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: 356   Enlarge and print image (43K)

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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: 356   Enlarge and print image (43K)

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  << PREVIOUS   NEXT >>
334 THE UNDERGROUND RAIL ROAD. March, having been frozen up, of course, daring the greater part of that time. Men, women and children were alike sharers in the common straggle for freedom—were alike an hungered, in prison, naked, and sick, but it was a fearful thing in those days for even women and children to whisper their sad lamentations in the city of Philadelphia, except to those friendly to the Underground Rail Road. Doubtless, if these mothers, with their children and partners in tribulation, could have been seen as they arrived direct from the boats, many hearts would have melted, and many tears would have found their way down many cheeks. But at that time cotton was acknowledged to be King—the Fugitive Slave Law was supreme, and the notorious decision of Judge Tancy, that " black men had no rights which white men were bound to respect," echoed the prejudices of the masses too clearly to have made it safe to reveal the fact of their arrival, or even the heart-rending condition of these Fugitives. Nevertheless, they -were not turned away empty, though at a peril they were fed, aided, and comforted, and sent away well clothed. Indeed, 50 bountifully were the women and children supplied, that as they were being conveyed to the Camden and Amboy station, they looked more like a plca-fiuring party than like fugitives. Some of the good friends of the slave sent clothing, and likewise cheered them with their presence. [Before the close of this volume, such friends and sympathizers will be more particularly noticed in an appropriate place.] SUXDKY ARRIVALS—LATTER PART OF DECEMBER, 1855, AND BEGINNING OF JANUARY, 1856. JOSEPH COKNISH, Dorchester Co., Md.; LEWIS FRAXCIS, alias LEWIS JOHNSON, Harford Co., Md.; ALEXANDER MUNSOV, Chestertown, Md.; SAMUEL, and ANN SCOTT, Cecil Cross-Roads, Md.; WM. HENRY LAM-INSOS, Del.; ISAAC STOUT, alia» GEOBGE WASHINGTON, CAROLINE GEAVES, Md.; HENRY and ELIZA WASHINGTON, Alexandria, Va.; HENRY CHAMBERS, JOHN CHAMBERS, SAMTTEL FALL, and THOMAS ANDEEBON, Md. JOSEPH COBSISH was about forty years of age when he escaped. The heavy bonds of Slavery made him miserable. He was a man of much natural ability, quite dark, well-made, and said that he had been " worked very hard." According to hia statement, he had been an " acceptable preacher in the African Methodist Church," and •was also " respected