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: 348   Enlarge and print image (50K)

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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: 348   Enlarge and print image (50K)

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326 THE UNDERGROUND RAIL ROAD. From the tenor of Thomas Garrett's letter, the Committee was prepared for a joyful reception, knowing that Captain F. was not iu the habit of doing things by the halves—that he was not in the habit of bringing numbskulls; indeed he brought none but the bravest and most intelligent. Yet notwithstanding our knowledge of his practice in. this respect, when he arrived we were surprised beyond measure. The women outnumbered the men. The two young mothers, with their interesting, hearty ami fine-looking children representing in blood the two races about equally—presented a very impressive spectacle. The men had the appearance of being active, smart, and well disposed, much above the generality of slaves; but, compared with those of the opjx>-site sex, their claims for sympathy were very faint indeed. No one could possibly avoid the conclusion, that these mothers, with their handsome daughters, were valued on the Ledger of their owners at enormously high prices; that lustful traders and sensualists had already gloated over the thought of buying them in a few short years. Probably not one of those beautiful girls would have brought less than fifteen hundred or two thousand dollars at the age of fifteen. It was therefore a great satisfaction to think, that their mothers, who knew full well to what a fate such slave girls were destined, had labored so heroically to snatch them out of this danger ere the critical hour arrived. REBECCA JOSES was about twenty-eight years of age; mulatto, good-looking, considerably alwve medium size, very intelligent, and a true-born heroine. The following reward, offered by the notorious negro-trader, Hall, proved that Rebecca aud her children were not to be allowed to go free, if slave-hunters could be induced by a heavy pecuniary consideration to recapture them: &300 REWARD is offered for the apprehension of negro woman, REBECCA JONES and her three children, and man ISAIAH, belonging to W. W. Davideon, who have disappeared since the 20tli iust. The above reward will be paid for the apprehension and delivery of the said Negroes to my Jail, by the attorney in feet of the owner, or the svxm of $250 for the man alone, or $150 for the •wom&n and three children •lone. WM. W. HALL, for the Attorney, feb. 1. Years before her escape, her mistress died in England; and as Rebecca had always understood, long before this event, that all the slaves were to be freed at the death of her mistress, she was not prepared to believe any other report. It turned out, however, as in thousands of other instances, that no •will could be found, and, of course, the administrators retained the slave property, regardless of any verbal expressions respecting freeing, ete. Rebecca closely watched the course of the administrators, and in tho meanwhile firmly resolved, that neither she nor her children should ever serve another master. Rather than submit, she declared that she would