The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-08-19
Twelve Years in Kentucky Prison.

had parioned. Rev. Calvin Fairbank ont Of
the penitsntiary of tha, State during The
temporary absence of Gov. Bramle,te. 4
correspondent of the Chicago Tribune. who
has recently had an interview with Mr.. Fair
bank, gives the following interesting nara
tive:
In November, 1851, Rev. Mr. Fairhank
was in Louisville on business connected with
the Oberiin (Ohio) Institute, and while there
was made acquainted with the case of young
slave girl, nearly white. xho was endearorin2
to escape to the free States. She vas the prop
erty Of 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 ard so aroused his sympa,hies
and indignation that he determined 10 rendt
her escape certain. On the night of Novem-
Der "a they crossed the Ohio from Louisvil,
to Je!fersonville, Ir diana. The girl secretel
herself in field, while he We IT in pursuit ol
horse and buggy.
Before daylight he got her cold and be
nun.bed. into the buggy, and that day NOV
y drove 81 miles into Indiana, placed her
among friends, and himself returned with
the horse and buggy to Je:fersonvile, where
tie remained about a week. On his wa,
TO church the following SUNDAY, he was
assaulted and seized BY VIM. Ronald, then
Marshall of Louisville. Ky, (now Sheriff.
and one Stamlett, watchman, assisted b,
said Shortwell, and thus kidnapped, he was
taken BY force from Indiana into Kentucky.
He was thrown into prison in Louisville.
where he lay about FIVE months awaiting trial.
bail being required in the sum Of 5000,
which. he, Of course, was unable to pocure III
that State.
On the 18th of February, 1852. Mr.. Fair
bank was arraigned for trial. Although n
direct evidence was offer, d, and nothing but
the slightest circumstantial evidence given.
such as being seen in Louisville On the san:e
night the girl escaped, still he:rg determined
10 punish him under the slave laws, they con-
yicted him under their statute relating IL
enticing slaves, ard he was sentenced tc f.
teen years imprisonment. During the i'm.
OF his Imprisonment be was subjected 20 III.
most brutal. wicked and inhunan Treatment
possible. When he first entered the prison.
the profits arising from the labor of the pris-
oners were divided between he State and
the warden or prison contractor. Each pris-
oner was required TO perform an allotted
amount oI work. wh:ea .a"ai n --ha.
strong. well man could do at the utmost ex-
ert:on o! his strength and endurance.
Ma. Fairbanks strength and health soon
failed him, and he was utterly incapable of
performing his tasks. Then commenced the
brutality 10 which he was subjected. He was
put at the hardest. dirtiest work. and orders
were given by Newton Craig. the ;Len War
den. 10 " Kill him." The insulting language
constantly addressed tn him, the hated tones
of voice, and insolent, abusive manner. 10
say nothing of the many horrible oa,hs d.;
rected 10 him, were enough 10 rros,ra,e a
man of his refined and sensitive mind. But
ali this was as nothing compared 10 The hor
roie whipping inflicted upon his naked per
son. Forced to lean forward over a stool.
cta!r or beach. he WAS made TO slr:7, and
then. with 4 soie-lea;her strap, eighteen inc1-
es in length, two inches wide. and about
three-eights of an inch thick, soaked in wat~r.
and fastened TO a haddle about two feet long.
he was togged sometimes daily. sometimes
four times day, for not performing hear-
ier task than ii was possible for him TO DO in
his state of health. He was given from two
TO 10. lashes at time.
Sometimes he would escape 4 hog-irg for
month,aEd once six months passed off with
out his being whipped. During TIL time he
was imprisoned, he was b-u;aliy fosged more
than 900 times because he had ro: fulfilled.
through weakness and exhauiion. the task
imposed unon him. On one occasion. dur
ing the last winter, keeper named White
side, and the only humane man connected
with the prison Management, had directed
Mr.. Fairbank to cord up LOT Of wood
While doing this, an under-keeper nams,i
Jeiiries came along and asked Mr.. Fa;rbanl
roughly what he was doing that COR. Mr..
Mr.. FarDank replied that he was doing il by
order OF Mr.. Whiteside. Jeffries ordered
him not to cord up any more wood.
and Mr.. Fairbank replied that he must
do as directed by the officer highest in author
lty. Jefiries. in rage, seized a stick Of
wood, and struck Mr.. FairGank oyer The
temple blow taat cut IN the skull. knockins
him blind and s-nseiess, and which placed
him in the prison hospital Tor several weeks.
and from which owing to the Shock 10 the
brain, as in the case Of the assault upon
Sumner by Bully Brooks. he has not ye,
fully recovered.
How many times the heart Of the poor
prisoner sunk within him; how ulaBy times
ne prayed earnestly that death mi, hi end ms
sutierings how he was kept alive, and was
permitted to hope on, and l;ye, is knosn on),
to his God. Yet i, is grea, wonder hom
the mind could have been preserved from
utter wreck and ruin how il was that insan.
lty did not deprive him long since of all Coz
sclousness Of the cruel wrongs he was Obliged