The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-06-09

~ tiuaA pun spoke rs ioliOWB: CRIME ABOUT
1850 or before.) IS, ss .
may here allude briefly to the escape Of
Henry Box Browrl-not as secret, but
simply with o view of explaining certain
particulars relative to his escape and recep-
tioh--Whicli think have never been pub.
iished. Brown was man Of invention as
well az hero. In point Of interest. how
ever, his case is. no more remarkable than
many others. Indeed, neither before nor
after escaping did he suffer one-half what
many others have experienced.
lie was decidedly an unhappy niece of
property in the city of Richmond, va, In
the condition of q slave he felt that il would
6c impossible for him to remain. Full well
did he know, however, that it was no holt
day task to escape the vigilance of Virginia
slaVe-hunters, or the wrath of an enraced
master for committing the objectionable sin
OF attempting to escape to land of liberty.
so Brown counted we'll the cost before ven
turing upon this hazardous undertaking.
ordinary modes Of travel he concluded
might prove disastrous to his hopes he
therefore hit upon new invention alto
gethcr, which was to have himself boxed
up and forwarded to Philadelphia direct
by express. The size of the box
and how it was to be made to fit
him most comfortably was of his own order
ing. Two feet eight inches deep, two feet
wide, and three feet long, were the exact
dimensions Of the box, lined with baize.
His resources with regard to food and
water consisted of the following: One
bladder Of water and few small bis
cults. His mechanical implements to meet
the demands OF death-struggle for fresh
air, all told, was one large gimlet. Thus
satisfied that it would be far Better to peril
his life for freedom in this way than to re-
main under the yoke, he entered his box,
which was safely nailed up and hoped with
five hickory hoops, and was then addressed
by his next friend, James A. Smith, shoe
dealer, to William Ii. johnson, Arch street,
Philadelphia, marked "This side up with
care" In this condition he WAS sent to
Adams's Express office in dray, and thence
by overland express to Philadelphia. It
was twenty-siX hours from the time he
left Richmond until his arrival in the
City of Brotherly Love. The notice, "This
side up" etc, did not avail with the diff
fcrent eXpressmen, who hesitated not to
handle the box in the usual rough man.
nGr common to this class Of men. For
awhile they actually had the box upside
down, and had himon his head for miles.
A few days before he was expected, certain
intimation was conveyed to me that O box
might be expected by the 3 o'clock morn.
Ing train from the South which might con-
tain man. One of the most solemn walks
ever took-and they have not been few
to meet and accompany passengers I took
ut * O'Clock that morning to the depot.
Not once, but more than score of times.
l fancied he would be dead. I anxiously
looked while the freight was being unload
ed from the cars to see If I could recognize
Il box that might contain man one alone
bad that appearance, and confess it really
seemed to have dead mans smell about it.
But, OH inquiry, soon learned that it Was
not the one was looking after, and I am
free to say | experienced a marked sense of
relief. That same afternoon, however,
received from Richmond a telegram which
read thus: "Your case of goods is shipped,
and will arrive next morning."
Here mattcrsSeemed increasingly alarm
ing, and it was deemed wise to seek coun-
sci from one who not only understood about
underground railroad operations, but was
ground railroads. Hence X. NJ. Davis, who
had ever been ready and willing with his
sympathy and means to help Oh the cause,
seemed to be just the friend needed for the
occasion, and accordingly he was entrusted
with the responsible Office of seeing that the
box WAS duly brought from the depot very
early the next morning and landed at the
anti-Slavcry Office Being In daily inter-
course with Adams's Express Company as
Il merchant, he would not be suspected was
the idea. lie therefore arranged with one
of the drivers to so ut al unusually early
hour after tho box, and with the strict or
der he cave the man no handed him Il five
dollar gold piece with the understanding
that promptnesS and care would be OBJ
served,
Next morning. aecordingto arrangement.
the box was at the anti-slavery office in due
time. The witnesses present to behold the
resurrection were j. Nj. Mckim, Professor
{. D. Cleveland, Lewis Thompson, and my
self.
Mr.. McKim was intensely interested.
Many years identity with the anti-sl;lvcry
cause as one of its Oldest and ablcst advO-
Gates in the darkest days Of slavery and
mobS, .vlo, in times of dread ordcals, had
not INDEPENDENTLY been found by the side of
the fugitive, to counsel and succor, was
quite calm.
Professor Cleveland was greatly moved.
His zeal and carnestneSs in the cause of
freedom, especially in rendering aid to pas
senecrs. knew no limit: Ordinarily he could
not too often visit these travellers, shake
them too warmly by the hand, or impart to
them too freely Of his substance to aid them
OH their journey. But now he is very So
|, mu.
Mr.. Thompson, of the firm of Mcrrihew
81 Thompson, about The only printers i'll
the city who for many years dared TO print
such inccndiary uo8iliilents as anti-slavcry
papers and pamphlets, and "as one of the
trucst friends OF the slave, was composed
| and prepared to witness the scene. All
| WAS very quiet now. The door had been
safely locked. The operation be~i'.s. Mr..
Mckim wrapped f.t:iet.f on the lid of the
| box, ;tnd called out, "All right?' In
>tantly came the answer from within, g All
| right, sir:' | shall never forget that NO.
mcnt. Saw and hatchct quickly had tie line
hickory hoons est AID the lid off, and the
marvellous resurrection of Brown ensued.
Rising up i'll his box, he reached out his
hand, saying, GLOW do you do, gentle
mem" gratefully. The witnesses hardly
knew what to think or do at the Moment.
out Of tic Delaware. Very soon he re-
marked that before leaving Richmond lie
had selected for his arrival hymn Gf he
liyed) the Psalm beginning with these
words: 81 acaited patiently for the Lord
| and he heard f,1y prayer" And most beau
tifully did he execute this task. much to his
own satisfaction as well as 10 the delight of
his small audience.
lie was then christencd Henry Box
| Brown, and soon afterwards was sent to the
| hospitabIc residence Of James Mott and e.
| NJ. Davis, on Ninth street, where; it is
needless to say; he met nsdst cordial re.
ception from tfrs. Lucreta Mott and her
household. Clothing and creature COM
! forts were furnished in abundance, and de-
light and joy filled all hearts in this strong.
hold Of philanthropy.
! As he had been 50 long doubled up in the
box he needed to promenade considerably