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: 334   Enlarge and print image (48K)

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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: 334   Enlarge and print image (48K)

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  << PREVIOUS   NEXT >>
312 THE UNDERGBOU&D SAIL ROAD. forty-three. He was about six feet high, with marked physical and mental abilities, but Slavery had had its heel upon his neck. And who could tbeu have risen ? Eliza Jones held the deed for George, and by her he was hired as foreman in a tobacco factory, in which position his duties were onerous—especially to one with a heavy, bleeding heart, throbbing daily for freedom, while, at the same time, mournfully brooding over past wrongs. Of these wrongs one incident must suffice. He had been married twice, and had been the father of six children by his first wife; at the command of his owner the wedded relations were abruptly broken, and he was obliged to seek another wife. In entering this story on the lx>ok at the time of the arrival, the concluding words were written thus: " This story is thrilling, but time will not allow its being penned." Although safely under the protection of the British Lion, George's heart was in Virginia, where his wife was retained. As he could not return for. her deliverance, he was wise enough to resort to the pen, hoping in this way to effect his grand object, as the following letter will show: TOKONTO, January 25th, 1855. DEAB FKIESD STILT. :—George Walker, of Petersburg, Va., is now in my office, and requests me to write a letter to you, and req\i«st you to write to his wife, after or according to the instructions he gave to his fricni), John Brown, in your city, with whom be says you are acquainted. You will undrrsland, of coarse, his reason for wanting the letter wrote and posted at Philadelphia. You will please attend to it and address a letter to him (Walker) in my care. Ho and Beverly Good, his comrade, tender much love to you. Send them on ; wo are prepared for them. Yours in great haste, J. B. SMITH. P. S.—Be sure and follow the directiona given to Brown. ADAM BROOKS, alias William Smith. Hardtown, Montgomery county, Maryland, lost a rather promising " article of merchandise," in the person of Adam. The particulars of his going are on this wise: John Phillips, his so-called master, believed in selling, and praoticed accordingly, to the extent at least of selling Adam's mother, brother, aud sister ouly two years before his escape. If Adam had known nothing else against Phillips, this was enough in all conscience to have awakened his deadly hate; but, added to this, Phillips was imprudent in his haliit of threatening to "sell," etc. This kept the old wound in Adam's heart continually bleeding and forced him to the conclusion, that his master was not only a hard man, as a driver on the farm, but that at heart he was actually a liad man. Furthermore, that it was hia duty to break his fetters and seek his freedom in Canada. In thus looking at his situation, his mind was worked up to fever heat, and lie resolved that, let the consequences l>e what they might, go he must In this promising state of mind he started, at an appointed time, for Pennsylvania, and, sure enough, he succeeded. Having the appearance of a