 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|||
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
||||
|
||||
| WOMAN ESCAPING IN A BOX. 609 The secret had been intrusted to Mrs. M. by the young companion of the •woman. A feeling of horror came over the aged woman, who had been thus suddenly entrusted with such responsibility. A few doors from her lived an old .friend of the same religious faith with herself, well known as a brave woman, and a friend of the slave, Mi's. A&h, the undertaker or shrouder, whom every body knew atnoug the colored people. Mrs. Myers felt that it would not be wise to move in the matter of this resurrection without, the presence of the undertaker. Accordingly, she called Mrs. Ash in. Even her own family was excluded from witnessing the scene. The two aged women chose to be alone in that fearful moment, shuddering at the thought that a corpse might meet their gaze instead of a living creature. However, they mustered courage and pried off the lid. A woman was discovered in the straw but no sign of life was perceptible. Their fears seemed fulfilled. " .Surely she is dead," thought the witnesses. " Get up, my child," spake one of the women. With scarcely life enough to move the straw covering, she, nevertheless, did now show signs of life, but to a very faint degree. She could not .speak, but being assisted arose. She was straightway aided up stairs, not yet uttering a word. After a short while she said, " I feel so deadly weak." She was then asked if she would not have some water or nourishment, which she declined. Before a great while, however, she was prevailed upon to take a cup of tea. She then went to bed, and there remained all day, speakinp but a very little during that time. The second day she gained strength and was able to talk inuc-h better, but not with case. The third day she began to come to herself and talk quite freely. She tried to ilc«:ril>e her sufferings and fears while iu the box, but in vain. In the mitls-t of her severest agonies licr chief fl-ar was, that she would be discovered and carried back to Slavery. She had a pair of scissors with her, and in order to procure fresh air she had made a hole in the Iwx, but it was very slight. How she ever managed to breathe and maintain her existence, being in the condition of becoming a mother, it was hard to comprehend. In this instance the utmost enclur-auce was put to the test. She was obviously nearer death than Henry Box Brown, or any of the other box or chest cases that ever came under the notice of the Committee. In Baltimore she belonged to a wealthy and fashionable family, and had been a seamstress and ladies' servant generally. On one occasibn when sent of an errand for certain articles in order to complete arrangements for the Grand Opening Ball at the Academy of Music, she took occasion not to return, but was among the missing. Great search was made, and a large reward offered, but all to no purpose. A free colored woman, who washed for the family, was suspected of knowing something of her going, but they failing to get aught out of her, she was discharged. Soon after the arrival of this traveler at Mrs. Myers' the Committee was 39 |