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| 2 the undeR gRound Rail Road. portance, such as they had been accustomed to see their master8 show when traveling, have taken the usual modes of conveyance and have even braved the most scrutinizing inspection of 8lave-holders, slave-catchers and car conductors, who were ever on the alert to catch those who were considered base and white enough to pructice such deception. Passes have been written and used by fugitives, with their masters' and mistresses' names boldly attached thereto, and have answered admirably as a protection, when passing through ignorant country districts of slave regions, where but few, either white or colored, knew how to read or write correctly. Not a few, upon arriving, of course, hardly had rags enough on them to cover their nakedness, even in the coldest weather. It scarcely needs be stated that, as a general rule, the passengers of the U. G. R. R. were physically and intellectually above the average order of slaves. They were determined to have liberty even at the cost of life. The slave auction block indirectly proved to be in some respects a very active agent in promoting travel on the U. G. R. R., just as Jeff. Davis was an agent in helping to bring about the downfall of Slavery. The horrors of the block, as looked upon through the light of the daily heart-breaking separations it was causing to the oppressed, no pen could describe or mind imagine; hence it will be seen that many of the passengers, whose narratives will be found in this work, a^scribed their first undying resolution to strike for freedom to the auction block or to the fear of soon having to take their chances thereon. But other agencies were at work in the South, which in various ways aided directly or tacitly the U. G. R. R. cause. To refer in detail to any considerable number of these agents would be impossible, if necessary. Some there were who nobly periled their all for the freedom of the oppressed, whose sufferings and deeds of bravery must have a fitting place in this volume. Where iu h^ory, modern or ancient, could be found a more Christlike exhibition of love and humanity, of whole-souled devo-tion to freedom, than was proven in the character of the hero, Seth Concklin, who lost his life while endeavoring to rescue from Alabama slavery the wife and children of Peter Still ? |