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: 429   Enlarge and print image (49K)

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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: 429   Enlarge and print image (49K)

 Jump to  
  << PREVIOUS   NEXT >>
404 THE UNDERGROUND RAIL ROAD. back shot in my thigh. I shall carry shot in me to my grave. I have been shot four different times. I was shot twice by a fellow-servant; it was my master's orders. Another time by the overseer. Shooting was no uncommon thing in Louisiana. At one time I was allowed to raise hogs. I had twenty-five taken from me without being allowed the first copper. " My mistress promised me at another time forty dollars for gathering honey, but when I went to her, she said, by and by, but the by and by never came. In 1853 my freedom was promised; for five years before this time I had been overseer; during four years of this time a visit was made to France by my owners, but on their return my freedom was not given me. My mistress thought I had made enough nioney to buy myself. They asked eleven hundred and fifty dollars for me. I told them that I hadn't the money. Then they said if I would go with them to Virginia after a number of slaves they wished to purchase, and would IK; a good boy, they would give me my freedom on the return of the trip. We started on the 8th of June, 1857. I made fair promises \vishing to travel, and they placed all confidence in me. I was to carry the slaves back from Virginia. " They came as far as Baltimore, and they began to talk of coming farther North, to Philadelphia. They talked very good to me, and told me that if they broupht me with them to a free State that I must Dot leave them; talked a good deal alxmt giving me my freedom, as had lx>en promised before starting, etc. I let on to them that I had no wish to go North ; that Baltimore was ;is far Xorth as I wished to s«.>, and that I had rather be going home than going North. I told them that, I was tired of this country. In speaking of coming Xorth, they made mention of the Allegliany mountains. I told them that I would like to see that, but nothing more. They hated the North, and I made believe that I did too. Mistress said, that if I behaved myself I could go with them to France, -when they went again, after they returned home—as they intended to go again. "So they decided to take me with them to Philadelphia, for a short visit, before going into Virginia to buy tip their drove of slaves for LouL-iiana. MY heart leaped for joy when 1 found we were going to a free State ; but I did not let my owners know my feelings. "We reached Philadelphia and went to the Girard Hotel, and there I made up my mind that they should go back without me. I saw ;i colored man who talked with me, and told me about the Committee, lie brought me to the anti-slavery office," etc., etc:., etc. The Committee told Jim that he could go free immediately, without saying a word to anylxirly, as the simple fact of his master's bringing him into the State vras sufficient to establish his freedom before the Courts. At the same time (the Committee assured him if he were willing to have his master arrested and brought liefore one of the Judges of the city to show ratjso why he held him a slave in Pennsylvania, contrary to the laws of the State, that