Caroline was a stout, light-complexioned, healthy-looking young woman of
twenty-three years of age. She fled from Thornton Poole, of Unionville,
Md. She gave her master the character of being a "very mean man; with a
wife meaner still," "I consider them mean in every respect," said
Caroline. No great while before she escaped, one of her brothers and a
sister had been sent to the Southern market. Recently she had been
apprized that herself and a younger brother would have to go the same
dreadful road. She therefore consulted with the brother and a particular
young friend, to whom she was "engaged," which resulted in the departure
of all three of them. Though the ordinary steps relative to marriage, as
far as slaves were allowed, had been complied with, nevertheless on the
road to Canada, they availed themselves of the more perfect way of
having the ceremony performed, and went on their way rejoicing.
Since the sale of Caroline's brother and sister, just referred to, her
mother and three children had made good their exit to Canada, having
been evidently prompted by said sale. Long before that time, however,
three other brothers fled on the Underground Rail Road. They were
encouraged to hope to meet each other in Canada.
JOHN WOOD. John was about twenty-eight years of age, of agreeable
manners, intelligent, and gave evidence of a strong appreciation of
liberty. Times with John had "not been very rough," until within the
last year of his bondage. By the removal of his old master by death, a
change for the worse followed. The executors of the estate--one of whom
owed him an old grudge--made him acquainted with the fact, that amongst
certain others, he would have to be sold. Judge Birch (one of the
executors), "itching" to see him "broke in," "took particular pains" to
speak to a notorious tyrant by the name of Boldin, to buy him.
Accordingly on the day of sale, Boldin was on hand and the successful
bidder for John. Being familiar with, the customs of this terrible
Boldin,--of the starving fare and cruel flogging usual on his farm, John
mustered courage to declare at the sale, that he "_would not serve
him_." In the hearing of his new master, he said, "_before I will serve
him I will_ CUT _my throat_!" The master smiled, and simply asked for a
rope; "had me tied and delivered into the hands of a constable," to be
sent over to the farm. Before reaching his destination, John managed to
untie his hands and feet and flee to the woods. For three days he
remained secreted. Once or twice he secretly managed to get an interview
with his mother and one of his sisters, by whom he was persuaded to
return to his master. Taking their advice, he commenced service under
circumstances, compared with which, the diet, labor and comforts of an
ordinary penitentiary would have been luxurious. The chief food allowed
the slaves on the plantation consisted of the pot liquor in which the
pork was boiled, with Indian-meal bread. The merest glance at what he
experienced during his brief stay on the plantation must suffice. In the
field where John, with a number of others was working, stood a hill, up
which they were repeatedly obliged to ascend, with loads on their backs,
and the overseer at their heels, with lash in hand, occasionally
slashing at first one and then another; to keep up, the utmost physical
endurance was taxed. John, though a stout young man, and having never
known any other condition than that of servitude, nevertheless found
himself quite unequal to the present occasion. "I was surprised," said
he, "to see the expertness with which all flew up the hill." "_One
woman, quite_ LUSTY, _unfit to be out of the house, on_ RUNNING UP THE
HILL, fell; in a moment she was up again with her brush on her back, and
an hour afterwards the overseer was whipping her." "My turn came." "What
is the reason you can't get up the hill faster?" exclaimed the overseer,
at the same time he struck me with a cowhide. "I told him I would not
stand it." "Old Uncle George Washington never failed to get a whipping
every day."
So after serving at this only a few days, John made his last solemn vow
to be free or die; and off he started for Canada. Though he had to
contend with countless difficulties he at last made the desired haven.
He hailed from one of the lower counties of Maryland.
John was not contented to enjoy the boon alone, but like a true lover of
freedom he remembered those in bonds as bound with them, and so was
scheming to make a hazardous "adventure" South, on the express errand of
delivering his "family," as the subjoined letter will show:
GLANDFORD, August 15th, 1858.
DEAR SIR:--I received your letter and was glad to hear that your
wife and family was all well and I hope it will continue so. I
am glad to inform you that this leaves me well. Also, Mr. Wm.
Still, I want for you to send me your opinion respecting my
circumstances. I have made up my mind to make an adventure after
my family and I want to get an answer from you and then I shall
know how to act and then I will send to you all particulars
respecting my starting to come to your house. Mr. Still I should
be glad to know whare Abraham Harris is, as I should be as glad
to see him as well as any of my own brothers. His wife and my
wife's mother is sisters. My wife belongs to Elson Burdel's
estate. Abraham's wife belongs to Sam Adams. Mr. Still you must
not think hard of me for writing you these few lines as I cannot
rest until I release my dear family. I have not the least doubt
but I can get through without the least trouble. So no more at
present from your humble servant,