The passenger above described reached the Underground Rail Road station,
June 6th, 1857.
"Why did you leave your master?" said a member of the Committee to Joe.
"I left because there was no enjoyment in slavery for colored people."
After stating how the slaves were treated he added, "I was working all
the time for master and he was receiving all my money for my daily
labor." "What business did your master follow?" inquired the Committee.
"He was a carpenter by trade." "What kind of a looking man was he?"
again inquired the Committee. "He was a large, stout man, don't swear,
but lies and cheats." Joe admitted that he had been treated very well
all his life, with the exception of being deprived of his freedom. For
eight years prior to his escape he had been hired out, a part of the
time as porter in a grocery store, the remainder as bar-tender in a
saloon. At the time of his escape he was worth twenty-two dollars per
month to his master. Joe had to do overwork and thus procure clothing
for himself.
When a small boy he resolved, that he never would work all his days as a
slave for the white people. As he advanced in years his desire for
freedom increased. An offer of fifteen hundred dollars was made for Joe,
so he was informed a short time before he escaped; this caused him to
move promptly in the matter of carrying out his designs touching
liberty.
His parents and three brothers, slaves, were to be left; but when the
decisive hour came he was equal to the emergency. In company with
William Naylor secreted in a vessel, he was brought away and delivered
to the Committee for aid and counsel, which he received, and thus ended
his bondage. The reward offered by his master, Samuel Ellis, proved of
no avail.
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