In the winter of 1857 a young woman, who had just turned her majority,
was boxed up in Baltimore by one who stood to her in the relation of a
companion, a young man, who had the box conveyed as freight to the depot
in Baltimore, consigned to Philadelphia. Nearly all one night it
remained at the depot with the living agony in it, and after being
turned upside down more than once, the next day about ten o'clock it
reached Philadelphia. Her companion coming on in advance of the box,
arranged with a hackman, George Custus, to attend to having it brought
from the depot to a designated house, Mrs. Myers', 412 S. 7th street,
where the resurrection was to take place.
Custus, without knowing exactly what the box contained, but suspecting
from the apparent anxiety and instructions of the young man who engaged
him to go after it, that it was of great importance, while the freight
car still remained on the street, demanded it of the freight agent, not
willing to wait the usual time for the delivery of freight. At first the
freight agent declined delivering under such circumstances. The hackman
insisted by saying that he wished to despatch it in great haste, said it
is all right, you know me, I have been coming here for many years every
day, and will be responsible for it. The freight-master told him to
"take it and go ahead with it." No sooner said than done. It was placed
in a one horse wagon at the instance of Custus, and driven to Seventh
and Minster streets.
The secret had been intrusted to Mrs. M. by the young companion of the
woman. A feeling of horror came over the aged woman, who had been thus
suddenly entrusted with such responsibility. A few doors from her lived
an old friend of the same religious faith with herself, well known as a
brave woman, and a friend of the slave, Mrs. Ash, the undertaker or
shrouder, whom every body knew among the colored people. Mrs. Myers felt
that it would not be wise to move in the matter of this resurrection
without the presence of the undertaker. Accordingly, she called Mrs. Ash
in. Even her own family was excluded from witnessing the scene. The two
aged women chose to be alone in that fearful moment, shuddering at the
thought that a corpse might meet their gaze instead of a living
creature. However, they mustered courage and pried off the lid. A woman
was discovered in the straw but no sign of life was perceptible. Their
fears seemed fulfilled. "Surely she is dead," thought the witnesses.
"Get up, my child," spake one of the women. With scarcely life enough to
move the straw covering, she, nevertheless, did now show signs of life,
but to a very faint degree. She could not speak, but being assisted
arose. She was straightway aided up stairs, not yet uttering a word.
After a short while she said, "I feel so deadly weak." She was then
asked if she would not have some water or nourishment, which she
declined. Before a great while, however, she was prevailed upon to take
a cup of tea. She then went to bed, and there remained all day, speaking
but a very little during that time. The second day she gained strength
and was able to talk much better, but not with ease. The third day she
began to come to herself and talk quite freely. She tried to describe
her sufferings and fears while in the box, but in vain. In the midst of
her severest agonies her chief fear was, that she would be discovered
and carried back to Slavery. She had a pair of scissors with her, and in
order to procure fresh air she had made a hole in the box, but it was
very slight. How she ever managed to breathe and maintain her existence,
being in the condition of becoming a mother, it was hard to comprehend.
In this instance the utmost endurance was put to the test. She was
obviously nearer death than Henry Box Brown, or any of the other box or
chest cases that ever came under the notice of the Committee.
In Baltimore she belonged to a wealthy and fashionable family, and had
been a seamstress and ladies' servant generally. On one occasion when
sent of an errand for certain articles in order to complete arrangements
for the Grand Opening Ball at the Academy of Music, she took occasion
not to return, but was among the missing. Great search was made, and a
large reward offered, but all to no purpose. A free colored woman, who
washed for the family, was suspected of knowing something of her going,
but they failing to get aught out of her, she was discharged.
Soon after the arrival of this traveler at Mrs. Myers' the Committee was
sent for and learned the facts as above stated. After spending some
three or four days in Mrs. Myers' family she remained in the writer's
family about the same length of time, and was then forwarded to Canada.
Mrs. Myers was originally from Baltimore, and had frequently been in the
habit of receiving Underground Rail Road passengers; she had always
found Thomas Shipley, the faithful philanthropist, a present help in
time of need. The young man well knew Mrs. Myers would act with prudence
in taking his companion to her house.
George Custus, the hackman, a colored man, was cool, sensible, and
reliable in the discharge of his duty, as were the other parties,
therefore every thing was well managed.
With this interesting case our narratives end, except such facts of a
like kind as may be connected with some of the sketches of stockholders.
A large number on the record book must be omitted. This is partly owing
to the fact that during the first few years of our connection with the
Underground Rail Road, so little was written out in the way of
narratives, that would hardly be of sufficient interest to publish; and
partly from the fact that, although there are exceptional cases even
among those so omitted, that would be equally as interesting as many
which have been inserted, time and space will not admit of further
encroachment. If in any way we have erred in the task of furnishing
facts and important information touching the Underground Rail Road, it
has not been in overstating the sufferings, trials, perils, and
marvellous escapes of those described, but on the contrary. In many
instances after hearing the most painful narratives we had neither time
nor inclination to write them out, except in the briefest manner, simply
sufficient to identify parties, which we did, not dreaming that the dark
cloud of Slavery was so soon to give way to the bright sunlight of
Freedom.