THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD.--Ran away from the subscriber,
residing near Bladensburg, Prince George's county, Maryland, on
Saturday night, the 22d of March, 1856, my negro man, Tom
Matthews, aged about 25 years, about 5 feet 9 or 10 inches high,
dark copper color, full suit of bushy hair, broad face, with
high cheek bones, broad and square shoulders, stands and walks
very erect, though quite a sluggard in action, except in a
dance, at which he is hard to beat. He wore away a black coat
and brown pantaloons. I will give the above reward if taken and
brought home, or secured in jail, so that I get him.
[Illustration: ]
E.A. JONES, near Bladensburg, Md.
As Mr. Jones may be unaware which way his man Tom traveled, this item
may inform him that his name was entered on the Underground Rail Road
book April 4th, 1856, at which date he appeared to be in good health and
full of hope for a safe sojourn in Canada. He was destitute, of course,
just as anybody else would have been, if robbers had stripped him of
every dollar of his earnings; but he felt pretty sure, that he could
take care of himself in her Majesty's dominion.
The Committee, encouraged by his efforts, reached him a helping hand and
sent him on to swell the goodly number in the promised land--Canada.
On the same day that Tom arrived, the Committee had the pleasure of
taking JAMES JONES by the hand. He was owned by Dr. William Stewart, of
King George's Court House, Maryland. He was not, however, in the service
of his master at the time of his escape but was hired out in Alexandria.
For some reason, not noticed in the book, James became dissatisfied,
changed his name to Henry Rider, got an Underground Rail Road pass and
left the Dr. and his other associations in Maryland. He was one of the
well-cared for "articles," and was of very near kin to the white people,
at least a half-brother (mulatto, of course). He was thirty-two years of
age, medium size, hard-featured and raw-boned, but "no marks about him."
James looked as if he had had pretty good health, still the Committee
thought that he would have much better in Canada. After hearing a full
description of that country and of the great number of fugitives there
from Maryland and other parts of the South, "Jim" felt that that was
just the place he wanted to find, and was soon off with a free ticket, a
letter of introduction, etc.
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