"PETE MATTHEWS," ALIAS SAMUEL SPARROWS.
"I MIGHT AS WELL BE IN THE PENITENTIARY, &C."
Up to the age of thirty-five "Pete" had worn the yoke steadily, if not
patiently under William S. Matthews, of Oak Hall, near Temperanceville,
in the State of Virginia. Pete said that his "master was not a hard
man," but the man to whom he "was hired, George Matthews, was a very
cruel man." "I might as well be in the penitentiary as in his hands,"
was his declaration.
One day, a short while before Pete "took out," an ox broke into the
truck patch, and helped himself to choice delicacies, to the full extent
of his capacious stomach, making sad havoc with the vegetables
generally. Peter's attention being directed to the ox, he turned him
out, and gave him what he considered proper chastisement, according to
the mischief he had done. At this liberty taken by Pete, the master
became furious. "He got his gun and threatened to shoot him," "Open your
mouth if you dare, and I will pat the whole load into you," said the
enraged master. "He took out a large dirk-knife, and attempted to stab
me, but I kept out of his way," said Pete. Nevertheless the violence of
the master did not abate until he had beaten Pete over the head and body
till he was weary, inflicting severe injuries. A great change was at
once wrought in Pete's mind. He was now ready to adopt any plan that
might hold out the least encouragement to escape. Having capital to the
amount of four dollars only, he felt that he could not do much towards
employing a conductor, but he had a good pair of legs, and a heart stout
enough to whip two or three slave-catchers, with the help of a pistol.
Happening to know a man who had a pistol for sale, he went to him and
told him that he wished to purchase it. For one dollar the pistol became
Pete's property. He had but three dollars left, but he was determined to
make that amount answer his purposes under the circumstances. The last
cruel beating maddened him almost to desperation, especially when he
remembered how he had been compelled to work hard night and day, under
Matthews. Then, too, Peter had a wife, whom his master prevented him
from visiting; this was not among the least offences with which Pete
charged his master. Fully bent on leaving, the following Sunday was
fixed by him on which to commence his journey.
The time arrived and Pete bade farewell to Slavery, resolved to follow
the North Star, with his pistol in hand ready for action. After
traveling about two hundred miles from home he unexpectedly had an
opportunity of using his pistol. To his astonishment he suddenly came
face to face with a former master, whom he had not seen for a long time.
Pete desired no friendly intercourse with him whatever; but he perceived
that his old master recognized him and was bent upon stopping him. Pete
held on to his pistol, but moved as fast as his wearied limbs would
allow him, in an opposite direction. As he was running, Pete cautiously,
cast his eye over his shoulder, to see what had become of his old
master, when to his amazement, he found that a regular chase was being
made after him. Need of redoubling his pace was quite obvious. In this
hour of peril, Pete's legs saved him.
After this signal leg-victory, Pete had more confidence in his
"understandings," than he had in his old pistol, although he held on to
it until he reached Philadelphia, where he left it in the possession of
the Secretary of the Committee. Considering it worth saving simply as a
relic of the Underground Rail Road, it was carefully laid aside. Pete
was now christened Samuel Sparrows. Mr. Sparrows had the rust of Slavery
washed off as clean as possible and the Committee furnishing him with
clean clothes, a ticket, and letters of introduction, started him on
Canada-ward, looking quite respectable. And doubtless he felt even more
so than he looked; free air had a powerful effect on such passengers as
Samuel Sparrows.
The unpleasantness which grew out of the mischief done by the ox on
George Matthews' farm took place the first of October, 1855. Pete may be
described as a man of unmixed blood, well-made, and intelligent.
* * * * *
"MOSES" ARRIVES WITH SIX PASSENGERS.
"NOT ALLOWED TO SEEK A MASTER;"--"VERY DEVILISH;"--FATHER "LEAVES TWO
LITTLE SONS;"--"USED HARD;"--"FEARED FALLING INTO THE HANDS OF YOUNG
HEIRS," ETC. JOHN CHASE, ALIAS DANIEL FLOYD; BENJAMIN ROSS, ALIAS JAMES
STEWART; HENRY ROSS, ALIAS LEVIN STEWART; PETER JACKSON, ALIAS STAUNCH
TILGHMAN; JANE KANE, ALIAS CATHARINE KANE, AND ROBERT ROSS.
The coming of these passengers was heralded by Thomas Garrett as
follows: