William is twenty-five years of age, unmistakably colored, good-looking,
rather under the medium size, and of pleasing manners. William had
himself boxed up by a near relative and forwarded by the Erricson line
of steamers. He gave the slip to Robert H. Carr, his owner (a grocer and
commission merchant), after this wise, and for the following reasons:
For some time previous his master had been selling off his slaves every
now and then, the same as other groceries, and this admonished William
that he was liable to be in the market any day; consequently, he
preferred the box to the auction-block.
He did not complain of having been treated very badly by Carr, but felt
that no man was safe while owned by another. In fact, he "hated the very
name of slaveholder." The limit of the box not admitting of
straightening himself out he was taken with the cramp on the road,
suffered indescribable misery, and had his faith taxed to the
utmost,--indeed was brought to the very verge of "screaming aloud" ere
relief came. However, he controlled himself, though only for a short
season, for before a great while an excessive faintness came over him.
Here nature became quite exhausted. He thought he must "die;" but his
time had not yet come. After a severe struggle he revived, but only to
encounter a third ordeal no less painful than the one through which he
had just passed. Next a very "cold chill" came over him, which seemed
almost to freeze the very blood in his veins and gave him intense agony,
from which he only found relief on awaking, having actually fallen
asleep in that condition. Finally, however, he arrived at Philadelphia,
on a steamer, Sabbath morning. A devoted friend of his, expecting him,
engaged a carriage and repaired to the wharf for the box. The bill of
lading and the receipt he had with him, and likewise knew where the box
was located on the boat. Although he well knew freight was not usually
delivered on Sunday, yet his deep solicitude for the safety of his
friend determined him to do all that lay in his power to rescue him from
his perilous situation. Handing his bill of lading to the proper officer
of the boat, he asked if he could get the freight that it called for.
The officer looked at the bill and said, "No, we do not deliver freight
on Sunday;" but, noticing the anxiety of the man, he asked him if he
would know it if he were to see it. Slowly--fearing that too much
interest manifested might excite suspicion--he replied: "I think I
should." Deliberately looking around amongst all the "freight," he
discovered the box, and said, "I think that is it there." Said officer
stepped to it, looked at the directions on it, then at the bill of
lading, and said, "That is right, take it along." Here the interest in
these two bosoms was thrilling in the highest degree. But the size of
the box was too large for the carriage, and the driver refused to take
it. Nearly an hour and a half was spent in looking for a furniture car.
Finally one was procured, and again the box was laid hold of by the
occupant's particular friend, when, to his dread alarm, the poor fellow
within gave a sudden cough. At this startling circumstance he dropped
the box; equally as quick, although dreadfully frightened, and, as if
helped by some invisible agency, he commenced singing, "Hush, my babe,
lie still and slumber," with the most apparent indifference, at the same
time slowly making his way from the box. Soon his fears subsided, and it
was presumed that no one was any the wiser on account of the accident,
or coughing. Thus, after summoning courage, he laid hold of the box a
third time, and the Rubicon was passed. The car driver, totally ignorant
of the contents of the box, drove to the number to which he was directed
to take it--left it and went about his business. Now is a moment of
intense interest--now of inexpressible delight. The box is opened, the
straw removed, and the poor fellow is loosed; and is rejoicing, I will
venture to say, as mortal never did rejoice, who had not been in similar
peril. This particular friend was scarcely less overjoyed, however, and
their joy did not abate for several hours; nor was it confined to
themselves, for two invited members of the Vigilance Committee also
partook of a full share. This box man was named Wm. Jones. He was boxed
up in Baltimore by the friend who received him at the wharf, who did not
come in the boat with him, but came in the cars and met him at the
wharf.
The trial in the box lasted just seventeen hours before victory was
achieved. Jones was well cared for by the Vigilance Committee and sent
on his way rejoicing, feeling that Resolution, Underground Rail Road,
and Liberty were invaluable.
On his way to Canada, he stopped at Albany, and the subjoined letter
gives his view of things from that stand-point--
MR. STILL:--I take this opportunity of writing a few lines to
you hoping that tha may find you in good health and femaly. i am
well at present and doing well at present i am now in a store
and getting sixteen dollars a month at the present. i feel very
much o blige to you and your family for your kindnes to me while
i was with you i have got a long without any trub le a tal. i am
now in albany City. give my lov to mrs and mr miller and tel
them i am very much a blige to them for there kind ns. give my
lov to my Brother nore Jones tel him i should like to here from
him very much and he must write. tel him to give my love to all
of my perticnlar frends and tel them i should like to see them
very much. tel him that he must come to see me for i want to see
him for sum thing very perticler. please ansure this letter as
soon as posabul and excuse me for not writting sooner as i don't
write myself. no more at the present.