State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-05-24
THRILLING ANECDOTE.

i
Just as the great anti-slavcry meeting
on Tuesday was about to close, MIR Alyan
Stewart arose and begged the attention Of
the audience to an authentic anecdote of
the escape ola slave, which he was sure
was well worth their staying just three
minutes to hear.
In Georgia, said Mr. S. about three years
ago, there lived man, black but noble, n
giant in strength, and in form an Apollo
Belviderc, about thirty five years of age, n
slave, with wife and four children, also
slaves. The love of liberty burned ire
pressbly in his bosom, and he determined
to escape and free his wife and children at
every hazard. He had heard of CANADA,
MS place where the laws made every man
free, and protected him in his freedom.
But ofits situation, or the road thither, or
ofthe geography of the Intermediate coun-
try, he knew nothing. A benevolent Qua
ker, however, helped him on his way by
night as far as he dared, and then told him
he could do no more for him, but com
mend him to God, and the north STAR
Pointing him TO the beautiful pole-star,
riding high in the heavens, he told him to
steer his course by that star, until he found
himself in Canada. The slave proceeded,
lay in the woods by day and travelled by
night, subsisting himself and family as well
as he could OH the fruits and roots he could
find, crossing the Savannah and other riv-
ers, and carrying his wife and children by
almost superhuman efforts, passed through
the states of South and North Carolina and
Virginia, crossed Pennsylvania without
even knowing that it was the land of the
Quakcrs and finally, after six weeks of
fniI hnr 1,li b,, lut
Here he placed his wife and children in
the custody of tribe of Indians in the
neighborhood, for the poor man will always
be the poor mans friend, and the opprcss-
ed will stand by the oppressed. The man
proceeded TO town, and as he was passing
through the streets, he attracted the notice
of colored barber, also man of great
bodily power. The barber stepped up to
him, put his hand on his shoulder and says,
81 know you are runaway slave, but
never fear, | am your friend" The man
confessed he was from Georgia, when the
barber said, "Your master inquired about
you to-day, in my shop, but do not fear, !
have a friend who keeps livery stable
and will give us a carriage ms soon as night
comes, to carry your family beyond the
reach of a master"
40 tliC lClIy bOul uOcS llOl run uCIOSS tlle
Niagara river in the night, by day break
they were at the ferry house, and rallied
the fcrryman to carry them to the Canada
shore. They FASTENED to the boat and Just
as they were about to let 60, The master was
seen ON his ioaming horse, with pistol in
hand, calling to the ferryman to stop and
set those people ashore or he would blow
his brains ont.
The stout barber, quick as thought, said
TO the terryman, "If you don't put off this
instant, I'll be the death of you;" and the
the ferryman, thus threatened on both
sides, cried to God to have mercy on his
soul, and said, 'lf must die | will die do
ing right" and CUT THE ROPE.
The powerful current of the Niagara,
swept the boat rapidly into the deep water,
beyond the reach of tyranny. The work
men at work on the steamboat Henry Clay
were taken by surprise and gave almost
Involuntary three cheers for liberty. As
the boat dared into the deep and rapid
stream, the people on the Canada side who
had seen the occurrence, chcered her
course, and in few moments the broad
current was passed, and the man with his
wife and children, were all safe on tile
British soil, protected by British laws
NJ Y. Evangelist.