Rarely were three travelers from the house of bondage received at the
Philadelphia station whose narratives were more interesting than those
of the above-named individuals. Before escaping they had encountered
difficulties of the most trying nature. No better material for dramatic
effect could be found than might have been gathered from the incidents
of their lives and travels. But all that we can venture to introduce
here is the brief account recorded at the time of their sojourn at the
Philadelphia station when on their way to Canada in 1854. The three
journeyed together. They had been slaves together in the same
neighborhood. Two of them had shared the same den and cave in the woods,
and had been shot, captured, and confined in the same prison; had broken
out of prison and again escaped; consequently their hearts were
thoroughly cemented in the hope of reaching freedom together.
Isaac was a stout-made young man, about twenty-six years of age,
possessing a good degree of physical and mental ability. Indeed his
intelligence forbade his submission to the requirements of Slavery,
rendered him unhappy and led him to seek his freedom. He owed services
to D. Fitchhugh up to within a short time before he escaped. Against
Fitchhugh he made grave charges, said that he was a "hard, bad man." It
is but fair to add that Isaac was similarly regarded by his master, so
both were dissatisfied with each other. But the master had the advantage
of Isaac, he could sell him. Isaac, however, could turn the table on his
master, by running off. But the master moved quickly and sold Isaac to
Dr. James, a negro trader. The trader designed making a good speculation
out of his investment: Isaac determined that he should be disappointed;
indeed that he should lose every dollar that he paid for him. So while
the doctor was planning where and how he could get the best price for
him, Isaac was planning how and where he might safely get beyond his
reach. The time for planning and acting with Isaac was, however,
exceedingly short. He was daily expecting to be called upon to take his
departure for the South. In this situation he made known his condition
to a friend of his who was in a precisely similar situation; had lately
been sold just as Isaac had to the same trader James. So no argument was
needed to convince his friend and fellow-servant that if they meant to
be free they would have to set off immediately.
That night Henry Banks and Isaac Williams started for the woods
together, preferring to live among reptiles and wild animals, rather
than be any longer at the disposal of Dr. James. For two weeks they
successfully escaped their pursuers. The woods, however, were being
hunted in every direction, and one day the pursuers came upon them, shot
them both, and carried them to King George's Co. jail. The jail being an
old building had weak places in it; but the prisoners concluded to make
no attempt to break out while suffering badly from their wounds. So they
remained one month in confinement. All the while their brave spirits
under suffering grew more and more daring. Again they decided to strike
for freedom, but where to go, save to the woods, they had not the
slightest idea. Of course they had heard, as most slaves had, of cave
life, and pretty well understood all the measures which had to be
resorted to for security when entering upon so hazardous an undertaking.
They concluded, however, that they could not make their condition any
worse, let circumstances be what they might in this respect. Having
discovered how they could break jail, they were not long in
accomplishing their purpose, and were out and off to the woods again.
This time they went far into the forest, and there they dug a cave, and
with great pains had every thing so completely arranged as to conceal
the spot entirely. In this den they stayed three months. Now and then
they would manage to secure a pig. A friend also would occasionally
serve them with a meal. Their sufferings at best were fearful; but great
as they were, the thought of returning to Slavery never occurred to
them, and the longer they stayed in the woods, the greater was their
determination to be free. In the belief that their owner had about given
them up they resolved to take the North Star for a pilot, and try in
this way to reach free land.
Kit, an old friend in time of need, having proved true to them in their
cave, was consulted. He fully appreciated their heroism, and determined
that he would join them in the undertaking, as he was badly treated by
his master, who was called General Washington, a common farmer, hard
drinker, and brutal fighter, which Kit's poor back fully evinced by the
marks it bore. Of course Isaac and Henry were only too willing to have
him accompany them.
In leaving their respective homes they broke kindred ties of the
tenderest nature. Isaac had a wife, Eliza, and three children, Isaac,
Estella, and Ellen, all owned by Fitchhugh. Henry was only nineteen,
single, but left parents, brothers, and sisters, all owned by different
slave-holders. Kit had a wife, Matilda, and three children, Sarah Ann,
Jane Frances, and Ellen, slaves.
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