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: 491   Enlarge and print image (51K)

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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: 491   Enlarge and print image (51K)

 Jump to  
  << PREVIOUS   NEXT >>
466 THE UNDERGROUND SAIL ROAD. only common livers. After hie death about six years mistress died. I felt sure then I would be free, but was very badly disappointed. I went to my young masters and asked them about my freedom ; they laughed at me and Said, no such thought had entered their heads, that I was to be free. The neighbors said it was a shame that th^y should keep me out of my freedom, after I Lad been the making of the lamily, and had behaved myself so faithful. One gentleman asked master John what he would take for me, and offered a thousand dollars; that was three mouths before I ran away, and massa John said a thousand dollars wouldn't buy cue leg. I hadn't anything to hope for from them. I served them all my life, and they didn't thank me for it. A short time before I come away my aunt died, all the kin I had, and they wouldn't let me go to' the funeral. They said ' the time couldn't be spared.'" This was the last straw on the camel's back. In Le%yis' grief and disappointment he decided that he would run away the first chance that he could get, and seek a home in Canada. He held counsel with others in whom he could confide, and they fixed on a time to start, and resolved that they would suffer anything else hut Slavery. Lewis was delighted that he had managed so cunningly to leave master Tom and mistress Margaret, and their six children to work for their own living. He had an idea that they would want Lew for many things; the only regret he felt was that he had served them so long, that they had received his substance and strength for half a century. Fortunately Lewis' wife escaped three days in advance of him, in accordance with a mutual understanding. They had no childreii. The suffering on the road cost Lewis a little less than death, but the joy of success came soon to chase away the effects of the pain and hardship which had been endured. OSCAK, the next passenger, was advertised as follows : $200 REWARD.—Ran away from the service of the Rev. J. P. McGnire, Episcopal High School, Fairfax countv.Va., on Saturday, 10th inst , KOTO Man, 0?car Payne, aped 30 years, 5 feet 4 inches in height, square built, mulatto color, thick, bushy suit of hair, round, full face, and when spoken to has a pleasant manner—clothes not recollected. I will give $200 for his recovery if taken out of the State, or $150 if taken in the State, and secured that I can get him. T. D. FESDALL. jy!7-6t. Such announcements never frightened the Underground Rail Road Committee j indeed, the Committee rather preferred seeing the names of their passengers in the papers, as, in that case, they could ail the more cautiously provide against Messrs, slave-hunters. Oscar was a « prime, first-class article," worth 81800. The above description of him is endorsed. His story ran thus: " I fcave served under Miss Mary Dade, of Alexandria—Mips Dade was a very clever mistress , she hired me out. When I left I was hired at the Episcopal school—High School of Virginia. With me times bad been very