A SLAVE MOTHER LOSES HER SPEECH AT THE SALE OF HER CHILD--BOB ESCAPES
FROM HIS MASTER, A TRADER, WITH $1500 IN NORTH CAROLINA MONEY.
Mary fled from Petersburg and the Robinsons from Richmond. A fugitive
slave law-breaking captain by the name of B., who owned a schooner, and
would bring any kind of freight that would pay the most, was the
conductor in this instance. Quite a number of passengers at different
times availed themselves of his accommodations and thus succeeded in
reaching Canada.
His risk was very great. On this account he claimed, as did certain
others, that it was no more than fair to charge for his services--indeed
he did not profess to bring persons for nothing, except in rare
instances. In this matter the Committee did not feel disposed to
interfere directly in any way, further than to suggest that whatever
understanding was agreed upon by the parties themselves should be
faithfully adhered to.
Many slaves in cities could raise, "by hook or by crook," fifty or one
hundred dollars to pay for a passage, providing they could find one who
was willing to risk aiding them. Thus, while the Vigilance Committee of
Philadelphia especially neither charged nor accepted anything for their
services, it was not to be expected that any of the Southern agents
could afford to do likewise.
The husband of Mary had for a long time wanted his own freedom, but did
not feel that he could go without his wife; in fact, he resolved to get
her off first, then to try and escape himself, if possible. The first
essential step towards success, he considered, was to save his money and
make it an object to the captain to help him. So when he had managed to
lay by one hundred dollars, he willingly offered this sum to Captain B.,
if he would engage to deliver his wife into the hands of the Vigilance
Committee of Philadelphia. The captain agreed to the terms and fulfilled
his engagement to the letter. About the 1st of March, 1855, Mary was
presented to the Vigilance Committee. She was of agreeable manners,
about forty-five years of age, dark complexion, round built, and
intelligent. She had been the mother of fifteen children, four of whom
had been sold away from her; one was still held in slavery in
Petersburg; the others were all dead.
At the sale of one of her children she was so affected with grief that
she was thrown into violent convulsions, which caused the loss of her
speech for one entire month. But this little episode was not a matter to
excite sympathy in the breasts of the highly refined and tender-hearted
Christian mothers of Petersburg. In the mercy of Providence, however,
her reason and strength returned.
She had formerly belonged to the late Littleton Reeves, whom she
represented as having been "kind" to her, much more so than her mistress
(Mrs. Reeves). Said Mary, "She being of a jealous disposition, caused me
to be hired out with a hard family, where I was much abused, frequently
flogged, and stinted for food," etc.
But the sweets of freedom in the care of the Vigilance Committee now
delighted her mind, and the hope that her husband would soon follow her
to Canada, inspired her with expectations that she would one day "sit
under her own vine and fig tree where none dared to molest or make her
afraid."
The Committee rendered her the usual assistance, and in due time,
forwarded her on to Queen Victoria's free land in Canada. On her arrival
she wrote back as follows--
TORONTO, March 14th, 1855.
DEAR MR. STILL:--I take this opportunity of addressing you with
these few lines to inform you that I arrived here to-day, and
hope that this may find yourself and Mrs. Still well, as this
leaves me at the present. I will also say to you, that I had no
difficulty in getting along. the two young men that was with me
left me at Suspension Bridge. they went another way.
I cannot say much about the place as I have ben here but a short
time but so far as I have seen I like very well. you will give
my Respect to your lady, & Mr & Mrs Brown. If you have not
written to Petersburg you will please to write as soon as can I
have nothing More to Write at present but yours Respectfully
EMMA BROWN (old name MARY EPPS).
Now, Joseph and Robert (Mary's associate passengers from Richmond) must
here be noticed. Joseph was of a dark orange color, medium size, very
active and intelligent, and doubtless, well understood the art of
behaving himself. He was well acquainted with the auction block--having
been sold three times, and had had the misfortune to fall into the hands
of a cruel master each time. Under these circumstances he had had but
few privileges. Sundays and week days alike he was kept pretty severely
bent down to duty. He had been beaten and knocked around shamefully. He
had a wife, and spoke of her in most endearing language, although, on
leaving, he did not feel at liberty to apprise her of his movements,
"fearing that it would not be safe so to do." His four little children,
to whom he appeared warmly attached, he left as he did his wife--in
Slavery. He declared that he "stuck to them as long as he could." George
E. Sadler, the keeper of an oyster house, held the deed for "Joe," and a
most heartless wretch he was in Joe's estimation. The truth was, Joe
could not stand the burdens and abuses which Sadler was inclined to heap
upon him. So he concluded to join his brother and go off on the U.G.R.R.
Robert, his younger brother, was owned by Robert Slater, Esq., a regular
negro trader. Eight years this slave's duties had been at the slave
prison, and among other daily offices he had to attend to, was to lock
up the prison, prepare the slaves for sale, etc. Robert was a very
intelligent young man, and from long and daily experience with the
customs and usages of the slave prison, he was as familiar with the
business as a Pennsylvania farmer with his barn-yard stock. His account
of things was too harrowing for detail here, except in the briefest
manner, and that only with reference to a few particulars. In order to
prepare slaves for the market, it was usual to have them greased and
rubbed to make them look bright and shining. And he went on further to
state, that "females as well as males were not uncommonly stripped
naked, lashed flat to a bench, and then held by two men, sometimes four,
while the brutal trader would strap them with a broad leather strap."
The strap being preferred to the cow-hide, as it would not break the
skin, and damage the sale. "One hundred lashes would only be a common
flogging." The separation of families was thought nothing of. "Often I
have been flogged for refusing to flog others." While not yet
twenty-three years of age, Robert expressed himself as having become so
daily sick of the brutality and suffering he could not help witnessing,
that he felt he could not possibly stand it any longer, let the cost be
what it might. In this state of mind he met with Captain B. Only one
obstacle stood in his way--material aid. It occurred to Robert that he
had frequent access to the money drawer, and often it contained the
proceeds of fresh sales of flesh and blood; and he reasoned that if some
of that would help him and his brother to freedom, there could be no
harm in helping himself the first opportunity.
The captain was all ready, and provided he could get three passengers at
$100 each he would set sail without much other freight. Of course he was
too shrewd to get out papers for Philadelphia. That would betray him at
once. Washington or Baltimore, or even Wilmington, Del., were names
which stood fair in the eyes of Virginia. Consequently, being able to
pack the fugitives away in a very private hole of his boat, and being
only bound for a Southern port, the captain was willing to risk his
share of the danger. "Very well," said Robert, "to-day I will please my
master so well, that I will catch him at an unguarded moment, and will
ask him for a pass to go to a ball to-night (slave-holders love to see
their slaves fiddling and dancing of nights), and as I shall be leaving
in a hurry, I will take a grab from the day's sale, and when Slater
hears of me again, I will be in Canada." So after having attended to all
his disagreeable duties, he made his "grab," and got a hand full. He did
not know, however, how it would hold out. That evening, instead of
participating with the gay dancers, he was just one degree lower down
than the regular bottom of Captain B's. deck, with several hundred
dollars in his pocket, after paying the worthy captain one hundred each
for himself and his brother, besides making the captain an additional
present of nearly one hundred. Wind and tide were now what they prayed
for to speed on the U.G.R.R. schooner, until they might reach the depot
at Philadelphia.
The Richmond _Dispatch_, an enterprising paper in the interest of
slaveholders, which came daily to the Committee, was received in advance
of the passengers, when lo! and behold, in turning to the interesting
column containing the elegant illustrations of "runaway negroes," it was
seen that the unfortunate Slater had "lost $1500 in North Carolina
money, and also his dark orange-colored, intelligent, and good-looking
turnkey, Bob." "Served him right, it is no stealing for one piece of
property to go off with another piece," reasoned a member of the
Committee.
In a couple of days after the Dispatch brought the news, the three
U.G.R.R. passengers were safely landed at the usual place, and so
accurate were the descriptions in the paper, that, on first seeing them,
the Committee recognized them instantly, and, without any previous
ceremonies, read to them the advertisement relative to the "$1500 in
N.C. money, &c.," and put the question to them direct: "Are you the
ones?" "We are," they owned up without hesitation. The Committee did not
see a dollar of their money, but understood they had about $900, after
paying the captain; while Bob considered he made a "very good grab," he
did not admit that the amount advertised was correct. After a reasonable
time for recruiting, having been so long in the hole of the vessel, they
took their departure for Canada.
From Joseph, the elder brother, is appended a short letter, announcing
their arrival and condition under the British Lion--
SAINT CATHARINE, April 16, 1855.
MR. WILLIAM STILL, DEAR SIR:--Your letter of date April 7th I
have just got, it had been opened before it came to me. I have
not received any other letter from you and can get no account of
them in the Post Office in this place, I am well and have got a
good situation in this city and intend staying here. I should be
very glad to hear from you as soon as convenient and also from
all of my friends near you. My Brother is also at work with me
and doing well.
There is nothing here that would interest you in the way of
news. There is a Masonic Lodge of our people and two churches
and societys here and some other institutions for our benefit.
Be kind enough to send a few lines to the Lady spoken of for
that mocking bird and much oblige me. Write me soon and believe
me your obedient Serv't