The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-26
THE DEATH OF THOMAS GARRETT.
The Liberatur Of 27OO Slaves.
Novel Liquor Licensing.
Blowing Great Guns at Duluth.
ETC, Etc.s Etc.. Etc.s FAC.
THOMAS GARRETT.

The story of Brave. Good Mnu-The Libe-
rntOr OF 27OO slaves.
As sequel to the sketch published in The
TELEGRAPH yesterday of the venerable Thomas
Garrett, we give herewith the following par
ticulars of the good mans life, condensed from
very interesting article in the Wilmington
Commercial of last evening"
He born of Quaker parents, In Upper
Darby, Delaware county, Pa, on the 2lst Of
August, 1883, on a farm still in the possession
of the family. His father, though farmer,
had been a scythe and edge-tool maker and
Thomas learned of him the trade and his
knowledge Of it afterwards proved of the
utmost advantage to him.
OF course, Thomas Garrett is best known for
his labors in behalf of the abolition of slavery
and q practical and effective worker for
emancipation long before the nation COM
menced the work of liberation and Justice.
HE attention was fret directed to the iuiquity
of slavery while he was young man of twenty
four or twenty-five. He returned one day to
his fathers house, after q brief absence, aud
found the family dsmayed and indignant at the
kidnapping of a colored woman in their
employ.
Thomas Immediately resolved to follow the
kidpappers, and so started in pursuit. Some
peculiarly about the track made by their
wagon enabled him to trace them with ease
and he followed them by devious course from
Darby to place near the Navy Yard in Phla-
delphia, and then by inquiries, etc, tracked
them to kensingtOn, where he found them and
secured the woman's release.
Many and interesting stories are told of the
men and women he helped away, come of them
full of pathos, and some decidedly amusing
The necessity Of avoiding the police was the
only thing, however, which ever forced him into
any secrecy in his operations, and in all other
respects he was without concealment and with
out compromise" in his opposition to slavery.
he was man OF unusual personal bravery and
of powerful physique and did not present
encouraging object for the bullying intimida-
tion by which the pro-slavery men of that day
generally overawed their opponents. He seems
to have scarcely known what fear was.
HIS efforts, OF course, brought him much per-
secution and annoyance, but never eliminated
in anything really serious until about the year
1886 or AZ.
He then met at New Castle man, woman,
and six children from down on the Eastern
Shore of Maryland. The man was free, the
woman had been n slave, and while in slavery
had had by her husband two children. She was
then set free and afterwards had four children.
The whole party ran away. They travelled
several days, and finally reached Middetown
late at night, where they were taken in, fed,
and cared for by John Hum, wealthy Quaker
there. They were watched, however, by some
persons in that section, who followed them,
arrested them, aud sent them to New Castle to
Jail. The Sheriff and his daughter we're anti
slavery people, and wrote to Mr. Garrett to
come over. He went over, had an interview,
found from their statement that four of the
party were undoubtedly free, aud returned to
this city. On the following day he and United
States Senator Wales went over and had the
party taken before Judge Booth on a writ of
habeas corpus. Judge Booth decided that there
was no evidence on which to hold them, and
that in the absence of evidence the presunp-
ton tods ARRAYS IN JaCOr of freedom, and dis
charged them.
They finally escaped of course the two chill
dren born In slavery amongst the rest.
Six weeks afterwards the Shareholders fol-
lowed them, and melted, it is said, by the
Cochrans and James A. Bayard. commenced a
suit against Mr.. Garrett, claiming all the fugi-
tives as slaves. Mr.. Garrett's friends claim that
nH m nAp
dict The trial came on before Chief Justice
TaDey and Judge Hall, in the May term OSiS)
OF the United States Court, sitting at New Castle,
Bayard representing the prosecutors and Wales
the defendant. There were four trials in all
lasting three days. We have not room here for
the details of the trial, but the juries awarded
even heavier damages than the plaintiffs claimed
and the judgments swept away every dollar of
his property.
When the trials were concluded Mr.. Garrett
arose, the court being adjourned, made a speech
OF an hour TO the large crowd In the court room,
In the course OF which he declared his inten-
ton to redouble his eXertions so help him God.
HIS bold assertion was greeted with mingled
cheers and hisses, and at the conclusion Of his
speech one of the jurors who had convicted him
strobe across the benches grasped his hand,
and begged forgiveness.
Mr. Garrett kept his pledge and redoubled his
exertions. The trial advertised him, and such
was the demand on him for shelter that he was
compelled to put another story on his back
buildings. His friends helped him to start again
In business, and commencing anew In his sXtieth
year with nothing, he again amassed hand
some competence generously contributing all
the while to every work in behalf of the down
trodden blacks or his suffering fellow-men of
any color.
In time the war came, aud as he remarked,
the nation went into the business by the whole
sale, so he quit his retail operations, having,
after he commenced to keep a record, helped
OIL over 200 slaves, and no inconsiderable
number before that time.
In time, too he came to be honored instead
of eXecTated for his noble efforts. Wilmington
became an abolition city, and for once at least
a prophet was not without honor in his OWL
city.
He was beloved almost TO alteration by hi,
dusky-hued friends, and in the dark days of the
beginning of the war, which every Wilmingto
nian will remember with q shudder, in those
days of doubt, confusion, and suspicion, with
out his knowledge or consent, Thomas CARROTS
house was constantly surrounded and watched
by faithful black men, resolved that, come wea
come woe to them, no harm should eomt
the benefactor of their race.
TFT WHISKY PAY FOR IT'S CRIMES