m26-3t.
No. 153 Broadway, Baltimore.
Lear Green, so particularly advertised in the "Baltimore Sun" by "James
Noble," won for herself a strong claim to a high place among the heroic
women of the nineteenth century. In regard to description and age the
advertisement is tolerably accurate, although her master might have
added, that her countenance was one of peculiar modesty and grace.
Instead of being "black," she was of a "dark-brown color." Of her
bondage she made the following statement: She was owned by "James Noble,
a Butter Dealer" of Baltimore. He fell heir to Lear by the will of his
wife's mother, Mrs. Rachel Howard, by whom she had previously been
owned. Lear was but a mere child when she came into the hands of Noble's
family. She, therefore, remembered but little of her old mistress. Her
young mistress, however, had made a lasting impression upon her mind;
for she was very exacting and oppressive in regard to the tasks she was
daily in the habit of laying upon Lear's shoulders, with no disposition
whatever to allow her any liberties. At least Lear was never indulged in
this respect. In this situation a young man by the name of William Adams
proposed marriage to her. This offer she was inclined to accept, but
disliked the idea of being encumbered with the chains of slavery and the
duties of a family at the same time.
After a full consultation with her mother and also her intended upon the
matter, she decided that she must be free in order to fill the station
of a wife and mother. For a time dangers and difficulties in the way of
escape seemed utterly to set at defiance all hope of success. Whilst
every pulse was beating strong for liberty, only one chance seemed to be
left, the trial of which required as much courage as it would to endure
the cutting off the right arm or plucking out the right eye. An old
chest of substantial make, such as sailors commonly use, was procured. A
quilt, a pillow, and a few articles of raiment, with a small quantity of
food and a bottle of water were put in it, and Lear placed therein;
strong ropes were fastened around the chest and she was safely stowed
amongst the ordinary freight on one of the Erricson line of steamers.
Her intended's mother, who was a free woman, agreed to come as a
passenger on the same boat. How could she refuse? The prescribed rules
of the Company assigned colored passengers to the deck. In this instance
it was exactly where this guardian and mother desired to be--as near the
chest as possible. Once or twice, during the silent watches of the
night, she was drawn irresistibly to the chest, and could not refrain
from venturing to untie the rope and raise the lid a little, to see if
the poor child still lived, and at the same time to give her a breath of
fresh air. Without uttering a whisper, that frightful moment, this
office was successfully performed. That the silent prayers of this
oppressed young woman, together with her faithful protector's, were
momentarily ascending to the ear of the good God above, there can be no
question. Nor is it to be doubted for a moment but that some ministering
angel aided the mother to unfasten the rope, and at the same time nerved
the heart of poor Lear to endure the trying ordeal of her perilous
situation. She declared that she had no fear.
After she had passed eighteen hours in the chest, the steamer arrived at
the wharf in Philadelphia, and in due time the living freight was
brought off the boat, and at first was delivered at a house in Barley
street, occupied by particular friends of the mother. Subsequently chest
and freight were removed to the residence of the writer, in whose family
she remained several days under the protection and care of the Vigilance
Committee.
[Illustration: ]
Such hungering and thirsting for liberty, as was evinced by Lear Green,
made the efforts of the most ardent friends, who were in the habit of
aiding fugitives, seem feeble in the extreme. Of all the heroes in
Canada, or out of it, who have purchased their liberty by downright
bravery, through perils the most hazardous, none deserve more praise
than Lear Green.
She remained for a time in this family, and was then forwarded to
Elmira. In this place she was married to William Adams, who has been
previously alluded to. They never went to Canada, but took up their
permanent abode in Elmira. The brief space of about three years only was
allotted her in which to enjoy freedom, as death came and terminated her
career. About the time of this sad occurrence, her mother-in-law died in
this city. The impressions made by both mother and daughter can never be
effaced. The chest in which Lear escaped has been preserved by the
writer as a rare trophy, and her photograph taken, while in the chest,
is an excellent likeness of her and, at the same time, a fitting
memorial.
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