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: 533   Enlarge and print image (47K)

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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: 533   Enlarge and print image (47K)

 Jump to  
  << PREVIOUS   NEXT >>
508 THE UNDERGROUND RAIL ROAD. more slave-pen, with die understanding that they were to be free at the expiration of five years' service under him. The five years had more than expired, but no hope or sign of freedom appeared. On the other hand, Massey was talking loudly of selling them again. Threats and fears were so horrifying to them, that they could uot stand it; this was what prompted them to flee. " As often as six or seven times," said Elizabeth, " I have been whipped by master, once with the carriage whip, and at other times with a raw hide trace. The last flogging I received from him, was about four weeks before last Christmas ; he then tied me up to a locust tree standing before the door, and whipped me to his satisfaction." SARAH had fared no better than Elizabeth, according to her testimony. "Three tithes," said she, "I have been tied up; the last time was in planting corn-time, this year. My clothing was all stripped off above my waist; and then he whipped me till the blood ran down to my heels." Her back was lacerated all over. She had been ploughing with two horses, and unfortunately had lost a hook out of her plough ; this, she declared was the head and front of her offending, nothing more. Thus, after all their Buffering, utterly penniless, they reached the Committee, and were in every respect, in a situation .to call for the deepest commiseration. They were helped and were thankful. ARRIVAL FROM MARYLAND, VIRGINIA, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. JOHN WESLEY SMITH, BOBEBT MUEEA.Y, SL'SAN 8TEWART, AND JOSEPHINE SMITH. Daniel Hubert was fattening on John Wesley's earnings contrary to his, John's, idea of right. For a long time John iailed to see the remedy, but as he grew older and wiser the scales fell from his eyes and he perceived that the Underground Kail Road ran near his master's place, Cambridge, MJ., and by a very little effort and a large degree of courage and perseverance he might manage to get out of Maryland and on 'to Canada, where slave-holders had no more rights than other people. These reflections came seriously into John's mind at about the age of twenty-six, being about this time threatened with the auction-block he bade slavery good-night, jumped into the Underground Rail Road car and off he hurried for Pennsylvania. His mother, Betsy, one brother, and one sister were left in the hands of Hubert. John Wesley could pray for them and wish them well, but nothing more. ROBERT MURRAY became troubled in mind about his freedom while living in London county, Virginia, under the heel of Eliza Brooks, a widow woman, who used him bad, according to his testimony. He had been