The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-07-22
Friday Morning, July %, 1864.
Twelve Years in Kentucky Prison
INTERVENING NARRATIVE.


Some weeks ago it was announced that 1t.
Gov. Jacobs OF Kentu,: :ky mad pardoned Rev.
Calvin Fairbsnk out OF tie penitentiary ofthat
State during the temporary absence of Gov.
Bramlette. A correspondent OF the Chicago
Tribune, who has recently had an interview
with Mr.. Fairbank, gives the following Inter
esting narratiye:-
In November, 1851, Rev. Mr.. Fairbank was
In Louisville on business connected with the
Oberlin (OhioD Institute, and while there was
made acquainted with the case OF young
slave girl, nearly white, who was e.1deavoring
TO escape to the free States. She as the pro-
perty oil one A. l.. Shortwell OF Louisville, and
was named 'Tamar. The story she related TO
Mr. Fairbank-though such as thousands in
her condition could truly relate-so worked
on his feelings and so aroused his sympathies
and indignation that he determined TO render
her es cape certain. On the night OF Novem-
Der 2, they crossed the Ohio from Louisville
20 Jefel sonville, Indiana. The girl secreted
hers self in field while he went in pursuit OF q
horse aud buggy.
Before daylight he got her, cold aud be-
numbe,i, into the buggy, and that day NOV.
Sd drove thirty four miles into Indiana, pl &c
ed her among friends and himself returned nj "a
the horse and buggy to Jefiersonylle, where
he remain ,ed about week. On his way TO
church the following Sunday, he was assault
ed and seiz ed by William Ronald, then Mar
shal Of Lou isville, Kentucky, tnow Sheriff },
and one Sta mlett, a H,stchman, assisted by said
Shortwell, and thus kidnapped. he wss taken
by force from Indiana in 70 Kentucky. lie
was thrown into prison in louisville, where
he lay about five months awaiting trial, bail
being required in the sum Of five thousand dol
lars, which be Of course was unable 10 procure
In that State.
On the 18th of February, 1852, Mr.. 'eiroank
was arraigned for trial Although no direct
evidence was offered and nothing but the
slightest circumstantial evidence given, 7ch
a his being seen in Louisville on the sal ne
night the girl escaped. still being determine
10 punish him under the slave laws they con
vlcted him under their statute relating TO en-
ticing slaves, and he was sentenced TO fifteen
years imprisonment. During the time OF his
imprisonment he was subjected TO the most
brutal, wicked and inhuman treatment con-
ce.' 'vable. When he first entered the prison.
the profits arising from the labor of the pris-
oners were divided between the State and the
Warde or prison contractor. Each prisoner
was req uired TO perform an allotted amount of
work, which was equal TO what a strong, well
man could do at the utmost exertion of his
strength an endurance.
Mr.. Farba. .1ks strength and health soon fail
ed him he was utterly incapable of performing
his tasks. Then commenced the horrible bru-
tality TO which be was subjected. He was pat
at the hardest dir test work and orders were
given by Newton Craig-the then Warden
10 kill him. The insulting language constant
ly addressed to him, the hated tones of voice
and insolent and abusive manner, TO say moth
ing oil the horrible oaths directed TO him, were
enough to PROSTATE man Of his refined and
sensitive mind. But all this was nothing COM
pared TO the horrible whippings inflicted upon
his naked person Forced TO lean forward
over a stool, chair or bench, be was made to
strip, and then, with a sole-leather strap eigh-
teen inches in length, two inches wide and A.
bout three-eighths OF an inch thick, soaked in
water aud fastened to handle about two feet
long, he was fogged sometimes daily. some
times four tunes day, for not performing
heavier task tha., 1t was possible for him 10 10
50 his state OF health. He was given from two
10 one hundred and seven lashes st time.
Sometimes he would escape fogging fof
iuonth, and once six months passed OF with
o.lt his being whipped. During the time be
was imprisoned, he was brutaly fiogged
mor,s than one thousand times because be
had 'ot, through weakness and exhaustion,
funlle.' tasks imposed upon him. On one
occasion, during last winter, keeper named
Whiteside.. and the only humane man con-
nected with the prison management, had d.
r r. ~ .
wood. While doing this, an under keeper
named Jeffries came along and Sskd Mr..
Fairbank roughly, what he was doing that
for Mr.. Fairbstn.S replied that he was do
ing Ii by order o. Mr.. Whileside. JeAries
ordered him not 70 cord up any more wood,
and Mr.. Fairbsnk replying that he must do
as directed by the officer highest in authori-
ty, Jehries in rage seized STICK Of wood,
and struck Mr.. +. over the temple blow
that cut 10 the skuii knocking him blind and
senseless. End which placed him in the prison
hospital for several weeks, and from which,
owing TO q le shock to the brain, as in the case
OF the asss ut upon Sc nator Sumner by Bully
Brooks, he has not yet fully recovered.
How many times did the heartof the poor
prisoner sink withio him. how many times
he prayed earn estly that death might end his
sufI-rings; how he was kept alive, and was
permitted to hope on, AID live, is known only
TO his God. Yet it is g eat wonder how the
mind could have been pr eserved from utter
wreck aud ruin-how il wa that insanity did
not deprive him, long since, 9f ali conscious
ness OF the cruel wrongs he was ophgea TO
suffer and endure.
But have we not the explanah on In the
knowledge that he surely posse sed, mat
there was g loving and devoted heat, made
all the more loving, devoted and eonsi ant, by
his civil bondage, and the honors TO WI ich he
was subjected? Was il not that he kne ", or
had faith to believe, that her efforts in his be-
half would never cease? And that he oA ed
il TO her, if not 10 himself, TO endesyor 10
bear with Christian patience and manly iort-
tude the grievous affliction: which he was
compelled to experience?
AT the time OF the imprison nent of Rev,
Mr.. Fairdank, he was engaged to be married
10 Miss Madona Tileston, of williamsburg,
Mass, young lady of rare personal attrac-
tons and mental endowme,uts. And the
qualities both Of mind and heart which this
estimable lady possessed will be best illustrat-
ed by stating that during sll the time of his
imprisonment, from November. 1851. to ABR.
1861 Mr.. +. was the one particular object OF
all her thoughts, and all her devoted afEec.
fions. Her lov.ng. cheerful, and hopeful let
tiers were the staff OF life TO him. Though
stripped of all his money, clothing and prop
erty when he was imprisoned, after bis other
means failed, she sent him money with whicl
10 supply his wants-iurnishe1 him bed
bedding, towels, lnen and funds with which
TO supply himself with suitable food, coffee
tea, &c, and to supply him with such com
forts as it was possible to do, and that b
might not be obliged to eat the miserah'
prison fare which was supplied by the Ward
en. She visited him in person in 1858, 1855
1859, 1850, 1868, making constant efforts Il
obtain his pardon.
At length, after twelve years, one mont
and six days Imprisonment 10 the State prisol
at Frankfort, beside the four months be wa
In jM st Louisville, Mr.. Fairbank received