Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-06-20
Frori the Cleveland Leader.
UNCLE TOMS CABIN-BL00M-
.. FIELD, OHIO.


Thirty or thirty-fve years since, negro
with his wife and three little children were
seen one Saturday afternoon on foot COM
Ing up the road from Warren to Bloom
field. Itwas late IN the fall. and the rains !
and snow had made the mud deep and MI I
ry. Bloomfield at that time had a Store
Blacksmith Shop, Meeting House, School
House and Tavern. \ turnpike had been
constructed from Warren in Trumbull Co.,
to the Lake at Ashtabula Creek, which |
placed bloomfield on the line of travel.
The poor darkies carrying their smallest
children in their arms ragged, cold, and
nearly exhausted, called at the house Of Ar.
Harris, the village landlord, who IS still
supposed to be living in Paiucsville. Mr..
H., now known as Judge Harris received
them and asccrtaining that they we're fugi-
tives from slavery, did to them as he would
be done by. On Sunday they continued
their weary way towards Canada, along the
turnpike, making all haste to leave the land
of the free, and the home of the brave In
the afternoon three men on horseback call
ed at the tavern, who stated to Alr. Har-
ris that they were in pursuit of the fugi-
tives, and as they were 50 near and were
very much fatigued, they would stop with
him till morning and take an carly start.
They were the owner, his son. and super
pumerary. As soon as the afternoon ser
vices at the Meeting House were overit be-
came noised abroad that the slaye-catchers
we're about. Little coterics of western
Yankees collected in the fence corners ard
around large stumps probably to digest the
sermon more perfectly. Somehow without
any public demonstration, it was arranged
that as soon as it became dmk team should
start northward and anticipate the gentle
men from Virginia.
J Perhaps John Weed, if he is living and
Wm. II. Otis, remember something about
these arrangements. The negroes had ac-
complishcd about twelve miles that day
and had found at night liberal landlord
whose name and place We arc unable to
give, but who had preferred the fugitlyts
food and lodging without money and with
out price. Uncle Tom, however, was not
asleep when the wagon express arrived at
about midnight His rest was harrassel
by fears. and hearing the noise of an arri-
val imagined that it bOded no good to him.
The landlord assured him that they were
his friends and had come to help him
Uncle Tom doubted When they described
the men at Bloomfield, he knew his master
was among them and consented to be stow
cd away in the hay loft over the stable
The plan was to keep the negroes concealed
until their hunters had passed by. and thcr
, take the back track for Bloomfield.
Those who remained at home had also
part to play. During the night some ono
entered the stable and took off one of the
shoes of the owner shorse. This fact seem:
to have mysteriously become known to Mr.
Barnes, the Blacksmith; or it may have
been accidentally; but SO it was he was not
seen that morning belabOring his piece o
rcd-hot iron as usual. No ono knew OF In
whereabouts. Breakfast was had at th'
tavern very carly, and the horses prompt,
brought out Unfortunately one of the hor
scs WIS lame, and on close inspection did
not appear to have as many shoes as he hat
feet. Take him to the blacksinith-hur
ry-be lively" Such were the owners or
ders. All this hustle and energy, however
did not make tie blacksmith hurry, eyel
after he was discovered Various difficult
ties and hindranccs occurred in getting tn
: shop open, in starting the fire, fixing tn
/, necessary tools, making nails, &c. Iher
! was nothing resembling a hurry.
5 In their haste, the evening previous, tn
= 1ursuers had passed toll gate without pay
: ing and this gave rise to some discusslo
: about legal process that they did not re
S ish. Their business demanded disPatcl
V The shoe was at last fxcd, good pric
/ charged and the cavaleadc started oft thr
], the mud, confident of success. As the
0 rode up to the next tavern, Uncle Tom wit
$, one eye at or, OK in the weather boardm
% of the barn bchcll his veritablc master an
'. knew that he was in the hands of his trU
r friends. On went the three htrsemen t
!, wards the Lake, the lumber wagon W;
10 brought out, five scared negroes put IN
d and the night express took the road back
D; Bloomfield
nc 1t was singular, but the NirginianS o.
nc tanned no further trace of their chattels
to the turnpike or off from it. The owner al
fit his son secured the country adjacent al
y the hired man returned in aday or two
in the route he came. In the eastern part
es bloomfield IS large swamp, to which
.. blind and little used road had been mat
nd through the woods. onits return the luI
ks Der wagon quietly got into this unfrcque
he ted road, and before it reached the sw2r
Uncle Tom, his wife and progeny were
seonced in thick forest. y small eaI
IL ygas Immediately put up '7here they spe
. sae winter. 1t went by the name OF II
t.; eie Toms Cabin
The innocent supernumerary was deta
cd at the turnpike gate on has return
'he be dealt with according to the laws ma
and provided against those who pass 81