Israel was twenty-three years of age, yellow, tall, well made and
intelligent. He fled from Frederick county, Md. Through the sweat of his
brow, Dr. Greenberry Sappington and his family had been living at ease.
The doctor was a Catholic, owning only one other, and was said to be a
man of "right disposition." His wife, however, was "so mean that nobody
could stay with her." Israel was prompted to escape to save his wife,
(had lately been married) and her brother from being sold south. His
detestation of slavery in every shape was very decided. He was a
valuable man, worth to a trader fifteen hundred dollars, perhaps.
Bazil was only seventeen years of age. About as near a kin to the "white
folks" as to the colored people, and about as strong an opponent of
slavery as any "Saxon" going of his age. He was a brother-in-law of
Israel, and accompanied him on the Underground Rail Road. Bazil was held
to service or labor by Thornton Pool, a store-keeper, and also farmer,
and at the same time an ardent lover of the "cretur," so much so that
"he kept about half-drunk all the time." So Bazil affirmed. The good
spirit moved two of Bazil's brothers to escape the spring before. A few
months afterwards a brother and sister were sold south. To manage the
matter smoothly, previous to selling them, the master pretended that he
was "only going to hire them out a short distance from home." But
instead of doing so he sold them south. Bazil might be put down at nine
hundred dollars.
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