This candidate for Canada had the good fortune to escape the clutches of
his mistress, Mrs. Elvina Duncans, widow of the late Rev. James Duncans,
who lived near Cumberland, Md. He had very serious complaints to allege
against his mistress, "who was a member of the Presbyterian Church." To
use his own language, "the servants in the house were treated worse than
dogs." John was thirty-two years of age, dark chestnut color, well made,
prepossessing in appearance, and he "fled to keep from being sold." With
the Underground Rail Road he was "highly delighted." Nor was he less
pleased with the thought, that he had caused his mistress, who was "one
of the worst women who ever lived," to lose twelve hundred dollars by
him. He escaped in March, 1857. He did not admit that he loved slavery
any the better for the reason that his master was a preacher, or that
his mistress was the wife of a preacher. Although a common farm hand,
Samuel had common sense, and for a long time previous had been watching
closely the conduct of his mistress, and at the same time had been
laying his plans for escaping on the Underground Rail Road the first
chance.
$100 REWARD!--My negro man Richard has been missing since Sunday
night, March 22d. I will give $100 to any one who will secure
him or deliver him to me. Richard is thirty years old, but looks
older; very short legs, dark, but rather bright color, broad
cheek bones, a respectful and serious manner, generally looks
away when spoken to, small moustache and beard (but he may have
them off). He is a remarkably intelligent man, and can turn his
hand to anything. He took with him a bag made of Brussels
carpet, with my name written in large, rough letters on the
bottom, and a good stock of coarse and fine clothes, among them
a navy cap and a low-crowned hat. He has been seen about New
Kent C.H., and on the Pamunky river, and is no doubt trying to
get off in some vessel bound North.
[Illustration: ]
April 18th, 1857.
J.W. RANDOLPH, Richmond, Va.
Even at this late date, it may perhaps afford Mr. R. a degree of
satisfaction to know what became of Richard; but if this should
not be the case, Richard's children, or mother, or father, if
they are living, may possibly see these pages, and thereby be
made glad by learning of Richard's wisdom as a traveler, in the
terrible days of slave-hunting. Consequently here is what was
recorded of him, April 3d, 1857, at the Underground Rail Road
Station, just before a free ticket was tendered him for Canada.
"Richard is thirty-three years of age, small of stature, dark
color, smart and resolute. He was owned by Captain Tucker, of
the United States Navy, from whom he fled." He was "tired of
serving, and wanted to marry," was the cause of his escape. He
had no complaint of bad treatment to make against his owner;
indeed he said, that he had been "used well all his life."
Nevertheless, Richard felt that this Underground Rail Road was
the "greatest road he ever saw."
When the war broke out, Richard girded on his knapsack and went
to help Uncle Sam humble Richmond and break the yoke.
* * * * *
BARNABY GRIGBY, ALIAS JOHN BOYER, AND MARY ELIZABETH, HIS WIFE; FRANK
WANZER, ALIAS ROBERT SCOTT; EMILY FOSTER, ALIAS ANN WOOD.
(TWO OTHERS WHO STARTED WITH THEM WERE CAPTURED.)
All these persons journeyed together from Loudon Co., Va. on horseback
and in a carriage for more than one hundred miles. Availing themselves
of a holiday and their master's horses and carriage, they as
deliberately started for Canada, as though they had never been taught
that it was their duty, as servants, to "obey their masters." In this
particular showing a most utter disregard of the interest of their
"kind-hearted and indulgent owners." They left home on Monday, Christmas
Eve, 1855, under the leadership of Frank Wanzer, and arrived in Columbia
the following Wednesday at one o'clock. As willfully as they had thus
made their way along, they had not found it smooth sailing by any means.
The biting frost and snow rendered their travel anything but agreeable.
Nor did they escape the gnawings of hunger, traveling day and night. And
whilst these "articles" were in the very act of running away with
themselves and their kind master's best horses and carriage--when about
one hundred miles from home, in the neighborhood of Cheat river,
Maryland, they were attacked by "six white men, and a boy," who,
doubtless, supposing that their intentions were of a "wicked and
unlawful character" felt it to be their duty in kindness to their
masters, if not to the travelers to demand of them an account of
themselves. In other words, the assailants positively commanded the
fugitives to "show what right" they possessed, to be found in a
condition apparently so unwarranted.
The _spokesman_ amongst the fugitives, affecting no ordinary amount of
dignity, told their assailants plainly, that "no gentleman would
interfere with persons riding along civilly"--not allowing it to be
supposed that they were slaves, of course. These "gentlemen," however,
were not willing to accept this account of the travelers, as their very
decided steps indicated. Having the law on their side, they were for
compelling the fugitives to surrender without further parley.
At this juncture, the fugitives verily believing that the time had
arrived for the practical use of their pistols and dirks, pulled them
out of their concealment--the young women as well as the young men--and
declared they would not be "taken!" One of the white men raised his gun,
pointing the muzzle directly towards one of the young women, with the
threat that he would "shoot," etc. "Shoot! shoot!! shoot!!!" she
exclaimed, with a double barrelled pistol in one hand and a long dirk
knife in the other, utterly unterrified and fully ready for a death
struggle. The male _leader_ of the fugitives by this time had "pulled
back the hammers" of his "pistols," and was about to fire! Their
adversaries seeing the weapons, and the unflinching determination on the
part of the _runaways_ to stand their ground, "spill blood, kill, or
die," rather than be "taken," very prudently "sidled over to the other
side of the road," leaving at least four of the victors to travel on
their way.
At this moment the four in the carriage lost sight of the two on
horseback. Soon after the separation they heard firing, but what the
result was, they knew not. They were fearful, however, that their
companions had been captured.
The following paragraph, which was shortly afterwards taken from a
Southern paper, leaves no room to doubt, as to the fate of the two.
Six fugitive slaves from Virginia were arrested at the Maryland
line, near Hood's Mill, on Christmas day, but, after a severe
fight, four of them escaped and have not since been heard of.
They came from Loudoun and Fauquier counties.
[Illustration: ]
Though the four who were successful, saw no "severe fight," it is not
unreasonable to suppose, that there was a fight, nevertheless; but not
till after the number of the fugitives had been reduced to two, instead
of six. As chivalrous as slave-holders and slave-catchers were, they
knew the value of their precious lives and the fearful risk of
attempting a capture, when the numbers were equal.
The party in the carriage, after the conflict, went on their way
rejoicing.
The young men, one cold night, when they were compelled to take rest in
the woods and snow, in vain strove to keep the feet of their female
companions from freezing by lying on them; but the frost was merciless
and bit them severely, as their feet very plainly showed. The following
disjointed report was cut from the _Frederick (Md.) Examiner_, soon
after the occurrence took place:
"Six slaves, four men and two women, fugitives from Virginia,
having with them two spring wagons and four horses, came to
Hood's Mill, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, near the
dividing line between Frederick and Carroll counties, on
Christmas day. After feeding their animals, one of them told a
Mr. Dixon whence they came; believing them to be fugitives, he
spread the alarm, and some eight or ten persons gathered round
to arrest them; but the negroes drawing revolvers and
bowie-knives, kept their assailants at bay, until five of the
party succeeded in escaping in one of the wagons, and as the
last one jumped on a horse to flee, he was fired at, the load
taking effect in the small of the back. The prisoner says he
belongs to Charles W. Simpson, Esq., of Fauquier county, Va.,
and ran away with the others on the preceding evening."
This report from the _Examiner_, while it is not wholly correct,
evidently relates to the fugitives above described. Why the reporter
made such glaring mistakes, may be accounted for on the ground that the
bold stand made by the fugitives was so bewildering and alarming, that
the "assailants" were not in a proper condition to make correct
statements. Nevertheless the _Examiner's_ report was preserved with
other records, and is here given for what it is worth.
These victors were individually noted on the Record thus: Barnaby was
owned by William Rogers, a farmer, who was considered a "moderate
slaveholder," although of late "addicted to intemperance." He was the
owner of about one "dozen head of slaves," and had besides a wife and
two children.
Barnaby's chances for making extra "change" for himself were never
favorable; sometimes of "nights" he would manage to earn a "trifle." He
was prompted to escape because he "wanted to live by the sweat of his
own brow," believing that all men ought so to live. This was the only
reason he gave for fleeing.
Mary Elizabeth had been owned by Townsend McVee (likewise a farmer), and
in Mary's judgment, he was "severe," but she added, "his wife made him
so." McVee owned about twenty-five slaves; "he hardly allowed them to
talk--would not allow them to raise chickens," and "only allowed Mary
three dresses a year;" the rest she had to get as she could. Sometimes
McVee would sell slaves--last year he sold two. Mary said that she could
not say anything good of her mistress. On the contrary, she declared
that her mistress "knew no mercy nor showed any favor."
It was on account of this "domineering spirit," that Mary was induced to
escape.
Frank was owned by Luther Sullivan, "the meanest man in Virginia," he
said; he treated his people just as bad as he could in every respect.
"Sullivan," added Frank, "would 'lowance the slaves and stint them to
save food and get rich," and "would sell and whip," etc. To Frank's
knowledge, he had sold some twenty-five head. "He sold my mother and her
two children to Georgia some four years previous." But the motive which
hurried Frank to make his flight was his laboring under the apprehension
that his master had some "pretty heavy creditors who might come on him
at any time." Frank, therefore, wanted to be from home in Canada when
these gentry should make their visit. My poor mother has been often
flogged by master, said Frank. As to his mistress, he said she was
"tolerably good."
Ann Wood was owned by McVee also, and was own sister to Elizabeth. Ann
very fully sustained her sister Elizabeth's statement respecting the
character of her master.
The above-mentioned four, were all young and likely. Barnaby was
twenty-six years of age, mulatto, medium size, and intelligent--his wife
was about twenty-four years of age, quite dark, good-looking, and of
pleasant appearance. Frank was twenty-five years of age, mulatto, and
very smart; Ann was twenty-two, good-looking, and smart. After their
pressing wants had been met by the Vigilance Committee, and after
partial recuperation from their hard travel, etc., they were forwarded
on to the Vigilance Committee in New York. In Syracuse, Frank (the
leader), who was engaged to Emily, concluded that the knot might as well
be tied on the U.G.R.R., although penniless, as to delay the matter a
single day longer. Doubtless, the bravery, struggles, and trials of
Emily throughout the journey, had, in his estimation, added not a little
to her charms. Thus after consulting with her on the matter, her
approval was soon obtained, she being too prudent and wise to refuse the
hand of one who had proved himself so true a friend to Freedom, as well
as so devoted to her. The twain were accordingly made one at the
U.G.R.R. Station, in Syracuse, by Superintendent--Rev. J.W. Loguen.
After this joyful event, they proceeded to Toronto, and were there
gladly received by the Ladies' Society for aiding colored refugees.
The following letter from Mrs. Agnes Willis, wife of the distinguished
Rev. Dr. Willis, brought the gratifying intelligence that these brave
young adventurers, fell into the hands of distinguished characters and
warm friends of Freedom:
TORONTO, 28th January, Monday evening, 1856.
MR. STILL, DEAR SIR:--I have very great pleasure in making you
aware that the following respectable persons have arrived here
in safety without being annoyed in any way after you saw them.
The women, two of them, viz: Mrs. Greegsby and Mrs. Graham, have
been rather ailing, but we hope they will very soon be well.
They have been attended to by the Ladies' Society, and are most
grateful for any attention they have received. The solitary
person, Mrs. Graves, has also been attended to; also her box
will be looked after. She is pretty well, but rather dull;
however, she will get friends and feel more at home by and bye.
Mrs. Wanzer is quite well; and also young William Henry
Sanderson. They are all of them in pretty good spirits, and I
have no doubt they will succeed in whatever business they take
up. In the mean time the men are chopping wood, and the ladies
are getting plenty sewing. We are always glad to see our colored
refugees safe here. I remain, dear sir,
yours respectfully,