Still, William, Underground Rail Road:
A Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters, Etc.

Porter & Coales, Publishers, Philadelphia, PA, 1872
Call Number: 1400, MSA L1117

MSA L1117, Image No: 188   Enlarge and print image (86K)

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Still, William, Underground Rail Road:
A Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters, Etc.

Porter & Coales, Publishers, Philadelphia, PA, 1872
Call Number: 1400, MSA L1117

MSA L1117, Image No: 188   Enlarge and print image (86K)

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16S THE UNDERGROUND RAIL ROAD. his precious freight in the vicinity of Philadelphia within the reach of the Vigilance Committee. The names of the pasaeogere were as follows: AULN TATUM, DANIEL CABS, MICHAEL VAUGHN, THOMAS NEXON, FREDERICK NIXON, PETER PETTY, NATHANIEL GARDENER, JOHN BROWN, THOMAS FREEMAN, JAMES FOSTER, GODFREY SOOTT, WILLIS WILSON, NANCY LITTLE, JOHN SMITH, FRANCIS HAINBS, DAVID JOHNSON, PHILLIS GAULT, ALICE JONES, NED WILSON, and SABAH C. WIIJSON, and one other, who snbsequently passed on, having been detained on account of sickness. These passengers were moet "likely-looking articles;" a number of them, doubtless, would have commanded the very highest prices in the Richmond market. Among them were sorae good mechanics—one excellent dress-maker, some " prime " waiters and chambermaids ;—men and women with brains, some of them evincing remarkable intelligence and decided bravery, just the kind of passengers that gave the greatest satisfaction to the Vigilance Committee. The interview with these passengers was extremely interesting. Each one gave his or her experience of Slavery, the escape, etc., in his or her own way, deeply impressing those who had the privilege of seeing and hearing them, with the fact of the growing spirit of Liberty, and the wonderful perception and intelligence possessed by sorae of the sons of toil in the South. While all the names of these passengers were duly entered on the Underground Rail Road records, the number was too large, and the time they spent with the Committee too short, in which to write out even in the briefest manner more than a few of the narratives of this party. The following sketches, however, are important, and will, doubtless, be interesting to those at least who were interested in the excitement which existed in Norfolk at the time of this memorable escape: AULN TATUM. Alan was about thirty years of age, dark, intelligent, and of a good physical organization. For the last fourteen years he had been owned by Lovey White, a widow and the owner of nine slaves, from whom she derived a comfortable support. This slave-holding madam was a member of the Methodist Church, and was considered in her general deportment a " moderate slave-holder." For ten years prior to his escape, Alan had been hiring his time,—for this privilege he paid his mistress, the widow, $120 per annum. If he happened to be so unfortunate as to lose time by sickness within the year, he was obliged to make that up. In addition to these items of expenditure, he had his own clothes, etc., to find. Although Alan had at first stated, that his mistress was "moderate," further on in his story, as he recounted the exactions above alluded to, his tune turned, and he declared, that he was prompted to leave because he disliked his mistress; that " she was mean and without principle." Alan left three sisters, one brother, and a daughter. The names of the sisters and brother were as follows: Mary Ann, Rachel and William—the daughter, Mary. DANIEL CARR. Daniel was about thirty-eight years of age, dark ma-