SECOND JOURNEY ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
A SHOWER OF STARS.--KENTUCKIANS.--A STRATAGEM.--A
PROVIDENCE.--CONDUCTED ACROSS THE MIAMI RIVER BY A
COW.--ARRIVAL AT CINCINNATI.--ONE OF THE PARTY TAKEN
ILL.--WE LEAVE HIM TO DIE.--MEET A "FRIEND."--A POOR WHITE
MAN.--A STRANGE IMPRESSION.--ONCE MORE IN CANADA.
I remained at home, working on my farm, until the next autumn, soon
after which time I had promised to assist in the restoring to liberty
the friends of James Lightfoot, the individual who had excited my
sympathy at the meeting at Fort Erie. In pursuance of this promise, I
again started on my long journey into Kentucky.
On my way, that strange occurrence happened, called the great meteoric
shower. The heavens seemed broken up into streaks of light and
falling stars. I reached Lancaster, Ohio, about three o'clock in the
morning, and found the village aroused, and the bells ringing, and the
people exclaiming, "The day of judgment is come!" I thought it was
probably so; but felt that I was in the right business, and walked on
through the village, leaving the terrified people behind. The stars
continued to fall till the light of the sun appeared.
On arriving at Portsmouth, in the State of Ohio, I had a very narrow
escape from being detected. The place was frequented by a number of
Kentuckians, who were quite ready to suspect a colored man, if they
saw anything unusual about him. I reached Portsmouth in the morning,
and waited until two in the afternoon for the steamboat, so that I
might not arrive in Maysville till after dark. While in the town I was
obliged to resort to a stratagem, in order to avoid being questioned
by the Kentuckians I saw in the place. To this end I procured some
dried leaves, put them into a cloth and bound it all round my face,
reaching nearly to my eyes, and pretended to be so seriously affected
in my head and teeth as not to be able to speak. I then hung around
the village till time for the evening boat, so as to arrive at
Maysville in the night. I was accosted by several during my short
stay in Portsmouth, who appeared very anxious to get some particulars
from me as to who I was, where I was going, and to whom I belonged.
To all their numerous inquiries I merely shook my head, mumbled out
indistinct answers, and acted so that they could not get anything out
of me; and, by this artifice, I succeeded in avoiding any unpleasant
consequences. I got on board the boat and reached Maysville, Kentucky,
in the evening, about a fortnight from the time I had left Canada.
On landing a wonderful providence happened to me. The second person
I met in the street was Jefferson Lightfoot, brother of the James
Lightfoot previously mentioned, and one of the party who had promised
to escape if I would assist them. He stated that they were still
determined to make the attempt, and the following Saturday night was
named to put it into execution, and preparations for the journey were
at once commenced. The reason why Saturday night was chosen on this
and the previous occasion was, that from not having to labor the next
day, and being allowed to visit their families, they would not be
missed until the time came for their usual appearance in the field, at
which period they would be some eighty or a hundred miles away. During
the interval I had to keep myself concealed by day, and used to meet
them by night to make the necessary arrangements.
For fear of being detected, they started off without bidding their
father or mother farewell, and then, in order to prevent the hounds
from following on our trail, we seized a skiff, a little below the
city, and made our way down the river. It was not the shortest way,
but it was the surest.
It was sixty-five miles from Maysville to Cincinnati, and we thought
we could reach that city before daylight, and then take the stage
for Sandusky. Our boat sprung a leak before we had got half way, and
we narrowly escaped being drowned; providentially, however, we got
to the shore before the boat sunk. We then took another boat, but
this detention prevented us from arriving at Cincinnati in time for
the stage. Day broke upon us when we were about ten miles above the
city, and we were compelled to leave our boat from fear of being
apprehended. This was an anxious time. However, we had got so far away
that we knew there was no danger of being discovered by the hounds,
and we thought we would go on foot. When we got within seven miles of
Cincinnati, we came to the Miami River, and we could not reach the
city without crossing it.
This was a great barrier to us, for the water appeared to be deep,
and we were afraid to ask the loan of a boat, being apprehensive it
might lead to our detection. We went first up and then down the river,
trying to find a convenient crossing place, but failed. I then said to
my company, "Boys, let us go up the river and try again." We started,
and after going about a mile we saw a cow coming out of a wood, and
going to the river as though she intended to drink. Then said I,
"Boys, let us go and see what that cow is about, it may be that she
will tell us some news." I said this in order to cheer them up. One of
them replied, in rather a peevish way, "Oh that cow can't talk;" but I
again urged them to come on. The cow remained until we approached her
within a rod or two; she then walked into the river, and went straight
across without swimming, which caused me to remark, "The Lord sent
that cow to show us where to cross the river!" This has always seemed
to me to be a very wonderful event.
Having urged our way with considerable haste, we were literally
saturated with perspiration, though it was snowing at the time, and my
companions thought that it would be highly dangerous for us to proceed
through the water, especially as there was a large quantity of ice in
the river. But as it was a question of life or death with us, there
was no time left for reasoning; I therefore advanced--they reluctantly
following. The youngest of the Lightfoots ere we had reached midway
of the river, was seized with violent contraction of the limbs, which
prevented further self-exertion on his part; he was, therefore,
carried the remainder of the distance. After resorting to continued
friction, he partially recovered, and we proceeded on our journey.
We reached Cincinnati about eleven on Sunday morning--too late for
the stage that day; but having found some friends, we hid ourselves
until Monday evening, when we recommenced our long and toilsome
journey, through mud, rain, and snow, towards Canada. We had increased
our distance about 100 miles, by going out of our road to get among
the Quakers. During our passage through the woods, the boy before
referred to was taken alarmingly ill, and we were compelled to
proceed with him on our backs; but finding this mode of conveying him
exceedingly irksome, we constructed a kind of litter with our shirts
and handkerchiefs laid across poles. By this time we got into the
State of Indiana, so that we could travel by day as long as we kept
to the woods. Our patient continued to get worse, and it appeared,
both to himself and to us all, that death would soon release him from
his sufferings. He therefore begged to be left in some secluded spot,
to die alone, as he feared that the delay occasioned by his having to
be carried through the bush, might lead to the capture of the whole
company. With very considerable reluctance we acceded to his request,
and laid him in a sheltered place, with a full expectation that death
would soon put an end to his sufferings. The poor fellow expressed
his readiness to meet the last struggle in hope of eternal life. Sad,
indeed, was the parting; and it was with difficulty we tore ourselves
away.
We had not, however, proceeded more than two miles on our journey,
when one of the brothers of the dying man made a sudden stop, and
expressed his inability to proceed whilst he had the consciousness
that he had left his brother to perish, in all probability, a prey
to the devouring wolves. His grief was so great that we determined
to return, and at length reached the spot, where we found the poor
fellow apparently dying, moaning out with every breath a prayer to
heaven. Words cannot describe the joyousness experienced by the
Lightfoots when they saw their poor afflicted brother once more; they
literally danced for joy. We at once prepared to resume our journey
as we best could, and once more penetrated the bush. After making
some progress, we saw, at a little distance on the road, a wagon
approaching, and I immediately determined to ascertain whether some
assistance could not be obtained.
I at length circumvented the road, so as to make it appear that I
had been journeying in an opposite direction to that which the wagon
was taking. When I came up with the driver, I bade him good day.
He said, "Where is thee going?" "To Canada." I saw his coat, heard
his _thee_ and _thou_, and set him down for a Quaker. I therefore
plainly told him our circumstances. He at once stopped his horses,
and expressed his willingness to assist us. I returned to the place
where my companions were in waiting for me, and soon had them in the
presence of the Quaker. Immediately on viewing the sufferer he was
moved to tears, and without delay turned his horses' heads, to proceed
in the direction of his home, although he had intended to go to a
distant market with a load of produce for sale. The reception we met
with from the Quaker's family overjoyed our hearts, and the transports
with which the poor men looked upon their brother, now so favorably
circumstanced, cannot be described.
We remained with this happy family for the night, and received from
them every kindness. It was arranged that the boy should remain behind
until, through the blessing of God, he should recover. We were kindly
provided by them with a sack of biscuit and a joint of meat, and once
more set our faces in the direction of Lake Erie.
After proceeding some distance on our road, we perceived a white man
approaching, but as he was travelling alone, and on foot, we were not
alarmed at his presence. It turned out that he had been residing for
some time in the South, and although a free man, his employers had
attempted to castigate him; in return for which he had used violence,
which made it necessary that he should at once escape. We travelled
in company, and found that his presence was of signal service to us
in delivering us out of the hands of the slave-hunters who were now
on our track, and eagerly grasping after their prey. We had resolved
on reaching the lake, a distance of forty miles, by the following
morning; we, therefore, walked all night.
Just as the day was breaking, we reached a wayside tavern, immediately
contiguous to the lake, and our white companion having knocked up
the landlord, ordered breakfast for six. Whilst our breakfast was in
course of preparation, we dosed off into slumber, wearied with our
long-continued exertion.
Just as our breakfast was ready, whilst half asleep and half awake,
an impression came forcibly upon me that danger was nigh, and that I
must at once leave the house. I immediately urged my companions to
follow me out, which they were exceedingly unwilling to do; but as
they had promised me submission, they at length yielded to my request.
We retired to the yard at the side of the house, and commenced washing
ourselves with the snow, which was now up to our knees. Presently
we heard the tramping of horses, and were at once warned of the
necessity of secreting ourselves. We crept beneath a pile of bushes
which were lying close at hand, which permitted a full view of the
road. The horsemen came to a dead stop at the door of the house,
and commenced their inquiries; my companions at once recognized the
parties on horseback, and whispered their names to me. This was a
critical moment, and the loud beatings of their hearts testified the
dreadful alarm with which they viewed the scene. Had we been within
doors, we should have been inevitably sacrificed. Our white friend
proceeded to the door in advance of the landlord, and maintained his
position. He was at once interrogated by the slave-hunters whether
he had seen any negroes pass that way. He said, yes, he thought he
had. Their number was demanded, and they were told about six, and
that they were proceeding in the direction of Detroit; and that they
might be some few miles on the road. They at once reined their horses,
which were greatly fatigued, through having been ridden all night,
and were soon out of sight. We at length ventured into the house, and
devoured breakfast in an incredibly short space of time. After what
had transpired, the landlord became acquainted with our circumstances,
and at once offered to sail us in his boat across to Canada. We were
happy enough to have such an offer, and soon the white sail of our
little bark was laying to the wind, and we were gliding along on our
way, with the land of liberty in full view. Words cannot describe the
feelings experienced by my companions as they neared the shore;--their
bosoms were swelling with inexpressible joy as they mounted the seats
of the boat, ready, eagerly, to spring forward, that they might touch
the soil of the freeman. And when they reached the shore, they danced
and wept for joy, and kissed the earth on which they first stepped, no
longer the SLAVE--but the FREE.
After the lapse of a few months, on one joyous Sabbath morning, I had
the happiness of clasping the poor boy we had left in the kind care of
the Quaker, no longer attenuated in frame, but robust and healthy, and
surrounded by his family. Thus my joy was consummated, and superadded
was the blessing of those who were ready to perish, which came upon
me. It is one of the greatest sources of my happiness to know, that
by similar means to those above narrated, I have been instrumental in
delivering _one hundred and eighteen_ human beings out of the cruel
and merciless grasp of the slaveholder.
Mr. Frank Taylor, the owner of the Lightfoots, whose escape I have
just narrated, soon after he missed his slaves, fell ill, and became
quite deranged; but, on recovering, he was persuaded by his friends
to free the remainder of the family of the Lightfoots, which he at
length did; and, after a short lapse of time, they all met each other
in Canada, where they are now living.