Referred to by John Hunn, was also a brave conductor on the Underground
Rail Road leading down into Maryland (via Hunn's place). Mr. Burris was
a native of Delaware, but being a free man and possessing more than
usual intelligence, and withal an ardent love of liberty, he left
"slave-dom" and moved with his family to Philadelphia. Here his
abhorrence of Slavery was greatly increased, especially after becoming
acquainted with the Anti-slavery Office and the Abolition doctrine.
Under whose auspices or by what influence he was first induced to visit
the South with a view of aiding slaves to escape, the writer does not
recollect; nevertheless, from personal knowledge, prior to 1851, he well
knew that Burris was an accredited agent on the road above alluded to,
and that he had been considered a safe, wise, and useful man in his day
and calling. Probably the simple conviction that he would not otherwise
be doing as he would be done by actuated him in going down South
occasionally to assist some of his suffering friends to get the yokes
off their necks, and with him escape to freedom. A number were thus
aided by Burris. But finally he found himself within the fatal snare;
the slave-holders caught him at last, and Burris was made a prisoner in
Dover jail. His wife and children were thereby left without their
protector and head. The friends of the slave in Philadelphia and
elsewhere deeply sympathized with him in this dreadful hour. Being able
to use the pen, although he could not write without having his letters
inspected, he kept up a constant correspondence with his friends both in
Delaware and Philadelphia. John Hunn and Thomas Garrett were as faithful
to him as brothers. After lying in prison for many months, his trial
came on and Slavery gained the victory. The court decided that he must
be sold in or out of the State to serve for seven years. No change,
pardon or relief, could be expected from the spirit and power that held
sway over Delaware at that time.
The case was one of great interest to Mr. McKim, as indeed to the entire
Executive Committee of the Pennsylvania Anti-slavery Society, who felt
constrained to do all they could to save the poor man from his
threatened fate, although they had not advised or encouraged him in the
act for which he was condemned and about to suffer. In viewing his
condition, but a faint ray of hope was entertained from one single
direction. It was this: to raise money privately and have a man at the
auction on the day of sale to purchase him.
John Hunn and Thomas Garrett were too well known as Abolitionists to
undertake this mission. A friend indeed, was desirable, but none other
would do than such an one as would not be suspected. Mr. McKim thought
that a man who might be taken for a negro trader would be the right kind
of a man to send on this errand. Garrett and Hunn being consulted
heartily acquiesced in this plan, and after much reflection and inquiry,
Isaac S. Flint, an uncompromising abolitionist, living in Wilmington,
Delaware, was elected to buy Burris at the sale, providing that he was
not run up to a figure exceeding the amount in hand.
Flint's abhorrence of Slavery combined with his fearlessness, cool
bearing, and perfect knowledge from what he had read of the usages of
traders at slave sales, without question admirably fitted him to play
the part of a trader for the time being.
When the hour arrived, the doomed man was placed on the auction-block.
Two traders from Baltimore were known to be present; how many others the
friends of Burris knew not. The usual opportunity was given to traders
and speculators to thoroughly examine the property on the block, and
most skillfully was Burris examined from the soles of his feet to the
crown of his head; legs, arms and body, being handled as horse-jockies
treat horses. Flint watched the ways of the traders and followed for
effect their example. The auctioneer began and soon had a bid of five
hundred dollars. A Baltimore trader was now in the lead, when Flint, if
we mistake not, bought off the trader for one hundred dollars. The bids
were thus suddenly checked, and Burris was knocked down to Isaac S.
Flint (a strange trader). Of course he had left his abolition name at
home and had adopted one suited to the occasion. When the crier's hammer
indicated the last bid, although Burris had borne up heroically
throughout the trying ordeal, he was not by any means aware of the fact
that he had fallen into the hands of friends, but, on the contrary,
evidently labored under the impression that his freedom was gone. But a
few moments were allowed to pass ere Flint had the bill of sale for his
property, and the joyful news was whispered in the ear of Burris that
all was right; that he had been bought with abolition gold to save him
from going south. Once more Burris found himself in Philadelphia with
his wife and children and friends, a stronger opponent than ever of
Slavery. Having thus escaped by the skin of his teeth, he never again
ventured South.
After remaining a year or two in Philadelphia, about the year 1852 he
went to California to seek more lucrative employment than he had
hitherto found. Becoming somewhat satisfactorily situated he sent for
his family, who joined him. In the meanwhile, his interest in the cause
of freedom did not falter; he always kept posted on the subject of the
Underground Rail Road and Anti-slavery questions; and after the war,
when appeals were made on behalf of contrabands who flocked into
Washington daily in a state of utter destitution, Burris was among the
first to present the matter to the colored churches of San Francisco,
with a view of raising means to aid in this good work, and as the
result, a handsome collection was taken up and forwarded to the proper
committee in Washington.
About three years ago, Samuel D. Burris died, in the city of San
Francisco, at about the age of sixty years. To the slave he had been a
true friend, and had labored faithfully for the improvement of his own
mind as well as the general elevation of his race.