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: 581   Enlarge and print image (46K)

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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: 581   Enlarge and print image (46K)

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556 TOE UNDERGROUND KAIL ROAD. was captured and carried back. The Committee suspected that he was a canning impostor who had learned how to tell a tale of suffering simply to excite the sympathies of the benevolent; yet, with the map of Virginia before them, he proved himself familiar with localities adjacent to the neighborhood in which he was raised. Although not satisfied with his statement, the Committee decided to aid him. Passmore Williamson, who had taken a deep interest in the examination of his case, in order to ascertain the facts, addressed the following note to Major Honey, nsing as his signature the name of his friend, Win. J. Canby: PHILADELPHIA, June 24, 1854. MAJOR ISAAC RONEY : DEAB SIB :—Within a few days past a colored man has been traversing the streets of this city, exciting the sympathies of the benevolent by the recital of a tale of the hardships he has lately passed through. He represents himself to be Tucker White, your slave, a carpenter by trade, and that he escaped from your service last Christmas. He is quite dark in complexion, rather over the medium eize, and a little lame; the latter, probably, from the effects of frost on hia feet, from which, he alleges, he suffered severely. He seems to be well acquainted with the adjoining localities, but altogether his narrative is almost incredible, and I am therefore induced to make the inquiry whether such a man has escaped from your service or lately left your neighborhood. We are perfectly flooded with such vagrants. It would be a great relief if some measures could be resorted to to keep them under legal restraint. An answer addressed to No. 73 Sooth 4th Street, above Walnut, will reach me, and oblige, Yours, &c. WM. J. CANBY. Weeks passed, but no answer came from the Major. All hope was abandoned of obtaining a more satisfactory clue to the history of Tucker White. About three months, however, after Mr. Williamson bad written, the appended note came as an answer: ME. CANBT : Major Roney received a letter from you relative to his boy, Tucker White, and has sent me here to inquire of you his whereabouts now. If you know anything concerning him and will give me such information ?o I can get him, you will be rewarded for your trouble. You will please address, Ko. 147 American Hotel. The Major would have sent on sooner but he has been sick, and the letter laid in Office several d»ys. Mr. Canby was at the time ill, and no attention was paid to the communication. After a day's delay the following note came to baud, but, as in the former instance, no answer was returned. MB. CASBT : Yon will confer a great favor on me by writing me whether you were really the author of a letter to Major Isaac Roney, of Dinwiddie Court House, Va., relative to his boy Tucker White, »nd if you were the author, please let me know when yon last saw him, »nd where. I called at your office yesterday to see yon, bat your cousin (I think he said b« was) (old me you had the cholera, and if you felt well enough you were going to the