The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-03-23
From the New York Church Union.
Harriet 1ubman.

Gently puDIlSncQ IOr Cue express DoucuS
of the subjects of this biography. II
was written by Mrs Sarah Bradford just
prior to her departure for Europe, and
comes to US with high endorsements
Wendell Phillips, Gerrit Smith, Fred.
Douglas, Thomas Garrett, and many
others.
1t is work of thrilling interest, the
biography of most remarkable woman,
one who has been denominated Moses,
because after her own escape from the
clutches of slavers, she went back several
times at the risk of her life, when advcr-
tisements were postei in every direction
offering $4,000 for her head, and
through her efforts succeeded in leading
nearly three hundred slaves to the Ca
naan Of freedom.
Mrs Harriet Tubman was born about
the year 1920, in Dorchester County, on
the eastern shore Of Maryland, and not
far from the town of Cambridge. Not
drop of white blood flows in her veins
fer parents are both pure blooded Afri-
cans, and they still live at the advanced
age of ninety eight, as near as can be
estimated from certain records. And
though thus aged, and living out beyond
the toll gate, on the South street road,
Auburn, N. Y, they walk in e, cry Sun
day, more than mile, to the Central
Church. after service there they 60 to
class meeting at the Methodist Church;
then they wait for third service, and
after that start for home.
The writer asked Harriet where they
got somthing to eat, and she replied in
her quiet way, "Ah, de ole folks nebber
eats anything on Sundays, Missis. We
nebber has no food to get for dem on
Sunday. Dey always fasts, and dey
nebber eats anything on Fridays
Harriet had ten brothe and sisters;
three are now living, all at the North,
and all rescued from slavery by Harriet
before the war except one sister. She
br' ught away her parents in singular
manner. They were very aged and in
firm, and therefore unable to walk long
distances. Harriet, therefore, fitted out
singular team for their accommoda-
ton. An old horse with straw collar;
pair of old chaise wheels, with a board
on the axle to sit on; another board
swung with robes, fastened to the axle
to rest their feet on. She got her par
ents, who were slaves belonging TO diff
ferent masters, on this rude vehicle to
the railroad, put them in the cars, turned
j ehu herself, and drove to Wilmington,
to the residence of the good old Quaker,
Thomas Garrett, where she was furnish.
ed with money to take them all to Can
ada.
This Thomas Garrett, whose letter is
deeply interesting respecting Harriet,
we learn from this wo:k, had himself
aided the escape of three thousand fugi.
tives.
This woman has travelled in the cars
on her errand CT mercy when posters
were put up over her head Offering Sl2,-
900 reward for her apprehension, and
she heard them read by those around
her, for she has never been able to read
a word. She had faith in God that he
would protect her, and acting upon this
faith, she went back and forth nineteen
times to lead away her suffering bond
people.
Mr.. Garrett, in his letter, says that he
never met with any person who had
more confidence in the voice of God as
spoken direct to her soul. She had fre
quently told him that she had talked
with God. and he talked with her every
day of her life, and she felt no fear of
being arrested by her master or any
other person, for she never ventured on
Y where God sent her. Mr. Garrett
states that no slave who placed himself
lnder her care was ever arrested to his
At one time she had two
stout men with her some thirty miles |
rom Wilmington, when suddenly stop |
oed, as she states, by the bidding OF
Sod She then asked what she must do. |
The voice bade her leave the road and |
urn to the left. She obcyed, and soon
.ame to small stream of water, where
here was no boat and no bridge. She
gain inquired of her guide what she
must do. He told her to go through.
It was the month Of March, and very
old, but she went in; the water came to
Ter arm pits; the men refused to follow
i'll they saw her safe on shore. They
hen followed, and then second stream
o be waded, after which they came to a
abin Of colored people who took them
n, put them in bed, and dried their
lothes.
The strange part Of the story is, that
be master of the two men had put up
Il the railway station near where sho |