Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1861-03-16
Tbe Antt Gluuerp Buole.
Prom the Toronto Globe.
THE FUGITIVE ANDERSON.

MS EARLY LIFE AND ESCAPE rRoN SLAVERY.
John Anderson was born in the year 1881, in
Howard county, State Of Missouri. His mother
was the slave Of one Burton, carpenter, who
lived on a small farm near Fayette. His father,
who was almost white, served q steward on
board steamer, which called on the Missouri
but made his escape to South America while An
derson was yet young. His mother remained
with Burton ill Anderson was seven years old,
when she and her master had a quarrel. Young
Anderson was raised" by Mrs. Burton, Of whom
ho speaks highly. lie was brought up on the
farm, and in process of time gained such u
knowledge of farming that he undertook its man
agement. Tobacco, wheat, ana corn are the prin-
cipal crops in that part of Missouri and sufici-
eut quantity Of stock is kept by every farmer.
Anderson acquired great proficiency in running,
jumping, and other athletic amusements usually
practised by the slaves in the vening, which af-
terwarjs proved of great service to him. The
slaves are allowed weeks holiday at Christmas,
which from Anderson's account, they seem to
spend pleasantly. During this holiday season,
they frequently meet in the evenings to sing aad
dance. Anderson, however, never delighted in
dancing, not thinking it proper amusement.
Many Of the slaves grew toba eco, &C., on their
own account, and in this way some acquired sufi-
cient neans to purchase their freedom.
Anderson is a Free Will Baptist BY profession,
and was regular attendant Oh the services of
that denomination. He never heard any minis
ters denouncng slavery. Any who would do so
woald not be allowed to preach. When about
twenty years of age he was married by Free
Will Baptist minister to a slave, the property OF
one Brown, who resided two miles from Burton's
Alter Mrs. Burton's death. Burton and Anderson
had a dispute, which ended in his being sold to
one Mcdonald, who lived in Glasgow, thirty miles
from Fayette. Being thus separated from his wife,
Anderson was much disconteoted and from this
time be watched for an opportunity to make his
escape to Canada, of which he had frequently
thought before. Mcdonald, who was a harder
task-master than Burton, to prevent Anderson
from going to his wife, selected one for him q.
monG his own slaves, but Anderson would not be-
come party to SO dishonorable an arrangement
For his wife he always entertained great affection
In September, 1S53 when be had been about
two months with Mcdonald he made his escape
Mcdonald was at the church, INVESTIGATING case
of a slave having been whipped to death, when
AGderson rode of on one of his masters mules to
branch Of the Missouri, at point where there
was ferry. The rcrryman being under order to
prevent all slaves who had no passes from cross
ing, asked Anderson for his pass. Anderson re-
piled that he did no! require one, but the rerryman
would not allow hin to go over. Riding back
with the mule into the woods he remained there
t;l1 l. Il -
was on the point of se!zing boat that was lying
on the bank, when some one appearing, he was
compelled TO retrea: into the woods, where he lay
till within two hours Of daJbreak. lie then ven
tured once more to the bank, and found sklf
without cars, lying by the river. He supplied
himself with piece Of bark, and using this as
paddle, he got across the stream. He had now
for the first time been in q boat. He then re-
paired to the house of his father-n-law, who was
a ferryman and barber by trade, and from him
he obtained some refreshment. His father-in-law
being told that he was on his way to Canada offer
ed Anderson pistol, which he refused. lie next
visited his wife and child, and aifectiOnatey bid
ding them farewell he went on his way, determine
ed to obtain his freedom, which from his youth up
be seems to have considered his inherent birth
right He had formed tho resolve to sacrifice his
liberty only with his life
1t was about noon on the second day after his
leaving Mcdonald, that man named Digges met
him and asked him FOR his pass. When Anderson
said he had no pass, Digges with his slaves chased
him, and in the conflict that eDsued Dgges was
wounded and Anderson escaped uninjured. About
week after his adventure with Dgges, Anderson
1und shelter for a nigh in barr, where he met
colored boy, from whom he purchased some pro-
visions. This boy told him that his sister had
oeen sold by his master about week before. At
his Anderson's generous heart was moved, and
~ way of retaliation he determined to run away
With one of his horses. But while he was endea-
Ioring to carry out his purpose, the farmer noun
ed his horse and pursued Anderson, who escaped !
o field where the man could not reach him.
Anderson, however was fred at, bat sustained no
lamage. He usually travelled by night and got
What rest he could during the day. He suffered
much from want of food, sometimes not tasting
my for several days; and often he had to content
himself with corn, hazel nuts, pawpaws, and raw
potatoes. A dollar and half was all the money
10 had when he started on his perilous journey,
md Of this he never spent any except when COM
'elled to do SO by extreme hunger.
One day while resting himself by the way side
nan on horseback rode up and attempted 10 cap
ore him, but Anderson fed to a neighboring field
nd found protection among the stalks of corn
n the evening he came back to the public road
md observed fire in the woods not far distant.
Imagining that some people were engaged hus-
ing corn he went to the spot, and discovered that
he man who had attempted to catch him during
he day was lying in wait. Seeing at once that
his was one of the numerous expedients resOrted
o by slave pursuers, he took to fight and after
1aards carefully avoided falling into any such
rsps.
Impslled by necessity to resort to any sxpsdisnt
, satisfy the cravings Of hunger, he one day en-
sred farm house by :he kitchen door, and hnd-