Arrival No. 12. George Williams and Charles Holladay. These two
travelers were about the same age. They were not, however, from the same
neighborhood--they happened to meet each other as they were traveling
the road. George fled from St. Louis, Charles from Baltimore. George
"owed service" to Isaac Hill, a planter; he found no special fault with
his master's treatment of him; but with Mrs. Hill, touching this point,
he was thoroughly dissatisfied. She had treated him "cruelly," and it
was for this reason that he was moved to seek his freedom.
Charles, being a Baltimorean, had not far to travel, but had pretty
sharp hunters to elude.
His claimant, F. Smith, however, had only a term of years claim upon
him, which was within about two years of being out. This contract for
the term of years, Charles felt was made without consulting him,
therefore he resolved to break it without consulting his master. He also
declined to have anything to do with the Baltimore and Wilmington R.R.
Co., considering it a prescriptive institution, not worthy of his
confidence. He started on a fast walk, keeping his eyes wide open,
looking out for slave-hunters on his right and left. In this way, like
many others, he reached the Committee safely and was freely aided,
thenceforth traveling in a first class Underground Rail Road car, till
he reached his journey's end.
Arrival No. 13. William Govan. Availing himself of a passage on the
schooner of Captain B., William left Petersburg, where he had been owned
by "Mark Davis, Esq., a retired gentleman," rather, a retired negro
trader.
William was about thirty-three years of age, and was of a bright orange
color. Nothing but an ardent love of liberty prompted him to escape. He
was quite smart, and a clever-looking man, worth at least $1,000.
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