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: 487   Enlarge and print image (41K)

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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: 487   Enlarge and print image (41K)

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462 THE UNDERGROUND SAIL ROAD. ARRIVAL FROM NORFOLK, VA., 1858. WILLIAM 1LA.OKEY. WILLIAM made no complaint against his master of a serious nature touching himself. True, he said his " master was a frolicker, and fond of drink," but he was not particularly unkind to him. His Dame was Tunis; he was a military man, and young; consequently William had not been in his hands long. Prior to his being owned by the young master, he had lived with old mistress Tunis. Concerning her the following is one of William's statements: " My sister about the first of this month, three weeks after her confinement, had word sent to her by'her mistress, Mrs. Tunis, that- she thought it was time for her to come out and go to work, as she had been laying by long enough." In reply to this message, William said that " his sister sent word to her mistress, that she \v:is not \vcll enough, and l>egg«l that her mistress would please send her some tea and sugar, until she got well enough to go to work. The mistress' answer was to the effect that she did not o intend to give her anything until she went to work, and at the same time she sent word to her, that she had better take her baby clown to the back of the garden and throw it away, adding 'I will sell her, etc.'" It was owing to the cruelty of Mrs. Tunis that William was moved t<5 flee. According to his statement, which looked reasonable and appeared truthful, be had been willed free by his master, wlio died at the time that the plague was raging in Norfolk. At the same time his mistress also had the fever, and was dreadfully frightened, but recovered. Xot long after this event it was William's belief that tlio will was made away with through the agency of a lawyer, and in consequence thereof the slaves were retained in bondage. ARRIVAL FROM NEAR BALTIMORE, 1858. HENRY TUCKER. HENRY fled from Baltimore county ; disagreement between him and his so-called roaster was the cause of liis flight. Elias Sneveley, a farmer, known on the Arabella Creek Place-as a " hard swearer," an " old bachelor," and a common tormentor of all around him, was the name of the man that Harry said he fled from. Not willing to be run over at the pleasure of Sneveley, on two ocdasions just before his escape serious encounters had arisen between master and slave. HENRY being spirited and hungering for freedom, •while his master was old and hardened in his habits, very grave results had well nigh happened;