THEOPHILUS COLLINS, ANDREW JACKSON BOYCE, HANDY BURTON AND ROBERT
JACKSON.
A DESPERATE, BLOODY STRUGGLE--GUN, KNIFE AND FIRE SHOVEL, USED BY AN
INFURIATED MASTER.
Judged from their outward appearance, as well as from the fact that they
were from the neighboring State of Delaware, no extraordinary
revelations were looked for from the above-named party. It was found,
however, that one of their number, at least, had a sad tale of outrage
and cruelty to relate. The facts stated are as follows:
Theophilus is twenty-four years of age, dark, height and stature hardly
medium, with faculties only about average compared with ordinary
fugitives from Delaware and Maryland. His appearance is in no way
remarkable. His bearing is subdued and modest; yet he is not lacking in
earnestness. Says Theophilus, "I was in servitude under a man named
Houston, near Lewes, Delaware; he was a very mean man, he didn't allow
you enough to eat, nor enough clothes to wear. He never allowed a drop
of tea, or coffee, or sugar, and if you didn't eat your breakfast before
day he wouldn't allow you any, but would drive you out without any. He
had a wife; she was mean, too, meaner than he was. Four years ago last
Fall my master cut my entrails out for going to meeting at Daniel
Wesley's church one Sabbath night. Before day, Monday morning, he called
me up to whip me; called me into his dining-room, locked the doors, then
ordered me to pull off my shirt. I told him no, sir, I wouldn't; right
away he went and got the cowhide, and gave me about twenty over my head
with the butt. He tore my shirt off, after I would not pull it off; he
ordered me to cross my hands. I didn't do that. After I wouldn't do that
he went and got his gun. and broke the breech of that over my head. He
then seized up the fire-tongs and struck me over the head ever so often.
The next thing he took was the parlor shovel and he beat on me with that
till he broke the handle; then he took the blade and stove it at my head
with all his might. I told him that I was bound to come out of that
room. He run up to the door and drawed his knife and told me if I
ventured to the door he would stab me. I never made it any better or
worse, but aimed straight for the door; but before I reached it he
stabbed me, drawing the knife (a common pocket knife) as hard as he
could rip across my stomach; right away he began stabbing me about my
head," (marks were plainly to be seen). After a desperate struggle,
Theophilus succeeded in getting out of the building.
[Illustration: ]
"I started," said he, "at once for Georgetown, carrying a part of my
entrails in my hands for the whole journey, sixteen miles. I went to my
young masters, and they took me to an old colored woman, called Judah
Smith, and for five days and nights I was under treatment of Dr. Henry
Moore, Dr. Charles Henry Richards, and Dr. William Newall; all these
attended me. I was not expected to live for a long time, but the Doctors
cured me at last."
Andrew reported that he fled from Dr. David Houston. "I left because of
my master's meanness to me; he was a very mean man to his servants,"
said Andrew, "and I got so tired of him I couldn't stand him any
longer." Andrew was about twenty-six years of age, ordinary size; color,
brown, and was entitled to his freedom, but knew not how to secure it by
law, so resorted to the Underground Rail Road method.
Handy, another of this party, said that he left because the man who
claimed to be his master "was so hard." The man by whom he had been
wronged was known where he came from by the name of Shepherd Burton, and
was in the farming business. "He was a churchman," said Handy, "but he
never allowed me to go to church a half dozen times in my life."
Robert belonged to Mrs. Mary Hickman, at least she had him in her
possession and reaped the benefit of his hire and enjoyed the leisure
and ease thereof while he toiled. For some time prior to his leaving,
this had been a thorn in his side, hard to bear; so when an opening
presented itself by which he thought he could better his condition, he
was ready to try the experiment. He, however, felt that, while she would
not have him to look to for support, she would not be without sympathy,
as she was a member of the Episcopal Church; besides she was an
old-looking woman and might not need his help a great while longer.
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