. Not even
allowing him the privilege of visiting around on neighboring