FLEEING FROM DAVIS A NEGRO TRADER, SECRETED UNDER A HOTEL, UP A TREE,
UNDER A FLOOR, IN A THICKET, ON A STEAMER. In 1854 Charles was owned in
the city of Richmond by Benjamin Davis, a notorious negro trader.
Charles was quite a "likely-looking article," not too black or too
white, but rather of a nice "ginger-bread color." Davis was of opinion
that this "article" must bring him a tip-top price. For two or three
months the trader advertised Charles for sale in the papers, but for
some reason or other Charles did not command the high price demanded.
While Davis was thus daily trying to sell Charles, Charles was
contemplating how he might escape. Being uncommonly shrewd he learned
something about a captain of a schooner from Boston, and determined to
approach him with regard to securing a passage. The captain manifested a
disposition to accommodate him for the sum of ten dollars, provided
Charles could manage to get to Old Point Comfort, there to embark. The
Point was about one hundred and sixty miles distant from Richmond.
A man of ordinary nerve would have declined this condition
unhesitatingly. On the other hand it was not Charles' intention to let
any offer slide; indeed he felt that he must make an effort, if he
failed. He could not see how his lot could be made more miserable by
attempting to flee. In full view of all the consequences he ventured to
take the hazardous step, and to his great satisfaction he reached Old
Point Comfort safely. In that locality he was well known, unfortunately
too well known, for he had been raised partly there, and, at the same
time, many of his relatives and acquaintances were still living there.
These facts were evidently well known to the trader, who unquestionably
had snares set in order to entrap Charles should he seek shelter among
his relatives, a reasonable supposition. Charles had scarcely reached
his old home before he was apprised of the fact that the hunters and
watch dogs of Slavery were eagerly watching for him. Even his nearest
relatives, through fear of consequences had to hide their faces as it
were from him. None dare offer him a night's lodging, scarcely a cup of
water, lest such an act might be discovered by the hunters, whose
fiendish hearts would have found pleasure in meting out the most dire
punishments to those guilty of thus violating the laws of Slavery. The
prospect, if not utterly hopeless, was decidedly discouraging. The way
to Boston was entirely closed. A "reward of $200" was advertised for his
capture. For the first week after arriving at Old Point he entrusted
himself to a young friend by the name of E.S. The fear of the pursuers
drove him from his hiding-place at the expiration of the week. Thence he
sought shelter neither with kinfolks, Christians, nor infidels, but in
this hour of his calamity he made up his mind that he would try living
under a large hotel for a while. Having watched his opportunity, he
managed to reach Higee hotel, a very large house without a cellar,
erected on pillars three or four feet above the ground. One place alone,
near the cistern, presented some chance for a hiding-place, sufficient
to satisfy him quite well under the circumstances. This dark and gloomy
spot he at once willingly occupied rather than return to Slavery. In
this refuge he remained four weeks. Of course he could not live without
food; but to communicate with man or woman would inevitably subject him
to danger. Charles' experience in the neighborhood of his old home left
no ground for him to hope that he would be likely to find friendly aid
anywhere under the shadow of Slavery. In consequence of these fears he
received his food from the "slop tub," securing this diet in the
darkness of night after all was still and quiet around the hotel. To use
his own language, the meals thus obtained were often "sweet" to his
taste.
One evening, however, he was not a little alarmed by the approach of an
Irish boy who came under the hotel to hunt chickens. While prowling
around in the darkness he appeared to be making his way unconsciously to
the very spot where Charles was reposing. How to meet the danger was to
Charles' mind at first very puzzling, there was no time now to plan. As
quick as thought he feigned the bark of a savage dog accompanied with a
furious growl and snarl which he was confident would frighten the boy
half out of his senses, and cause him to depart quickly from his private
apartment. The trick succeeded admirably, and the emergency was
satisfactorily met, so far as the boy was concerned, but the boy's
father hearing the attack of the dog, swore that he would kill him.
Charles was a silent listener to the threat, and he saw that he could no
longer remain in safety in his present quarter. So that night he took
his departure for Bay Shore; here he decided to pass a day in the woods,
but the privacy of this place was not altogether satisfactory to
Charles' mind; but where to find a more secure retreat he could
not,--dared not venture to ascertain that day. It occurred to him,
however, that he would be much safer up a tree than hid in the bushes
and undergrowth. He therefore climbed up a large acorn tree and there
passed an entire day in deep meditation. No gleam of hope appeared, yet
he would not suffer himself to think of returning to bondage. In this
dilemma he remembered a poor washer-woman named Isabella, a slave who
had charge of a wash-house. With her he resolved to seek succor. Leaving
the woods he proceeded to the wash-house and was kindly received by
Isabella, but what to do with him or how to afford him any protection
she could see no way whatever. The schooling which Charles had been
receiving a number of weeks in connection with the most fearful
looking-for of the threatened wrath of the trader made it much easier
for him than for her to see how he could be provided for. A room and
comforts he was not accustomed to. Of course he could not expect such
comforts now. Like many another escaping from the relentless tyrant,
Charles could contrive methods which to his venturesome mind would
afford hope, however desperate they might appear to others. He thought
that he might be safe under the floor. To Isabella the idea was new, but
her sympathies were strongly with Charles, and she readily consented to
accommodate him under the floor of the wash-house. Isabella and a friend
of Charles, by the name of John Thomas, were the only persons who were
cognizant of this arrangement. The kindness of these friends, manifested
by their willingness to do anything in their power to add to the comfort
of Charles, was proof to him that his efforts and sufferings had not
been altogether in vain. He remained under the floor two weeks,
accessible to kind voices and friendly ministrations. At the end of this
time his repose was again sorely disturbed by reports from without that
suspicion had been awakened towards the wash-house. How this happened
neither Charles nor his friends could conjecture. But the arrival of six
officers whom he could hear talking very plainly in the house, whose
errand was actually to search for him, convinced him that he had never
for a single moment been in greater danger. The officers not only
searched the house, but they offered his friend John Thomas $25 if he
would only put them on Charles' track. John professed to know nothing;
Isabella was equally ignorant. Discouraged with their efforts on this
occasion, the officers gave up the hunt and left the house. Charles,
however, had had enough of the floor accommodations. He left that night
and returned to his old quarters under the hotel. Here he stayed one
week, at the expiration of which time the need of fresh air was so
imperative, that he resolved to go out at night to Allen's cottage and
spend a day in the woods. He had knowledge of a place where the
undergrowth and bushes were almost impenetrable. To rest and refresh
himself in this thicket he felt would be a great comfort to him. Without
serious difficulty he reached the thicket, and while pondering over the
all-absorbing matter as to how he should ever manage to make his escape,
an old man approached. Now while Charles had no reason to think that he
was sought by the old intruder, his very near approach admonished him
that it would neither be safe nor agreeable to allow him to come nearer.
Charles remembering that his trick of playing the dog, when previously
in danger under the hotel, had served a good end, thought that it would
work well in the thicket. So he again tried his power at growling and
barking hideously for a moment or two, which at once caused the man to
turn his course. Charles could hear him distinctly retreating, and at
the same time cursing the dog. The owner of the place had the reputation
of keeping "bad dogs," so the old man poured out a dreadful threat
against "Stephens' dogs," and was soon out of the reach of the one in
the thicket.
[Illustration: ]
Notwithstanding his success in frightening off the old man, CHARLES felt
that the thicket was by no means a safe place for him. He concluded to
make another change. This time he sought a marsh; two hours' stay there
was sufficient to satisfy him, that that too was no place to tarry in,
even for a single night. He, therefore, left immediately. A third time,
he returned to the hotel, where he remained only two days. His appeals
had at last reached the heart of his mother--she could no longer bear to
see him struggling, and suffering, and not render him aid, whatever the
consequences might be. If she at first feared to lend him a helping
hand, she now resolutely worked with a view of saving money to succor
him. Here the prospect began to brighten.
A passage was secured for him on a steamer bound for Philadelphia. One
more day, and night must elapse, ere he could be received on board. The
joyful anticipations which now filled his breast left no room for fear;
indeed, he could scarcely contain himself; he was drunk with joy. In
this state of mind he concluded that nothing would afford him more
pleasure before leaving, than to spend his last hours at the wash house,
"under the floor." To this place he went with no fear of hunters before
his eyes. Charles had scarcely been three hours in this place, however,
before three officers came in search of him. Two of them talked with
Isabella, asked her about her "boarders," etc.; in the meanwhile, one of
them uninvited, made his way up stairs. It so happened, that Charles was
in this very portion of the house. His case now seemed more hopeless
than ever. The officer up stairs was separated from him simply by a thin
curtain. Women's garments hung all around. Instead of fainting or
surrendering, in the twinkling of an eye, Charles' inventive intellect,
led him to enrobe himself in female attire. Here, to use his own
language, a "thousand thoughts" rushed into his mind in a minute. The
next instant he was going down stairs in the presence of the officers,
his old calico dress, bonnet and rig, attracting no further attention
than simply to elicit the following simple questions: "Whose gal are
you?" "Mr. Cockling's, sir." "What is your name?" "Delie, sir." "Go on
then!" said one of the officers, and on Charles went to avail himself of
the passage on the steamer which his mother had procured for him for the
sum of thirty dollars.
In due time, he succeeded in getting on the steamer, but he soon
learned, that her course was not direct to Philadelphia, but that some
stay would be made in Norfolk, Va. Although disappointed, yet this being
a step in the right direction, he made up his mind to be patient. He was
delayed in Norfolk four weeks. From the time Charles first escaped, his
owner (Davis the negro trader), had kept a standing reward of $550
advertised for his recovery. This showed that Davis was willing to risk
heavy expenses for Charles as well as gave evidence that he believed him
still secreted either about Richmond, Petersburg, or Old Point Comfort.
In this belief he was not far from being correct, for Charles spent most
of his time in either of these three places, from the day of his escape
until the day that he finally embarked. At last, the long looked-for
hour arrived to start for Philadelphia.
He was to leave his mother, with no hope of ever seeing her again, but
she had purchased herself and was called free. Her name was Margaret
Johnson. Three brothers likewise were ever in his thoughts, (in chains),
"Henry," "Bill," and "Sam," (half brothers). But after all the hope of
freedom outweighed every other consideration, and he was prepared to
give up all for liberty. To die rather than remain a slave was his
resolve.
Charles arrived per steamer, from Norfolk, on the 11th day of November,
1854. The Richmond papers bear witness to the fact, that Benjamin Davis
advertised Charles Gilbert, for mouths prior to this date, as has been
stated in this narrative. As to the correctness of the story, all that
the writer has to say is, that he took it down from the lips of Charles,
hurriedly, directly after his arrival, with no thought of magnifying a
single incident. On the contrary, much that was of interest in the story
had to be omitted. Instead of being overdrawn, not half of the
particulars were recorded. Had the idea then been entertained, that the
narrative of this young slave-warrior was to be brought to light in the
manner and time that it now is, a far more thrilling account of his
adventures might have been written. Other colored men who knew both
Davis and Charles, as well as one man ordinarily knows another, rejoiced
at seeing Charles in Philadelphia, and they listened with perfect faith
to his story. So marvellous were the incidents of his escape, that his
sufferings in Slavery, previous to his heroic struggles to throw off the
yoke, were among the facts omitted from the records. While this may be
regretted it is, nevertheless, gratifying on the whole to have so good
an account of him as was preserved. It is needless to say, that the
Committee took especial pleasure in aiding him, and listening to so
remarkable a story narrated so intelligently by one who had been a
slave.
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