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: 411   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: 411   Enlarge and print image (48K)

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SUNDRY ARRIVALS. 387 SAM waa about thirty years of age, genuine black, common size, and a hater of slavery; he was prepared to show, by the scare he bore about bis person, why he talked as he did. Forever will he remember James Hurst, his so-called master, who was a very blustering man oft-times, and in the habit of abusing his slaves. Sam was led to seek the Underground Rail Road, in order to get rid of his master and, at the same time, to do better for himself than he could possibly do in Slavery. He Lad to leave his wife, Phillis, and one child. WILLIAM HENRY was about twenty-four years of age, and of a chestnut color. He too talked of slave-holders, and his master in particular, just as any man would talk who had been shamefully robbed and wronged all his life. TOM, likewise, told the same story, and although they used the corn-field vernacular, they were in earnest and possessed an abundance of mother-wit, so that their testimony was not to be made light of. The following letter from Thomas Garrett speaks for itself: \VILMIKGTON, 5 mo. llth, 1856. ESTEEMED FEIENDS—McKim and Still:—I purpose sending to-morrow morning by the steamboat a woman and child, whose husband, I think, went some nine months previous to New Bedford. She was furnished with a free passage by the aame line her husband came in. She has been away from the person claiming to ba her master some five months; we, therefore, think there cannot be much risk at present. Those four I wrote thee about arrived safe up in the neighborhood of Longwood, and Harriet Tubman followed after in the stage yesterday. I shall expect five more from tbe same neighborhood next trip. Captain Lambdin is desirous of having sent him a book, or books, with the strongest arguments of the noted men of the South against tbe institution of slavery, as be wishes to prepare to defend himself, as he has little confidence in his attorney. Cannot you send to me someihmg that will be of benefit to him, or send it direct to him ? Would not W. Goodell's book be of use ? His friends here think there is no chance for him but to go to the penitentiary. They now refuse to let any one but his attorney see him. As ever your friend, Tnos. QARRETT. The woman and child alluded to were received and noted on the record book as follows: WIXXIE PATTY, and her daughter, ELIZABETH, arrived safely from Norfolk, Va. The mother is about twenty-two years of age, good-looking and of chestnut color, smart and brave. From the latter part of October, 1855, to the latter part of March, 1856, this young slave mother, with her child, was secreted under the floor of a house. The house was occupied by a slave family, friends of Winnie. During the cold winter weather she suffered severely from \vet and cold, getting considerably frosted, but her faith failed not, even in the hour of greatest extremity. She chose rather to suffer thus than endure slavery any longer, especially as she was aware that the auction-block awaited her. She had already been sold three times; aha knew therefore what it was to be sold.