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368 TOE UNDERGROUND SAIL ROAD.
view of all the circumstances, the committee of arrangements felt very much gratified to have him in their ranks.
By this time, however, the sandy foundations of " overseer " Brent and Co., (on the part of slavery), had been so completely swept away by the Hon. J. M. Read and Co., on the side of freedom, that there was but little chance left to deal heavy blows upon the defeated advocates of the Fugitive Slave Law. Thompson was pronounced " not guilty." The other prisoners, of course, shared the same good luck. The victory was then complete, equally aa much so as at Christiana. Underground Hail Road stock arose rapidly, and a feeling of universal rejoicing pervaded the friends of freedom from one end of the country to the other.
Especially were slave-holders taught the wholesome lesson, that the Fugitive Slave Law was no guarantee against " red hot shot," nor the charges of U. S. Judges and the findings of Grand Juries, together with the superior learning of counsel from slave-holding Maryland, any guarantee that " traitors" would be hung. In every respect, the Underground Rail Road made capital by the treason. Slave-holders from Maryland especially were far less disposed to hunt their runaway property than they haT) ELLEN CRAFT.
FEMAXE 6LA.VB IN MALE ATTIRE, PLEEINQ AS A PLAJJTEB, WITH HER HUSBAND AS HEE BODY SERVANT.
A quarter of a century ago, William and Ellen Craft were slaves in the State of Georgia. With them, as with thousands of others, the desire to be free was very strong. For this jewel they -were willing to make any sacrifice, or to endure any amount of suffering. In this state of mind they commenced planning. After thinking of various ways that might be tried, it occurred to William and Ellen, that one might act the part of master and the other the part of servant.
Ellen being fair enough to pass for white, of necessity would have to be transformed into a young planter for the time being. All that was needed, however, to make thb important change was that she should be dressed elegantly ill a fashionable suit of male attire, and have her hair cut in the style usually worn by young planters. Her profusion of dark hair offered a fine opportunity for the change. So far this plan looked very tempting. But it occurred to them that Ellen was beardless. After some mature reflection, they |
