THE AUCTION BLOCK IS DEFEATED AND A SLAVE TRADER LOSES FOURTEEN HUNDRED
DOLLARS.
In November, 1853, in the twentieth year of his age, Camp was held to
"service or labor" in the City of Richmond, Va., by Dr. K. Clark. Being
uncommonly smart and quite good-looking at the same time, he was a
saleable piece of merchandise. Without consulting his view of the matter
or making the least intimation of any change, the master one day struck
up a bargain with a trader for Joseph, and received _Fourteen Hundred
Dollars cash_ in consideration thereof. Mr. Robert Parrett, of Parson &
King's Express office, happened to have a knowledge of what had
transpired, and thinking pretty well of Joseph, confidentially put him
in full possession of all the facts in the case. For reflection he
hardly had five minutes. But he at once resolved to strike that day for
freedom--not to go home that evening to be delivered into the hands of
his new master. In putting into execution his bold resolve, he secreted
himself, and so remained for three weeks. In the meantime his mother,
who was a slave, resolved to escape also, but after one week's gloomy
foreboding, she became "faint-hearted and gave the struggle over." But
Joseph did not know what surrender meant. His sole thought was to
procure a ticket on the U.G.R.R. for Canada, which by persistent effort
he succeeded in doing. He hid himself in a steamer, and by this way
reached Philadelphia, where he received every accommodation at the usual
depot, was provided with a free ticket, and sent off rejoicing for
Canada. The unfortunate mother was "detected and sold South."
* * * * *