In addition, a successful attempt required much preparation and substantial resources. It took more than a simple desire to be free to escape. Many slaves lacked the elementary knowledge of geography and the appropriate means of transportation to have a reasonable chance of escaping. It was indeed a rare occasion when a slave was able to forge papers and calmly depart on a boat, train or stagecoach. Female slaves had even a smaller probability of success because they did not have the proper skills and physical strength, and their ties to children and family were much stronger.
Whippings appear to have been the primary motivation of most escape attempts.
Sadistic masters at times became so unbearable that escape was the only alternative. The decision to escape was a very hard one to make because if the slave was unsuccessful, the penalties were rather severe. Many slaveholders kept special hounds for the sole purpose of tracking down runaway slaves. The dogs struck terror into the slaves. Stories abounded of many of them being physically mutilated during their escapes by vicious dogs.