ABRAM GALLOWAY AND RICHARD EDEN, TWO PASSENGERS SECRETED IN A VESSEL
LOADED WITH SPIRITS OF TURPENTINE. SHROUDS PREPARED TO PREVENT BEING
SMOKED TO DEATH.
The Philadelphia branch of the Underground Rail Road was not fortunate
in having very frequent arrivals from North Carolina. Of course such of
her slave population as managed to become initiated in the mysteries of
traveling North by the Underground Rail Road were sensible enough to
find out nearer and safer routes than through Pennsylvania. Nevertheless
the Vigilance Committee of Philadelphia occasionally had the pleasure of
receiving some heroes who were worthy to be classed among the bravest of
the brave, no matter who they may be who have claims to this
distinction.
In proof of this bold assertion the two individuals whose names stand at
the beginning of this chapter are presented. Abram was only twenty-one
years of age, mulatto, five feet six inches high, intelligent and the
picture of good health. "What was your master's name?" inquired a member
of the Committee. "Milton Hawkins," answered Abram. "What business did
Milton Hawkins follow?" again queried said member. "He was chief
engineer on the Wilmington and Manchester Rail Road" (not a branch of
the Underground Rail Road), responded Richard. "Describe him," said the
member. "He was a slim built, tall man with whiskers. He was a man of
very good disposition. I always belonged to him; he owned three. He
always said he would sell before he would use a whip. His wife was a
very mean woman; she would whip contrary to his orders." "Who was your
father?" was further inquired. "John Wesley Galloway," was the prompt
response. "Describe your father?" "He was captain of a government
vessel; he recognized me as his son, and protected me as far as he was
allowed so to do; he lived at Smithfield, North Carolina. Abram's
master, Milton Hawkins, lived at Wilmington, N.C." "What prompted you to
escape?" was next asked. "Because times were hard and I could not come
up with my wages as I was required to do, so I thought I would try and
do better." At this juncture Abram explained substantially in what sense
times were hard, &c. In the first place he was not allowed to own
himself; he, however, preferred hiring his time to serving in the usual
way. This favor was granted Abram; but he was compelled to pay $15 per
month for his time, besides finding himself in clothing, food, paying
doctor bills, and a head tax of $15 a year.
[Illustration: HON. ABRAM GALLOWAY]
Even under this master, who was a man of very good disposition, Abram
was not contented. In the second place, he "always thought Slavery was
wrong," although he had "never suffered any personal abuse." Toiling
month after month the year round to support his master and not himself,
was the one intolerable thought. Abram and Richard were intimate
friends, and lived near each other. Being similarly situated, they could
venture to communicate the secret feelings of their hearts to each
other. Richard was four years older than Abram, with not quite so much
Anglo-Saxon blood in his veins, but was equally as intelligent, and was
by trade, a "fashionable barber," well-known to the ladies and gentlemen
of Wilmington. Richard owed service to Mrs. Mary Loren, a widow. "She
was very kind and tender to all her slaves." "If I was sick," said
Richard, "she would treat me the same as a mother would." She was the
owner of twenty, men, women and children, who were all hired out, except
the children too young for hire. Besides having his food, clothing and
doctor's expenses to meet, he had to pay the "very kind and
tender-hearted widow" $12.50 per month, and head tax to the State,
amounting to twenty-five cents per month. It so happened, that Richard
at this time, was involved in a matrimonial difficulty. Contrary to the
laws of North Carolina, he had lately married a free girl, which was an
indictable offence, and for which the penalty was then in soak for
him--said penalty to consist of thirty-nine lashes, and imprisonment at
the discretion of the judge.
So Abram and Richard put their heads together, and resolved to try the
Underground Rail Road. They concluded that liberty was worth dying for,
and that it was their duty to strike for Freedom even if it should cost
them their lives. The next thing needed, was information about the
Underground Rail Road. Before a great while the captain of a schooner
turned up, from Wilmington, Delaware. Learning that his voyage extended
to Philadelphia, they sought to find out whether this captain was true
to Freedom. To ascertain this fact required no little address. It had to
be done in such a way, that even the captain would not really understand
what they were up to, should he be found untrue. In this instance,
however, he was the right man in the right place, and very well
understood his business.
Abram and Richard made arrangements with him to bring them away; they
learned when the vessel would start, and that she was loaded with tar,
rosin, and spirits of turpentine, amongst which the captain was to
secrete them. But here came the difficulty. In order that slaves might
not be secreted in vessels, the slave-holders of North Carolina had
procured the enactment of a law requiring all vessels coming North to be
smoked.
To escape this dilemma, the inventive genius of Abram and Richard soon
devised a safe-guard against the smoke. This safe-guard consisted in
silk oil cloth shrouds, made large, with drawing strings, which, when
pulled over their heads, might be drawn very tightly around their
waists, whilst the process of smoking might be in operation. A bladder
of water and towels were provided, the latter to be wet and held to
their nostrils, should there be need. In this manner they had determined
to struggle against death for liberty. The hour approached for being at
the wharf. At the appointed time they were on hand ready to go on the
boat; the captain secreted them, according to agreement. They were ready
to run the risk of being smoked to death; but as good luck would have
it, the law was not carried into effect in this instance, so that the
"smell of smoke was not upon them." The effect of the turpentine,
however, of the nature of which they were totally ignorant, was worse,
if possible, than the smoke would have been. The blood was literally
drawn from them at every pore in frightful quantities. But as heroes of
the bravest type they resolved to continue steadfast as long as a pulse
continued to beat, and thus they finally conquered.
The invigorating northern air and the kind treatment of the Vigilance
Committee acted like a charm upon them, and they improved very rapidly
from their exhaustive and heavy loss of blood. Desiring to retain some
memorial of them, a member of the Committee begged one of their silk
shrouds, and likewise procured an artist to take the photograph of one
of them; which keepsakes have been valued very highly. In the regular
order of arrangements the wants of Abram and Richard were duly met by
the Committee, financially and otherwise, and they were forwarded to
Canada. After their safe arrival in Canada, Richard addressed a member
of the Committee thus:
KINGSTON, July 20, 1857.
MR. WILLIAM STILL--_Dear Friend_:--I take the opertunity of
wrighting a few lines to let you no that we air all in good
health hoping thos few lines may find you and your family
engoying the same blessing. We arived in King all saft Canada
West Abram Galway gos to work this morning at $1.75 per day and
John pediford is at work for mr george mink and i will opne a
shop for my self in a few days My wif will send a daugretipe to
your cair whitch you will pleas to send on to me Richard Edons
to the cair of George Mink Kingston C W
Yours with Respect,