The Underground Railroad
plantations. Perhaps the master thought the family likeness was rather
too discernible. John believed that on this account all privileges were
denied him, and he resolved to escape. His mother, Harriet, and sister,
Frances, were named as near kin whom he had left behind. John was quite
smart, and looked none the worse for having so much of his master's
blood in his veins. The master was alone to blame for John's escape, as
he passed on his (the master's) color.
ESCAPING WITH MASTER'S CARRIAGES AND HORSES.
HARRIET SHEPHARD, AND HER FIVE CHILDREN, WITH FIVE OTHER PASSENGERS.
One morning about the first of November, in 1855, the sleepy,
slave-holding neighborhood of Chestertown, Maryland, was doubtless
deeply excited on learning that eleven head of slaves, four head of
horses, and two carriages were missing. It is but reasonable to suppose
that the first report must have produced a shock, scarcely less stunning
than an earthquake. Abolitionists, emissaries, and incendiaries were
farther below par than ever. It may be supposed that cursings and
threatenings were breathed out by a deeply agitated community for days
in succession.
Harriet Shephard, the mother of five children, for whom she felt of
course a mother's love, could not bear the thought of having her
offspring compelled to wear the miserable yoke of Slavery, as she had
been compelled to do. By her own personal experience, Harriet could very
well judge what their fate would be when reaching man and womanhood. She
declared that she had never received "kind treatment." It was not on
this account, however, that she was prompted to escape. She was actuated
by a more disinterested motive than this. She was chiefly induced to
make the bold effort to save her children from having to drag the chains
of Slavery as she herself had done.
Anna Maria, Edwin, Eliza Jane, Mary Ann, and John Henry were the names
of the children for whom she was willing to make any sacrifice. They
were young; and unable to walk, and she was penniless, and unable to
hire a conveyance, even if she had known any one who would have been
willing to risk the law in taking them a night's journey. So there was
no hope in these directions. Her rude intellect being considered, she
was entitled to a great deal of credit for seizing the horses and
carriages belonging to her master, as she did it for the liberation of
her children.
Knowing others at the same time, who were wanting to visit Canada, she
consulted with five of this class, males and females, and they mutually
decided to travel together.
It is not likely that they knew much about the roads, nevertheless they
reached Wilmington, Delaware, pretty direct, and ventured up into the
heart of the town in carriages, looking as innocent as if they were
going to meeting to hear an old-fashioned Southern sermon--"Servants,
obey your masters." Of course, the distinguished travelers were
immediately reported to the noted Thomas Garrett, who was accustomed to
transact the affairs of the Underground Rail Road in a cool masterly
way. But, on this occasion, there was but little time for deliberation,
but much need of haste to meet the emergency. He at once decided, that
they must immediately be separated from the horses and carriages, and
got out of Wilmington as quickly as possible. With the courage and
skill, so characteristic of Garrett, the fugitives, under escort, were
soon on their way to Kennett Square (a hot-bed of abolitionists and
stock-holders of the Underground Rail Road), which place they reached
safely. It so happened, that they reached Long Wood meeting-house in the
evening, at which place a fair circle had convened. Being invited, they
stayed awhile in the meeting, then, after remaining all night with one
of the Kennett friends, they were brought to Downingtown early in the
morning and thence, by daylight, within a short distance of Kimberton,
and found succor with friend Lewis, at the old headquarters of the
fugitives.
[A letter may be found from Miss G.A. Lewis, on page thirty-nine,
throwing much light on this arrival]. After receiving friendly aid and
advice while there, they were forwarded to the Committee in
Philadelphia. Here further aid was afforded them, and as danger was
quite obvious, they were completely divided and disguised, so that the
Committee felt that they might safely be sent on to Canada in one of the
regular trains considered most private.
Considering the condition of the slave mother and her children and
friends, all concerned rejoiced, that they had had the courage to use
their master's horses and vehicles as they did.
EIGHT AND A HALF MONTHS SECRETED.
WASHINGTON SOMLOR, ALIAS JAMES MOORE.
But few could tell of having been eye-witnesses to outrages more
revolting and disgraceful than Washington Somlor. He arrived per steamer
Pennsylvania (secreted), directly from Norfolk, Virginia, in 1855. He
was thirty-two years of age--a man of medium size and quite intelligent.
A merchant by the name of Smith owned Washington.
Eight and a half months before escaping, Washington had been secreted in
order to shun both master and auction-block. Smith believed in selling,
flogging, cobbing, paddling, and all other kinds of torture, by which he
could inflict punishment in order to make the slaves feel his power. He
thus tyrannized over about twenty-five head.
Being naturally passionate, when in a brutal mood, he made his slaves
suffer unmercifully. Said Washington, "On one occasion, about two months
before I was secreted, he had five of the slaves (some of them women)
tied across a barrel, lashed with the cow-hide and then cobbed--this was
a common practice."
Such treatment was so inhuman and so incredible, that the Committee
hesitated at first to give credence to the statement, and only yielded
when facts and evidences were given which seemed incontestible.
The first effort to come away was made on the steamship City of
Richmond. Within sixty miles of Philadelphia, in consequence of the ice
obstruction in the river, the steamer had to go back. How sad Washington
felt at thus having his hopes broken to pieces may be imagined but
cannot be described. Great as was his danger, when the steamer returned
to Norfolk, he was safely gotten off the boat and under the eye of
officers walked away. Again he was secreted in his old doleful quarters,
where he waited patiently for the Spring. It came. Again the opportunity
for another trial was presented, and it was seized unhesitatingly. This
time, his tried faith was rewarded with success. He came through safely
to the Committee's satisfaction as well as his own. The recital of his
sufferings and experience had a very inspiring effect on those who had
the pleasure of seeing Wash. in Philadelphia.
Although closely secreted in Norfolk, he had, through friends, some
little communication with the outside world. Among other items of
information which came to his ears, was a report that his master was
being pressed by his creditors, and had all his slaves advertised for
sale. An item still more sad also reached his ear, to the effect that
his wife had been sold away to North Carolina, and thus separated from
her child, two years old. The child was given as a present to a niece of
the master. While this is only a meagre portion of his interesting
story, it was considered at the time sufficient to identify him should
the occasion ever require it. We content ourselves, therefore, simply
with giving what was recorded on the book. Wash. spent a short while in
Philadelphia in order to recruit, after which, he went on North, where
colored men were free.
* * * * *
ARTHUR FOWLER, ALIAS BENJAMIN JOHNSON.
Arthur came from Spring Hill, Maryland. Edward Fowler held Arthur in
fetters and usurped authority over him as his lord and master. Arthur
saw certain signs connected with his master's family which presaged to
him that the day was not far distant, when somebody would have to be
sold to raise money to pamper the appetites of some of the superior
members of the patriarchal institution. Among these provocations were
indulgence in a great deal of extravagance, and the growing up of a
number of young masters and mistresses. Arthur would often look at the
heirs, and the very thought of their coming into possession, would make
him tremble. Nothing so affected Arthur's mind so much in moving him to
make a bold stroke for freedom as these heirs.
Under his old master, the usage had been bad enough, but he feared that
it would be a great deal worse under the sons and daughters. He
therefore wisely concluded to avoid the impending danger by availing
himself of the Underground Rail Road. After completing such arrangements
as he deemed necessary, he started, making his way along pretty
successfully, with the exception of a severe encounter with Jack Frost,
by which his feet were badly bitten. He was not discouraged, however,
but was joyful over his victory and hopeful in view of his prospects in
Canada. Arthur was about thirty years of age, medium size, and of a dark
color. The Committee afforded him needed assistance, and sent him off.
* * * * *
SUNDRY ARRIVALS.
About the 1st of June, 1855, the following arrivals were noted in the
record book:
EMORY ROBERTS, _alias_ WILLIAM KEMP, Talbot Co., Maryland; DANIEL PAYNE,
Richmond, Virginia; HARRIET MAYO, JOHN JUDAH, and RICHARD BRADLEY,
Petersburg and Richmond; JAMES CRUMMILL, SAMUEL JONES, TOLBERT JONES,
and HENRY HOWARD, Haverford Co., Maryland; LEWIS CHILDS, Richmond,
DANIEL BENNETT, _alias_ HENRY WASHINGTON, and wife (MARTHA,) and two
children (GEORGE and a nameless babe).
The road at this time, was doing a fair business, in a quiet way.
Passengers were managing to come, without having to suffer in any very
violent manner, as many had been called upon to do in making similar
efforts. The success attending some of these passengers was partly
attributable to the intelligence of individuals, who, for years, had
been planning and making preparations to effect the end in view.
Besides, the favorableness of the weather tended also to make travel
more pleasant than in colder seasons of the year.
While matters were thus favorable, the long stories of individual
suffering and of practices and customs among young and old masters and
mistresses, were listened to attentively, although the short summer
nights hardly afforded sufficient opportunity for writing out details.
Emory arrived safely from Talbot county. As a slave, he had served
Edward Lloyd. He gave his master the character of treating his slaves
with great severity. The "lash" was freely used "on women as well as
men, old and young." In this kind of property Lloyd had invested to the
extent of "about five hundred head," so Emory thought. Food and clothing
for this large number were dealt out very stintedly, and daily suffering
was the common lot of slaves under Lloyd.
Emory was induced to leave, to avoid a terrible flogging, which had been
promised him for the coming Monday. He was a married man, but exercised
no greater control over his wife than over himself. She was hired on a
neighboring plantation; the way did not seem open for her to accompany
him, so he had to leave her behind. His mother, brothers, and sisters
had to be left also. The ties of kindred usually strong in the breasts
of slaves, were hard for Emory to break, but, by a firm resolution, that
he would not stay on Lloyd's plantation to endure the impending
flogging, he was nerved to surmount every obstacle in the way of
carrying his intention into execution. He came to the Committee hungry
and in want of clothing, and was aided in the usual way.