Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-03-22
from the Cleveland LeaIer,
LIBERTY OR DEATH.

~ thNb hOtN NihhO tbOhN "h'Nh BOS' "ti
in which the award Of merit will not depend upon
the color Of a mans skin, the noble daring of some
Of the fugitive slaves who have escaped to Canada
during the past winter, will form the theme for
the praises of the orator and the poet. They will
rank alongside Of those hardy deeds which OUT
fathers performed during their great struggle fol
freedom. They will be carried down to the re
hottest generations, as the memcntoes Of an age II
which bondmen rose up, and by their noble daring
elected the admiration of those who, before, haC
doubted their humanity, But we are not 80 reck
lessly imprudent as to forfeit the esteem of the
great American people by claiming, that, in Mit
enlightened age, a noble deed in a Negro should
exbite the highest admiration of ichite men Yet
we shall be bold enough to relate an instance Of
daring, which, if it had been performed 10y DR..
Kane, or Capt. lnGraham, or some other noted
parsonage, would have called out the unanimou
praise Of the American people.
The chditels Of certain praying and devout men
citizens of the enlightened State of Kentucky
formed the wicked design of ceasing to work ioi
nothing and so they prepared to fly TO the pro-
fame Abolitionists of the North, who, it must be
borne in mind, impiously deny that a man with
"a black skin is property. The chdttels, taking ad'
vantage of the icy pathway across the Ohio river,
soon left behind them the land in which is prac-
ticed the doctrine that the rod Of correction, il
applied to slaves, ~bringeth a man riches and
honor" The wicked people Of Ohio, unmindful
of their duty to the law and the Constitution, au'
utClOuSiy eDCOuruBeu tne CNuttttS, buu SdNe tleHI
meat and drink, and put money in their purses
that they might have the sw%herewith to buy food
for themselves when they should come among
strangers. After many strange adventures, they
arrived at SaEdusky, where they were put under
the charge of some members of the great Amer
lean Track society, who learning that some pious
kentuckians, armed with a Commissioner war
rant, were seeking the ~fugitives, placed them Ill a
sleigh well provided with clothing and provisions,
and babe the trusty driver deliver them safe in
Canada. For the remainder of the narrative, we
are indebted to a gentlemen from Windsor, who
conversed with the chattels.
After crossing Sandusky Bay, they made direct
ly for the Islands" where they arrived before
dusk. Here they partook of some refreshments,
and allowed their jaded horses to rest.-Shortly
after midnight they resumed their perilous jour-
ney but after proceeding a few miles, they were
beset with q furious snow storm and lost their
way. About nine o'clock next morning, they found
Themselves near land, which they at first took to
be Canada, but, on a close inspection, they discov-
cred they were near the spot from which they had
started on the previous night. The driver had
some difficulty in persuading the f~ngitiyea to-land'
and surre NJ shars insistod on starting for Canada
on foot. Finally their fears were overcome, and
they consented to land. A succession Of snow
storms continued throughout the day, and it was
not till nearly midnight that the party could again
set out for the land where no Fugitive Law is in
force.
After proceeding about fifteen miles, they were
besct with another snow storm, and, rs if to add
to their difficulties, they came to an opening in the
ice. varying from five to eight feet in width. They
followed it several miles westward, and found that
it become wider then they retraced their course,
and continued eastward with no better success.
The driver said it was useless to attempt TO Gloss
with the team, and proposed that the fugitives
should leap the barrier and pursue the remainder
of their hazardous journey alone. One OF the
chatels, with a presence of mind which would en-
title Il chHe man to the highest praise, suggested
that Il bridge might be formed Of the sleigh. il
was accordingly taken to pieces, a passage con
structed across the opening, aud the horses with
difficulty forced over it. Several hours were vast.
ed in the operation, and a succession OF snow
storms followed each other, the party did not ar
rive at their goal till long after nightfall. As
soon as they touched til, Canadian shore, they al
knelt down and returned thanks to the being who
had preserved them through their remarkable
p%erils. Our children will speak Of this adventure
as one of the most singular on record but we
who are so much more enlightened than future
generations, know that it would be absurd to attacl
any importance to the love which black people
have for freedom.
These heroic persons were the same who started
in company with the unfortunate Garner famil,
whom Commissioner Pendery and Judge Leavit
sent back to Kentucky and Slavery. These Ken
tuckians are n race of noble heroes. How infa
nous the tyrants who take advantage of their weak
ness and enslave them. What shall we say of thu
people Of Ohio who permit such men aud womeI
to be hunted like wolves on their soil.