Title: The Underground Railroad
Author: William Still
Release date: March 5, 2005 [eBook #15263]
Most recently updated: December 14, 2020
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Amy Overmyer and the PG Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
Thou shall not deliver unto his master the servant that has escaped from his master unto thee.—Deut. xxiii. 16.
SOLD ONLY BY SUBSCRIPTION.
PHILADELPHIA:
PORTER & COATES,
822, CHESTNUT STREET.
1872.
Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1871, by
W.M. STILL,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
* * * * *
Like millions of my race, my mother and father were born slaves, but were not contented to live and die so. My father purchased himself in early manhood by hard toil. Mother saw no way for herself and children to escape the horrors of bondage but by flight. Bravely, with her four little ones, with firm faith in God and an ardent desire to be free, she forsook the prison-house, and succeeded, through the aid of my father, to reach a free State. Here life had to be begun anew. The old familiar slave names had to be changed, and others, for prudential reasons, had to be found. This was not hard work. However, hardly months had passed ere the keen scent of the slave-hunters had trailed them to where they had fancied themselves secure. In those days all power was in the hands of the oppressor, and the capture of a slave mother and her children was attended with no great difficulty other than the crushing of freedom in the breast of the victims. Without judge or jury, all were hurried back to wear the yoke again. But back this mother was resolved never to stay. She only wanted another opportunity to again strike for freedom. In a few months after being carried back, with only two of her little ones, she took her heart in her hand and her babes in her arms, and this trial was a success. Freedom was gained, although not without the sad loss of her two older children, whom she had to leave behind. Mother and father were again reunited in freedom, while two of their little boys were in slavery. What to do for them other than weep and pray, were questions unanswerable. For over forty years the mother's heart never knew what it was to be free from anxiety about her lost boys. But no tidings came in answer to her many prayers, until one of them, to the great astonishment of his relatives, turned up in Philadelphia, nearly fifty years of age, seeking his long-lost parents. Being directed to the Anti-Slavery Office for instructions as to the best plan to adopt to find out the whereabouts of his parents, fortunately he fell into the hands of his own brother, the writer, whom he had never heard of before, much less seen or known. And here began revelations connected with this marvellous coincidence, which influenced me, for years previous to Emancipation, to preserve the matter found in the pages of this humble volume.
And in looking back now over these strange and eventful Providences, in the light of the wonderful changes wrought by Emancipation, I am more and more constrained to believe that the reasons, which years ago led me to aid the bondman and preserve the records of his sufferings, are to-day quite as potent in convincing me that the necessity of the times requires this testimony.
And since the first advent of my book, wherever reviewed or read by leading friends of freedom, the press, or the race more deeply represented by it, the expressions of approval and encouragement have been hearty and unanimous, and the thousands of volumes which have been sold by me, on the subscription plan, with hardly any facilities for the work, makes it obvious that it would, in the hands of a competent publisher, have a wide circulation.
And here I may frankly state, that but for the hope I have always cherished that this work would encourage the race in efforts for self-elevation, its publication never would have been undertaken by me.
I believe no more strongly at this moment than I have believed ever since the Proclamation of Emancipation was made by Abraham Lincoln, that as a class, in this country, no small exertion will have to be put forth before the blessings of freedom and knowledge can be fairly enjoyed by this people; and until colored men manage by dint of hard acquisition to enter the ranks of skilled industry, very little substantial respect will be shown them, even with the ballot-box and musket in their hands.
Well-conducted shops and stores; lands acquired and good farms managed in a manner to compete with any other; valuable books produced and published on interesting and important subjects—these are some of the fruits which the race are expected to exhibit from their newly gained privileges.
If it is asked "how?" I answer, "through extraordinary determination and endeavor," such as are demonstrated in hundreds of cases in the pages of this book, in the struggles of men and women to obtain their freedom, education and property.
These facts must never be lost sight of.
The race must not forget the rock from whence they were hewn, nor the pit from whence, they were digged.
Like other races, this newly emancipated people will need all the knowledge of their past condition which they can get.
The bondage and deliverance of the children of Israel will never be allowed to sink into oblivion while the world stands.
Those scenes of suffering and martyrdom millions of Christians were called upon to pass through in the days of the Inquisition are still subjects of study, and have unabated interest for all enlightened minds.
The same is true of the history of this country. The struggles of the pioneer fathers are preserved, produced and re-produced, and cherished with undying interest by all Americans, and the day will not arrive while the Republic exists, when these histories will not be found in every library.
While the grand little army of abolitionists was waging its untiring warfare for freedom, prior to the rebellion, no agency encouraged them like the heroism of fugitives. The pulse of the four millions of slaves and their desire for freedom, were better felt through "The Underground Railroad," than through any other channel.
Frederick Douglass, Henry Bibb, Wm. Wells Brown, Rev. J.W. Logan, and others, gave unmistakable evidence that the race had no more eloquent advocates than its own self-emancipated champions.
Every step they took to rid themselves of their fetters, or to gain education, or in pleading the cause of their fellow-bondmen in the lecture-room, or with their pens, met with applause on every hand, and the very argument needed was thus furnished in large measure. In those dark days previous to emancipation, such testimony was indispensable.
The free colored men are as imperatively required now to furnish the same manly testimony in support of the ability of the race to surmount the remaining obstacles growing out of oppression, ignorance, and poverty.
In the political struggles, the hopes of the race have been sadly disappointed. From this direction no great advantage is likely to arise very soon.
Only as desert can be proved by the acquisition of knowledge and the exhibition of high moral character, in examples of economy and a disposition to encourage industrial enterprises, conducted by men of their own ranks, will it be possible to make political progress in the face of the present public sentiment.
Here, therefore, in my judgment is the best possible reason for vigorously pushing the circulation of this humble volume—that it may testify for thousands and tens of thousands, as no other work can do.
WILLIAM STILL, Author.
September, 1878. Philadelphia, Pa.
From Thomas Garrett—G.A. Lewis—E.L. Stevens—Sydney Howard Gay—John Henry Hill—J. Bigelowe—Ham and Eggs—Rev. H. Wilson—Sheridan Ford—E.F. Pennypacker—J.C. Bustill—Slave secreted in Richmond—G.S. Nelson—John Thompson—Wm. Penn
Came boxed up viâ Erricson line of Steamers.
Arrived in Male Attire.
Secreted Ten Months—Eight days on the Steamship City of Richmond bound for Philadelphia.
Eye knocked Out.
Hearts full of joy for Freedom—Very anxious for Wives in Slavery.
Sold, the day he escaped, for Fourteen Hundred Dollars—Slave Trader loses his Bargain.
Secreted in the Woods—Escapes in a Steamer.
Young Master had a "Malignant Spirit".
"Two Thousand Dollars Reward" offered.
Daniel Hughes, Thomas Elliott, and five others betrayed into Dover Jail.
A Slave Mother Loses her Speech at the Sale of her Child ... Bob Escapes from his Master, a Trader, with Fifteen Hundred Dollars in North Carolina Money.
Arrived by Adams Express.
Sixty Passengers came in one Month—Twenty-eight in one Arrival—Great Panic and Indignation Meeting—Interesting Correspondence from Masters and Fugitives.
Cordelia Loney, Slave of Mrs. Joseph Cahell, (widow of the late Hon. Joseph Cahell, of Virginia)—Cordelia's Escape from her Mistress in Philadelphia.
Touching Scene on Meeting their Old Blind Father at the U.G.R.R. Depot.
Crossing the River on Horseback in the Night.
Two Passengers viâ Liverpool.
"One Hundred Dollars Reward".
Jefferson Pipkins alias David Jones, Louisa Pipkins, Elizabeth Brit, Harriet Brown, alias Jane Wooton, Gracy Murry alias Sophia Sims, Edward Williams alias Henry Johnson, Charles Lee alias Thomas Bushier.
Henry Anderson, Charles and Margaret Congo, Chaskey Brown, William Henry Washington, James Alfred Frisley, Charles Henry Salter, Stephen Taylor, Charles Brown, Charles H. Hollis, Luther Dorsey.
Jeremiah W. Smith and wife Julia.
James Massey, Perry Henry Trusty, George Rhoads, James Rhoads, George Washington, Sarah Elizabeth Rhoads, and Child, Mary Elizabeth Stephenson.
Carrier of "The National American".
Abram Galloway and Richard Eden—Secreted in a Vessel Loaded with Spirits of Turpentine—Shrouds Prepared to Prevent being Smoked to Death—Abram a Soldier under Father Abraham—Senator of North Carolina.
"One Hundred Dollars Reward" Offered—McHenry and McCulloch Anxious About John.
"Would rather Fight than Eat".
Letter from "J.B."—Letters from E.L. Stevens ... Great Anxiety and Care.
Baby, Little Girl and Husband left Behind—Three Hundred Dollars Reward Offered.
Arrival from the Richmond Daily Dispatch Office—"Uncle Tom's Cabin" turned Sam's Brain—Affecting Letters.
Stephen Amos alias Henry Johnson, Harriet alias Mary Jane Johnson, and their four children, Ann Rebecca, William H., Elizabeth and Mary Ellen.
From Richmond—"Five Hundred Dollars Reward" offered by R.J. Christian.... Grateful letter from Canada.
Arrived per City of Richmond—Letter from Canada containing expressions of Gratitude.
Traveler from Maryland—William was much troubled about his Wife left behind—Letter from Canada.
Ann Johnson and Lavina Woolfley Sold—Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire.
Twenty-one Passengers secreted in Captain Fountain's Boat—Mayor and Posse of Officers on the Boat searching for U.G.R.R. Passengers.
Matilda Mahoney—Dr. J.W. Pennington's Brother and Sons—Great Adventure to deliver a Lover.
Ann Maria Weems alias Joe Wright—Great Triumph—Arrival on Thanksgiving Day—Interesting letters from J. Bigelow.
John Henry, Hezekiah and James Hill.
Archer Barlow, alias Emet Robins—Samuel Bush alias William Oblebee—John Spencer and his son William and James Albert—Robert Fisher—NATHAN HARRIS—Hansel Waples—Rosanna Tonnell, alias Maria Hyde—Mary Ennis alias Licia Hemmit and two Children—Lydia and Louisa Caroline.
"One Thousand Dollars Reward".
Charlotte and Harriet escape in deep Mourning—White Lady and Child with a Colored Coachman—Three likely Young Men from Baltimore—Four large and two Small Hams—U.G.R.R. Passengers Travelling with their Master's Horses and Carriage—Six Passengers on two Horses, &c.
Fleeing from Davis, a Negro Trader—Secreted under a Hotel—Up a Tree—Under a Floor—In a Thicket—On a Steamer.
Jim Bowlegs alias Bill Paul.
Ten Years in the Penitentiary for having a Copy of Uncle Tom's Cabin in his House.
In Love with a Slave—Gets him off to Canada—Follows him—Marriage, &c.
The Escape of a Dentist on the U.G.R.R. &c.
From Loudoun County, Va., Norfolk, Baltimore, Md., Petersburg, Va., &c.
"Two Thousand Six Hundred Dollars Reward" Offered.
Robert McCoy alias William Donar, and Elizabeth Sanders, arrived per steamer.
A Bill providing additional Protection for the Slave Property of Citizens of this Commonwealth.
"One Hundred and Fifty Dollars Reward"—Lear Green.
Cyrus Mitchell alias John Steel, Joshua Handy alias Hambleton Hamby, Charles Button alias William Robinson, Ephraim Hudson alias John Spry, Francis Molock alias Thomas Jackson.
Francis Hilliard and Others.
Thomas Madden.
"I might as well be in the Penitentiary as in Slavery."
John Atkinson.
"He was abuseful".
Harriet Shephard, and her five Children with five other Passengers.
Washington Somlor alias James Moore.
About the 1st of June, 1855—Emory Roberts and others.
Verenea Mercer and others.
James Griffin alias Thomas Brown.
Names of Passengers.
Three Hundred Dollars Reward—"Tom" gone.
Joseph Cornish and others.
Thomas J. Gooseberry and others.
"An Act Respecting Fugitives from Justice, and Persons Escaping from the Services of their Masters."
"Treason at Christiana".
Female Slave in Male Attire, fleeing as a Planter, with her Husband as her Body Servant.
Lewis Cobb and Nancy Brister.
Major Latham, William Wilson, Henry Goram, Wiley Madison, and Andrew Shepherd.
Passed over the U.G.R.R. in the Fall of 1856.
Charles Hall and others.
George Carroll, Randolph Branson, John Clagart and William Royan.
Silas Long and Solomon Light—"The Mother of Twelve Children"—Old Jane Davis.
Fled from Caroline County, Eastern Shore of Maryland, June, 1857.