About the latter part of March, 1856, Owen Taylor and his wife, Mary
Ann, and their little son, Edward, together with a brother and his wife
and two children, and a third brother, Benjamin, arrived from near Clear
Springs, nine miles from Hagerstown, Maryland. They all left their home,
or rather escaped from the prison-house, on Easter Sunday, and came
_viâ_ Harrisburg, where they were assisted and directed to the Vigilance
Committee in Philadelphia. A more interesting party had not reached the
Committee for a long time.
The three brothers were intelligent, and heroic, and, in the resolve to
obtain freedom, not only for themselves, but for their wives and
children desperately in earnest. They had counted well the cost of this
struggle for liberty, and had fully made up their minds that if
interfered with by slave-catchers, somebody would have to bite the dust.
That they had pledged themselves never to surrender alive, was obvious.
Their travel-worn appearance, their attachment for each other, the joy
that the tokens of friendship afforded them, the description they gave
of incidents on the road, made an impression not soon to be effaced.
In the presence of a group like this Sumner's great and eloquent speech
on the Barbarism of Slavery, seemed almost cold and dead,--the mute
appeals of these little ones in their mother's arms--the unlettered
language of these young mothers, striving to save their offspring from
the doom of Slavery--the resolute and manly bearing of these brothers
expressed in words full of love of liberty, and of the determination to
resist Slavery to the death, in defence of their wives and
children--this was Sumner's speech enacted before our eyes.
Owen was about thirty-one years of age, but had experienced a deal of
trouble. He had been married twice, and both wives were believed to be
living. The first one, with their little child, had been sold in the
Baltimore market, about three years before, the mother was sent to
Louisiana, the child to South Carolina. Father, mother, and child,
parted with no hope of ever seeing each other again in this world. After
Owen's wife was sent South, he sent her his likeness and a dress; the
latter was received, and she was greatly delighted with it, but he never
heard of her having received his likeness. He likewise wrote to her, but
he was not sure that she received his letters. Finally, he came to the
conclusion that as she was forever dead to him, he would do well to
marry again. Accordingly he took to himself another partner, the one who
now accompanied him on the Underground Rail Road.
Omitting other interesting incidents, a reference to his handiwork will
suffice to show the ability of Owen. Owen was a born mechanic, and his
master practically tested his skill in various ways; sometimes in the
blacksmith shop--at other times as a wheelwright--again at making
brushes and brooms, and at leisure times he would try his hand in all
these crafts. This Jack-of-all-trades was, of course, very valuable to
his master. Indeed his place was hard to fill.
Henry Fiery, a farmer, "about sixty-four years of age, a stout, crusty
old fellow," was the owner of Owen and his two brothers. Besides slaves,
the old man was in possession of a wife, whose name was Martha, and
seven children, who were pretty well grown up. One of the sons owned
Owen's wife and two children. Owen declared, that they had been worked
hard, while few privileges had been allowed them. Clothing of the
poorest texture was only sparingly furnished. Nothing like Sunday
raiment was ever given them; for these comforts they were compelled to
do over-work of nights. For a long time the idea of escape had been
uppermost in the minds of this party. The first of January, past, was
the time "solemnly" fixed upon to "took out," but for some reason or
other (not found on the record book), their strategical minds did not
see the way altogether clear, and they deferred starting until Easter
Sunday.
On that memorable evening, the men boldly harnessed two of Mr. Fiery's
steeds and placing their wives and children in the carriage, started off
_viâ_ Hagerstown, in a direct line for Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, at a
rate that allowed no grass to grow under the horses' feet. In this
manner they made good time, reached Chambersburg safely, and ventured up
to a hotel where they put up their horses. Here they bade their faithful
beasts good-bye and "took out" for Harrisburg by another mode of travel,
the cars. On their arrival they naturally fell into the hands of the
Committee, who hurried them off to Philadelphia, apprising the Committee
there of their approach by a dispatch sent ahead. Probably they had
scarcely reached Philadelphia ere the Fierys were in hot haste after
them, as far as Harrisburg, if not farther.
It hardly need be hinted, that the community in which the Fierys lived
was deeply agitated for days after, as indeed it was along the entire
route to Chambersburg, in consequence of this bold and successful
movement. The horses were easily captured at the hotel, where they were
left, but, of course, they were mute as to what had become of their
drivers. The furious Fierys probably got wind of the fact, that they had
made their way to Harrisburg. At any rate they made very diligent search
at this point. While here prosecuting his hunting operations, Fiery
managed to open communication with at least one member of the Harrisburg
Committee, to whom his grievances were made known, but derived little
satisfaction.
After the experience of a few weeks, the pursuers came to the
conclusion, that there was no likelihood of recovering them through
these agencies, or through the Fugitive Slave Law. In their despair,
therefore, they resorted to another "dodge." All at once they became
"sort-o'-friendly"--indeed more than half disposed to emancipate. The
member of the Committee in Harrisburg had, it is probable, frequently
left room for their great delusion, if he did not even go so far as to
feed their hopes with plausible suggestions, that some assistance might
be afforded by which an amicable settlement might be made between
masters and slaves.
The following extract, from the Committee's letter, relative to this
matter, is open to this inference, and may serve to throw some light on
the subject:
HARRISBURG, April 28, '56.
Friend Still:--Your last came to hand in due season, and I am
happy to hear of the safe arrival of those gents.
I have before me the Power of Attorney of Mr. John S. Fiery, son
of Mr. Henry Fiery, of Washington county, Md., the owner of
those three men, two women and three children, who arrived in
your town on the 24th or 25th of March. He graciously
condescends to liberate the oldest in a year, and the remainder
in proportional time, if they will come back; or to sell them
their time for $1300. He is sick of the job, and is ready to
make any conditions. Now, if you personally can get word to them
and get them to send him a letter, in my charge, informing him
of their whereabouts and prospects, I think it will be the best
answer I can make him. He will return here in a week or two, to
know what can be done. He offers $500 to see them.
Or if you can send me word where they are, I will endeavor to
write to them for his special satisfaction; or if you cannot do
either, send me your latest information, for I intend to make
him spend a few more dollars, and if possible get a little
sicker of this bad job. Do try and send him a few bitter pills
for his weak nerves and disturbed mind.
Yours in great haste,
Jos. C. Bustill.
A subsequent letter from Mr. Bustill contains, besides other interesting
Underground Rail Road matter, an item relative to the feeling of
disappointment experienced by Mr. Fiery on learning that his property
was in Canada.
HARRISBURG, May 26, '56.
Friend Still:--I embrace the opportunity presented by the visit
of our friend, John F. Williams, to drop you a few lines in
relation to our future operations.
The Lightning Train was put on the Road on last Monday, and as
the traveling season has commenced and this is the Southern
route for Niagara Falls, I have concluded not to send by way of
Auburn, except in cases of great danger; but hereafter we will
use the Lightning Train, which leaves here at 1-1/2 and arrives
in your city at 5 o'clock in the morning, and I will telegraph
about 5-1/2 o'clock in the afternoon, so it may reach you before
you close. These four are the only ones that have come since my
last. The woman has been here some time waiting for her child
and her beau, which she expects here about the first of June. If
possible, please keep a knowledge of her whereabouts, to enable
me to inform him if he comes.
_I have nothing more to send you, except that John Fiery has
visited us again and much to his chagrin received the
information of their being in Canada_.
Yours as ever,
Jos. C. Bustill.
Whilst the Fierys were working like beavers to re-enslave these
brave fugitives, the latter were daily drinking in more and more
of the spirit of freedom and were busy with schemes for the
deliverance of other near kin left behind under the galling
yoke.
Several very interesting letters were received from Otho Taylor,
relative to a raid he designed making expressly to effect the
escape of his family. The two subjoined must suffice, (others,
much longer, cannot now be produced, they have probably been
loaned and not returned.)
APRIL 15th, 1857.
SIR--We arrived here safely. Mr. Syrus and his lady is
well situated. They have a place for the year round 15
dollars per month. We are all well and hope that you are
all the same. Now I wish to know whether you would
please to send me some money to go after those people.
Send it here if you please.
Yours truly,