Litchfield enquirer., 1849-11-22
ADvENTURES OF THE


IhlS OIsItlS ulSH0u ""'ON
now in England. A late number OF the
..Lordon Nonconformist" publishes al
interesting review of work recently is
sued ia that city, entitled, "The Fugitive
Blacksmith or Events in the History
James w. G. Pennington, Pastor OF
Presbyterian Church in New York, fol-
merly Il slave in the State OF Maryland
United States" from which we gathe
the following condensed view Of the mar
rative. Mr.. Pennington was former!,.
Pastor of the Morgan street Church
Hartford.
As stated in the title of the book, Mr.
p was born slave in Maryland-and,
almost of course, his education was en-
tirely neglected. At the age Of eleven,
he was placed under slave in his mas
ter's employ, to learn the blacksmlth's
trade. and continued in that business un-
til he was 81. His aptness at his trade
procured for him the reputation OF being
a "6rst rate blacksmith" The cruel
eatment # his father and family by his
brutal master, coupled with the dread
ever present to his mind Of being sold
into a worse bondage than that to which
he was subject, was the occasion OF his
determination to fly from the scene Of SO
much crime and misery. This resolution
WA come to without counsel or I'D ice
from any one, but not without deep and
anxious reflection. He felt that 1t Was
crisis in his life" vhe hour was now
come, and the man mus no act and be
free. or remain slave forever" His
knowledge of the country was slight in
deed. All the information he p ssessed
was, that the adjoining State OF Penn
svlyania was free, but he was ignorant
where the soil of the free state began
With such slender peans Of information,
it NAV be supposed that his escape was
little less than a miracle. At 2 O'Clock
81 on the morning of Sabbath In Novem-
her. 1928, the Young slave stole away
from his maste.' house. A few articles
of scanty clothing and small piece of
lndia, meal bread, were the. only pro-
vision he could make for the dark and
perilous Journey before him. " l now
found myself" he says, "under cover Of
the night, a solitary wanderer from home
and friends; my only guide was the north
star-by this knew my general course
no,,hwsrd hut at what point should
strike Pennsylvania, or when or where
should find a friend, ! knew not" At
the dawn Of morning, he found shelter
in the midst of an open country, in a
shock of corn, where he passed the whole
day in a squattipg position, with nothing
but his crust of bread to afford nourish-
mvnt. At night he sailed forth to pur-
sue his journey. but the clouds prevented
the guidance of the star Of hope. The
end day was also passed in ambush, with
out any other food than few sour ap-
ples. which he had found in the road
His falling strength permitted him to
make but little progress during the third
night. At day break he found Himself in
a turnpike road, sixty-two niles from
home. This information ne obtained
from the only person he had thus tar met
lad aboutstwelve years old. he was
now ON the high road to Philadelphia
a road which, as he learnt from young
man whom he met as he passed along,
was thronged with people who would
inevitably arrest him before he had gone
many miles. The warning was neglect
ed. and in short time he found himself
confronted bv a man who demanded his
passport. The declaration that he was
free did not avail. He fled, and was fol.
lowed others joined in the pursuit, and
he was captured. We will not attempt
to describe the subsequent events, which
are told in a graphic and simple style.
Suffice it to say, that after one 'neffectu-
al attempt to escape, ne was more sue
cessful q second time, md at nighttall he
found himself alone in wood, dragging
his way through b,iars and thorns, wa
ding I'll ough marshy ground and bitches,
under a dark and cloudy sky. The fol-
lowing description will convey some idea
Of his critical position during the next
two days:
"The day dawned upon me when !
was near small house and barn, situate
close to the road side. The barn was too
near the road, and too small to afford Sc
cue shelter for the day; but as | cast
my eye around by the dim light, / could
see no wood and NO larger barn. 1t
seemed to be an open country to wide
extent. The sun was travelling rapidly
from his eastern chamber, and ten or If
teen minutes would spread broad day
light over my track. Whether my deed
was evil, you may Judge; but l freely
confess that / did then prefer darkness
rather than light. therefore took to
the NOV Of the little barn at a great risk,
ms the events of the day will show. 1t
so happened that the barn was filed with
corn fodder. newly cured and lately got
ten in. You are aware that however
\