ISAAC FORMAN, HENRY WILLIAMS, WILLIAM SEYMOUR, HARRIET TAYLOR, MARY
BIRD, MRS. LEWEY, SARAH SAUNDERS, SOPHIA GRAY, HENRY GRAY, MARY GRAY,
WINFIELD SCOTT, and three children.
About the 4th of July, 1856, a message reached the Secretary that a
schooner containing fifteen Underground Rail Road passengers, from
Norfolk, Virginia, would be landed near League Island, directly at the
foot of Broad street, that evening at a late hour, and a request
accompanied the message, to the effect that the Committee would be on
hand to receive them. Accordingly the Secretary procured three
carriages, with trustworthy drivers, and between ten and eleven o'clock
at night arrived on the banks of the Schuylkill, where all was quiet as
a "country grave-yard." The moon was shining and soon the mast of a
schooner was discovered. No sign of any other vessel was then in sight.
On approaching the bank, in the direction of the discovered mast, the
schooner was also discovered. The hearts of those on board were swelling
with unutterable joy; yet even at that dead hour of night, far away from
all appearance of foes, no one felt at liberty to give vent to his
feelings other than in a whisper. The name of the captain and schooner
being at once recognized, the first impulse was to jump down on the
deck. Upon second view it was seen that the descent was too great to
admit of such a feat. In a moment we concluded that we could pull them
up the embankment from the deck by taking hold of their hands as they
stood on tip toe.
One after another was pulled up, and warmly greeted, until it came the
turn of a large object, weighing about two hundred and sixty pounds,
full large enough to make two ordinary women. The captain, who had
experienced much inconvenience with her on the voyage, owing to the
space she required chuckled over the fact that the Committee would have
their hands full for once. Poor Mrs. Walker, however, stretched out her
large arms, we seized her hands vigorously; the captain laughing
heartily as did the other passengers at the tug now being made. We
pulled with a will, but Mrs. Walker remained on the deck. A one horse
power was needed. The pullers took breath, and again took hold, this
time calling upon the captain to lay-to a helping hand; the captain
prepared to do so, and as she was being raised, he having a good
foot-hold, placed himself in a position for pushing to the full extent
of his powers, and thus she was safely landed. All being placed in the
carriages, they were driven to the station and comfortably provided for.
On the voyage they had encountered more than the usual dangers. Indeed
troubles began with them before they had set sail from Norfolk. The
first indication of danger manifested itself as they stood on the bank
of the river awaiting the arrival of a small boat which had been engaged
to row them to the schooner. Although they had sought as they supposed a
safe place, sufficiently far from the bounds usually traversed by the
police; still, in the darkness, they imagined they heard watchmen
coming. Just on the edge of the river, opposite where they were waiting,
a boat under repairs was in the stocks. In order to evade the advancing
foe, they all marched into the river, the water being shallow, and with
the vessel for a breastwork hiding them from the shore, there they
remained for an hour and a half. They were thoroughly soaked if nothing
more. However, about ten o'clock a small oyster boat came to their
relief, and all were soon placed aboard the schooner, which was loaded
with corn, etc. All, with the exception of the large woman above
referred to, and one other female, were required to enter a hole
apparently leading through the bottom of the boat, but in reality only a
department which had been expressly constructed for the Underground Rail
Road business, at the expense of the captain, and in accordance with his
own plan.
The entrance was not sufficiently large to admit Mrs. Walker, so she
with another female who was thought "too fat" to endure the close
confinement, was secreted behind some corn back of the cabin, a place so
secluded that none save well-experienced searchers would be likely to
find it. In this way the Captain put out to sea. After some fifteen
hours he deemed it safe to bring his passengers up on deck where they
could inhale pure air which was greatly needed, as they had been
next-door to suffocation and death. The change of air had such an effect
on one of the passengers (Scott) that, in his excitement, he refused to
conform to the orders required; for prudential reasons the Captain,
threatened to throw him over-board. Whereupon Scott lowered his tone.
Before reaching the lock the Captain supposing that they might be in
danger from contact with boats, men, etc., again called upon them "to go
into their hole" under the deck. Not even the big woman was excused now.
She pleaded that she could not get through, her fellow-sufferers said
that she must be got through urging the matter on the ground that they
would have great danger to face. The big woman again tried to effect an
entrance, but in vain. Said one of the more resolute sisters "she must
take off her clothes then, it will never do to have her staying up on
deck to betray all the rest;" thus this resolute stand being unanimous,
the poor woman had to comply, and except a single garment she was as
destitute of raiment as was Mother Eve before she induced Adam to eat of
the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. With the help of passengers
below, she was squeezed through, but not without bruising and breaking
the skin considerably where the rub was severest. All were now beneath
the deck, the well-fitting oil-cloth was put over the hole covering the
cabin-floor snugly, and a heavy table was set over the hole. They are
within sight of the lock, but no human beings are visible about the
schooner save the Captain, the mate and a small boy, the son of the
Captain. At the lock not unexpectedly three officers came on board of
the boat and stopped her. The Captain was told that they had received a
telegraphic dispatch from Norfolk to the effect that his boat was
suspected of having slaves secreted thereon. They talked with the
Captain and mate separately for a considerable while, and more closely
did they examine the boy, but gained no information except that "the
yellow-fever had been raging very bad in Norfolk." At this fever-news
the officers were not a little alarmed, and they now lost no time in
attending to their official errand. They searched the cabin where the
two fat women were first secreted, and other parts of the boat pretty
thoroughly. They then commenced taking up the hatchways, but the place
seemed so shockingly perfumed with foul air that the men started back
and declared that nobody could live in such a place, and swore that it
smelt like the yellow-fever; the Captain laughed at them, and signified
that they were perfectly welcome to search to their hearts' content. The
officers concluded that there were no slaves on that boat, that nobody
could live there, etc., etc., asked for their charges ($3), and
discharged the Captain. The children had been put under the influence of
liquor to keep them still, so they made no noise; the others endured
their hour of agony patiently until the lock was safely passed, and the
river reached. Fresh air was then allowed them, and the great danger was
considered overcome. The Captain, however, far from deeming it advisable
to land his live cargo at the wharves of Philadelphia, delivered them at
League Island. The passengers testified that Captain B. was very kind.
They were noticed thus:
Isaac, was about fifty years of age, dark, tall, well-made, intelligent,
and was owned by George Brown, who resided at Deep Creek. Isaac
testified that said Brown had invariably treated him cruelly. For thirty
years Isaac had hired his time, found himself in food, clothing, and
everything, yet as he advanced in years, neither his task, nor his hire
was diminished, but on the contrary his hire of late years had been
increased. He winced under the pressure, and gave himself up to the
study of the Underground Rail Road. While arrangements for fleeing were
pending, he broke the secret to his wife, Polly, in whom he trusted; she
being true to freedom, although sorrowing to part with him, threw no
obstacle in his way. Besides his wife, he had also two daughters, Amanda
A. and Mary Jane, both slaves. Nevertheless, having made up his mind not
to die a slave, he resolved to escape at all hazards.
Henderson belonged to the estate of A. Briggs, which was about to be
settled, and knowing that he was accounted on the inventory as personal
property, he saw that he too would be sold with the rest of the
movables, if he was not found among the missing.
He began to consider what he had endured as a slave, and came to the
conclusion that he had had a "rugged road to hoe all the way along" and
that he might have it much worse if he waited to be sold. The voice of
reason admonished him to escape for his life. In obeying this call he
suffered the loss of his wife, Julia, and two children, who were
fortunately free. Henderson was about thirty-one years of age, stout,
and of healthy appearance, worth in cash perhaps $1200.
William was thirty-four years of age, of a chestnut color, substantial
physical structure, and of good faculties. The man who professed to own
him he called William Taylor, and "he was a very hard man, one of the
kind which could not be pleased, nor give a slave a pleasant answer one
time in fifty." Being thoroughly sick of William Taylor, he fell in love
with the Underground Rail Road and Canada.
Mrs. Walker, the big fat woman, was thirty-eight years of age, and a
pleasant-looking person, of a very dark hue. Besides the struggles
already alluded to, she was obliged to leave her husband. Of her master
she declared that she could "say nothing good." His name was Arthur
Cooper, of Georgetown; she had never lived with him, however; for twenty
years she had hired her time, paying five dollars per month. When young
she scarcely thought of the gross wrongs that were heaped upon her; but
as she grew older, and thought more about her condition, she scouted the
idea that God had designed her to be a slave, and decided that she would
be one to leave Dixey in the first Underground Rail Road train that
might afford her the chance. She determined not to remain even for the
sake of her husband, who was a slave. With such a will, therefore, she
started. Upon leaving Philadelphia, she went with the most of her
company to Boston, and thence to New Bedford, where she was living when
last heard from.
Rebecca Lewey was the wife of a man, who was familiarly known by the
name of "Blue Beard," his proper name being Henry Lewey. For a long
time, although a slave himself, he was one of the most dexterous
managers in the Underground Rail Road agency in Norfolk. No single
chapter in this work could be more interesting than a chapter of his
exploits in this respect.
The appearing of Mrs. Lewey, was a matter of unusual interest. Although
she had worn the yoke, she was gentle in her manners, and
healthy-looking, so much so that no life insurance agent would have had
need to subject her to medical examination before insuring her. She was
twenty-eight years of age, but had never known personal abuse as a
slave; she was none the less anxious, however, to secure her freedom.
Her husband, Blue Beard, judging from certain signs, that he was
suspected by slave-holders, and might at any time be caged, (indeed he
had recently been in the lions' den, but got out); in order to save his
wife, sent her on in advance as he had decided to follow her soon in a
similar manner. Rebecca was not without hope of again meeting her
husband. This desire was gratified before many months had passed, as he
was fortunate enough to make his way to Canada.
Mary Knight was a single woman, twenty-six years of age, dark, stout,
and of pleasing manners; she complained of having been used hard.
Sarah Saunders had been claimed as the property of Richard Gatewood, a
clerk in the naval service. According to Sarah he was a very clever
slave-holder, and had never abused her. Nor was she aware that he had
ever treated any of his servants cruelly. Sarah, however, had not lived
in Gatewood's immediate family, but had been allowed to remain with her
grandmother, rather as a privileged character. She was young, fair, and
prepossessing. Having a sister living in Philadelphia, who was known to
the agent in Norfolk, Sarah was asked one day if she would not like to
see her sister. She at once answered "Yes." After further conversation
the agent told her that if she would keep the matter entirely private,
he would arrange for her to go by the Underground Rail Road. Being
willing and anxious to go, she promised due obedience to the rules; she
was not told, however, how much she would have to pass through on the
way, else, according to her own admission, she never would have come as
she did; her heart would have failed her. But when the goal was gained,
like all others, she soon forgot her sufferings, and rejoiced heartily
at getting out of Slavery, even though her condition had not been so bad
as that of many others.
Sophia Gray, with her son and daughter, Henry and Mary, was from
Portsmouth. The mother was a tall, yellow woman, with well cut features,
about thirty-three years of age, with manners indicative of more than
ordinary intelligence. The son and daughter were between twelve and
fourteen years of age; well-developed for their age, modest, and
finely-formed mulattoes. All the material necessary for a story of great
interest, might have readily been found in the story of the mother and
her children. They were sent with others to New Bedford, Massachusetts.
It was not long after being in New Bedford, before the boy was put to a
trade, and the daughter was sent to Boston, where she had an aunt (a
fugitive), living in the family of the Hon. George S. Hilliard. Mr. and
Mrs. Hilliard were so impressed by Mary's intelligent countenance and
her appearance generally, that they decided that she must have a chance
for an education, and opened their hearts and home to her.
On a visit to Boston, in 1859, the writer found Mary at Mr. Hilliard's,
and in an article written for the "Anti-Slavery Standard," upon the
condition of fugitive slaves in Boston and New Bedford, allusion was
made particularly to her and several others, under this hospitable roof,
in the following paragraph:
"On arriving in Boston, the first persons I had the pleasure to converse
with, were four or five uncommonly interesting Underground Rail Road
passengers, who had only been out of bondage between three and five
years. Their intelligent appearance contradicted the idea that they had
ever been an hour in Slavery, or a mile on an Underground Rail Road. Two
of them were filling trustworthy posts, where they were respected and
well paid for their services. Two others were young people (one two, and
the other three years out of Slavery), a girl of fifteen, and a boy of
twelve, whose interesting appearance induced a noble-hearted
Anti-Slavery lady to receive them into her own family, expressly to
educate them; and thus, almost ever since their arrival, they have been
enjoying this lady's kindness, as well as the excellent equal Free
School privileges of Boston. The girl, in the Grammar School (chiefly
composed of whites), has already distinguished herself, having received
a diploma, with an excellent certificate of character; and the boy,
naturally very apt, has made astonishing progress."
The "boy of twelve," alluded to, was not Mary's brother. He was quite a
genius of his age, who had escaped from Norfolk, stowed away in a
schooner and was known by the name of "Dick Page."
On arriving in Philadelphia, Dick was delivered, as usual, into the
hands of the Committee. The extraordinary smartness of the little fellow
(only ten years old), astonished all who saw him. The sympathies of a
kind-hearted gentleman and his wife, living in Philadelphia, had been
deeply awakened in his behalf, through their relative and friend, Mrs.
Hilliard, in whose family, as has been already stated, the boy's aunt
lived. So much were these friends interested to secure Dick's freedom,
that they often contemplated buying him, although they did not like the
idea of buying, as the money would go into the pocket of the master, who
they considered had no just right to deprive any individual of his
freedom. So when Dick arrived the Committee felt that it was as little
as they could do, to give these friends the pleasure of seeing the
little Underground Rail Road passenger. He was therefore conveyed to the
residence of Prof. J.P. Lesley. He could not have been sent to a house
in the great city of Brotherly Love, where he would have found a more
cordial and sincere reception. After passing an hour or so with them,
Dick was brought away, but he had been so touched by their kindness,
that he felt that he must see them again, before leaving the city; so
just before sundown, one evening, he was missed; search was made for
him, but in vain. Great anxiety was felt for him, fearing that he was
lost. During the early part of the evening, the writer, with a bell in
hand, passed up one street and down another, in quest of the stranger,
but no one could give any information of him. Finally about ten o'clock,
the mayor's office was visited with a view of having the police stations
telegraphed. Soon the mystery was solved; one of the policemen stated
that he had noticed a strange colored boy with Professor Lesley's
children. Hastening to the residence of the professor, sure enough, Dick
was there, happy in bed and asleep.
From that time to this, it has been a mystery to know how a boy, a
perfect stranger, could make his way alone, (having passed over the
route but once), without getting lost, so circuitous was the road that
he had to travel, in order to reach Professor Lesley's house. Having
said this much, the way is now open to refer to him again, in Boston at
school. He was generously assisted through his education and trade, and
was prepared to commence life at his majority, an intelligent mechanic,
and a man of promise.