FEMALE SLAVE IN MALE ATTIRE, FLEEING AS A PLANTER, WITH HER HUSBAND AS
HER BODY SERVANT.
A quarter of a century ago, William and Ellen Craft were slaves in the
State of Georgia. With them, as with thousands of others, the desire to
be free was very strong. For this jewel they were willing to make any
sacrifice, or to endure any amount of suffering. In this state of mind
they commenced planning. After thinking of various ways that might be
tried, it occurred to William and Ellen, that one might act the part of
master and the other the part of servant.
Ellen being fair enough to pass for white, of necessity would have to be
transformed into a young planter for the time being. All that was
needed, however, to make this important change was that she should be
dressed elegantly in a fashionable suit of male attire, and have her
hair cut in the style usually worn by young planters. Her profusion of
dark hair offered a fine opportunity for the change. So far this plan
looked very tempting. But it occurred to them that Ellen was beardless.
After some mature reflection, they came to the conclusion that this
difficulty could be very readily obviated by having the face muffled up
as though the young planter was suffering badly with the face or
toothache; thus they got rid of this trouble. Straightway, upon further
reflection, several other very serious difficulties stared them in the
face. For instance, in traveling, they knew that they would be under the
necessity of stopping repeatedly at hotels, and that the custom of
registering would have to be conformed to, unless some very good excuse
could be given for not doing so.
[Illustration: WILLIAM CRAFT]
[Illustration: ELLEN CRAFT.]
Here they again, thought much over matters, and wisely concluded that
the young man had better assume the attitude of a gentleman very much
indisposed. He must have his right arm placed carefully in a sling; that
would be a sufficient excuse for not registering, etc. Then he must be a
little lame, with a nice cane in the left hand; he must have large green
spectacles over his eyes, and withal he must be very hard of hearing and
dependent on his faithful servant (as was no uncommon thing with
slave-holders), to look after all his wants.
William was just the man to act this part. To begin with, he was very
"likely-looking;" smart, active and exceedingly attentive to his young
master--indeed he was almost eyes, ears, hands and feet for him. William
knew that this would please the slave-holders. The young planter would
have nothing to do but hold himself subject to his ailments and put on a
bold air of superiority; he was not to deign to notice anybody. If,
while traveling, gentlemen, either politely or rudely, should venture to
scrape acquaintance with the young planter, in his deafness he was to
remain mute; the servant was to explain. In every instance when this
occurred, as it actually did, the servant was fully equal to the
emergency--none dreaming of the disguises in which the Underground Rail
Road passengers were traveling.
They stopped at a first-class hotel in Charleston, where the young
planter and his body servant were treated, as the house was wont to
treat the chivalry. They stopped also at a similar hotel in Richmond,
and with like results.
They knew that they must pass through Baltimore, but they did not know
the obstacles that they would have to surmount in the Monumental City.
They proceeded to the depot in the usual manner, and the servant asked
for tickets for his master and self. Of course the master could have a
ticket, but "bonds will have to be entered before you can get a ticket,"
said the ticket master. "It is the rule of this office to require bonds
for all negroes applying for tickets to go North, and none but gentlemen
of well-known responsibility will be taken," further explained the
ticket master.
The servant replied, that he knew "nothing about that"--that he was
"simply traveling with his young master to take care of him--he being in
a very delicate state of health, so much so, that fears were entertained
that he might not be able to hold out to reach Philadelphia, where he
was hastening for medical treatment," and ended his reply by saying, "my
master can't be detained." Without further parley, the ticket master
very obligingly waived the old "rule," and furnished the requisite
tickets. The mountain being thus removed, the young planter and his
faithful servant were safely in the cars for the city of Brotherly Love.
Scarcely had they arrived on free soil when the rheumatism departed--the
right arm was unslung--the toothache was gone--the beardless face was
unmuffled--the deaf heard and spoke--the blind saw--and the lame leaped
as an hart, and in the presence of a few astonished friends of the
slave, the facts of this unparalleled Underground Rail Road feat were
fully established by the most unquestionable evidence.
The constant strain and pressure on Ellen's nerves, however, had tried
her severely, so much so, that for days afterwards, she was physically
very much prostrated, although joy and gladness beamed from her eyes,
which bespoke inexpressible delight within.
Never can the writer forget the impression made by their arrival. Even
now, after a lapse of nearly a quarter of a century, it is easy to
picture them in a private room, surrounded by a few friends--Ellen in
her fine suit of black, with her cloak and high-heeled boots, looking,
in every respect, like a young gentleman; in an hour after having
dropped her male attire, and assumed the habiliments of her sex the
feminine only was visible in every line and feature of her structure.
Her husband, William, was thoroughly colored, but was a man of marked
natural abilities, of good manners, and full of pluck, and possessed of
perceptive faculties very large.
It was necessary, however, in those days, that they should seek a
permanent residence, where their freedom would be more secure than in
Philadelphia; therefore they were advised to go to headquarters,
directly to Boston. There they would be safe, it was supposed, as it had
then been about a generation since a fugitive had been taken back from
the old Bay State, and through the incessant labors of William Lloyd
Garrison, the great pioneer, and his faithful coadjutors, it was
conceded that another fugitive slave case could never be tolerated on
the free soil of Massachusetts. So to Boston they went.
On arriving, the warm hearts of abolitionists welcomed them heartily,
and greeted and cheered them without let or hindrance. They did not
pretend to keep their coming a secret, or hide it under a bushel; the
story of their escape was heralded broadcast over the country--North and
South, and indeed over the civilized world. For two years or more, not
the slightest fear was entertained that they were not just as safe in
Boston as if they had gone to Canada. But the day the Fugitive Bill
passed, even the bravest abolitionist began to fear that a fugitive
slave was no longer safe anywhere under the stars and stripes, North or
South, and that William and Ellen Craft were liable to be captured at
any moment by Georgia slave hunters. Many abolitionists counselled
resistance to the death at all hazards. Instead of running to Canada,
fugitives generally armed themselves and thus said, "Give me liberty or
give me death."
William and Ellen Craft believed that it was their duty, as citizens of
Massachusetts, to observe a more legal and civilized mode of conforming
to the marriage rite than had been permitted them in slavery, and as
Theodore Parker had shown himself a very warm friend of their's, they
agreed to have their wedding over again according to the laws of a free
State. After performing the ceremony, the renowned and fearless advocate
of equal rights (Theodore Parker), presented William with a revolver and
a dirk-knife, counselling him to use them manfully in defence of his
wife and himself, if ever an attempt should be made by his owners or
anybody else to re-enslave them.
But, notwithstanding all the published declarations made by
abolitionists and fugitives, to the effect, that slave-holders and
slave-catchers in visiting Massachusetts in pursuit of their runaway
property, would be met by just such weapons as Theodore Parker presented
William with, to the surprise of all Boston, the owners of William and
Ellen actually had the effrontery to attempt their recapture under the
Fugitive Slave Law. How it was done, and the results, taken from the
_Old Liberator_, (William Lloyd Garrison's organ), we copy as follows:
From the "Liberator," Nov. 1, 1850.