ABE FINEER, SAM DAVIS, HENRY SAUNDERS, WM. HENRY THOMPSON and THOMAS
PARKER arrived safely from the above named place. Upon inquiry, the
following information was gleaned from them.
Abe spoke with feelings of some bitterness of a farmer known by the name
of George Spencer, who had deprived him of the hard earnings of his
hands. Furthermore, he had worked him hard, stinted him for food and
clothing and had been in the habit of flogging him whenever he felt like
it. In addition to the above charges, Abe did not hesitate to say that
his master meddled too much with the bottle, in consequence of which, he
was often in a "top-heavy" state. Abe said, however, that he was rich
and stood pretty high in the neighborhood--stinting, flogging and
drinking were no great disadvantages to a man in Georgetown, Maryland.
Abe was twenty-three years of age, pure black, ordinary size, and
spirited, a thorough convert to the doctrine that all men are born free,
and although he had been held in bondage up to the hour of his escape,
he gave much reason for believing that he would not be an easy subject
to manage under the yoke, if ever captured and carried back.
Sam was about thirty years of age, genuine black, common size, and a
hater of slavery; he was prepared to show, by the scars he bore about
his person, why he talked as he did. Forever will he remember James
Hurst, his so-called master, who was a very blustering man oft-times,
and in the habit of abusing his slaves. Sam was led to seek the
Underground Rail Road, in order to get rid of his master and, at the
same time, to do better for himself than he could possibly do in
Slavery. He had to leave his wife, Phillis, and one child.
William Henry was about twenty-four years of age, and of a chestnut
color. He too talked of slave-holders, and his master in particular,
just as any man would talk who had been shamefully robbed and wronged
all his life.
Tom, likewise, told the same story, and although they used the
corn-field vernacular, they were in earnest and possessed an abundance
of mother-wit, so that their testimony was not to be made light of.
The following letter from Thomas Garrett speaks for itself:
WILMINGTON, 5 mo. 11th, 1856.
ESTEEMED FRIENDS--McKim and Still:--I purpose sending to-morrow
morning by the steamboat a woman and child, whose husband, I
think, went some nine months previous to New Bedford. She was
furnished with a free passage by the same line her husband came
in. She has been away from the person claiming to be her master
some five months; we, therefore, think there cannot be much risk
at present. Those four I wrote thee about arrived safe up in the
neighborhood of Longwood, and Harriet Tubman followed after in
the stage yesterday. I shall expect five more from the same
neighborhood next trip. Captain Lambdin is desirous of having
sent him a book, or books, with the strongest arguments of the
noted men of the South against the institution of slavery, as he
wishes to prepare to defend himself, as he has little confidence
in his attorney. Cannot you send to me something that will be of
benefit to him, or send it direct to him? Would not W. Goodell's
book be of use? His friends here think there is no chance for
him but to go to the penitentiary. They now refuse to let any
one but his attorney see him.
As ever your friend,