The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-30
TEoHis GARRETT, TIE Ga.iT SLAVE
LEgtRiTOa.
He Aided i'm the Escape OF Tsyo ThousanA
Seven Hundred slaves.

Seven Hundred slaves.
From n short sketch OF tile lie Of Thomas Garrett
the venerable Quaker abolitOnis who recently died
at Wilmington, Del, we give tie foliowng:-
He was born or Quaker parents, in Upper Darby.
Delaware county, Pa, oil the Zst OF August 1850,
a farm stli the possession of the family His
iather, though farmer. had been a scythe and
edge too! maker. and Thomas learned OF him the
trade and his knowledge OF IL afterwards proved OF
the utmost advantage u him.
OF course Thomas Garrett Is best known for his
laborS on behalf oI the aooiition OF slavery ana
practical AMI effective worker Tor enlanc patton
long efore the nation commenced the work OF libe-
ration and justice.
His attention was first directed to the niauity OF
slavery whiie ne was young man Of twen.y-fOur OF
house. alter 9rlei ABSENCE aud iounl the family
dismayel and Indignant. at the kidnapping OF col
ored woman In Their employ.
Thomas immediately resolved TO follow the kid
nappers, and so started In pursuit. Some peculi-
arity about the track made by their wagon enabled
him 10 trace them with ease and he followed them
by devious course from Darby to "a place near the
Navy Yard IN Philadelphia. aad then, by inquiries.
&C, tracked them 10 keasington where he found
them, and secured the woman's release.
Many and Interesting stories are told OF the men
and women he helped away. some OF them full OF
pathos ana some decidedly amusing. The necessity
OF avoiding the police was the only thing, however,
which ever forced HIN into any secrecy In his opera
tions, ana IN all other respects no was withou con-
ceaiment and without compromise' in his oppos-
ton TO slavery. He was a man OF unusual personal
bravery and Of powerful physique. and dii not pre-
sent an encouraging object Tor the Bullying ntmi-
dalton by which the pro-slavery men OF that day
generally oycrpowerei their opponents He seems
His efforts OF course, brought him much persecu-
ton and annoyance, Dut never eliminated IN any.
thing really serious until about the year 1916 S47.
He then met at New Castle man, woman and ak
children from down on the Eastern shore OF Mary
land. inc man was free, the woman had been
slave and while in slavery had ha1 by ner husband
two children. she was tnen set free and afterwards
had four children. The wnoe pnrty ran away.
They travelled several days and dnaly reached Md.
detown late at night, where they taken IA, fed
and cared for by John HUM, wealthy Quaker
there. They were watched however. by some per-
stad
them and sent them to New Castle 10 jail. The
sheriff and ms daughter were anti-slavery people
and wrote to Mr.. Garrett 10 come lie went
over, had an interview, found from their statement
that four OF the party were undoubtedly tree and re-
turned 10 this City. On the following day he ana
United states senator Wales went o., er and nad the
party taken before Judge Booth on writ of haDeas
dence on which 70 hold them, and that IN the ab.
sence OF evidence the presumption was always In
favor OF freedom. ana discharged them;
born in slavery among the rest.
six weeks afterwards the shareholders followed
them, and incited, Ii Is said oy the Cochrans and
James A. Bayard, commenced salt against Mr..
Garrett, claiming all the fuuitves slaves. Mr..
CARROTS friends claim that the jury was packed TO
secure an adverse verdict The trial came on before
CHER Justice fancy and Judge Hail. In the May term
ls4sl of the United States Court. sitting at New Cas-.
tie, Bayard representing the prosecutors and Wales
the defendant There were four trials IN ALL lasting
three days we have not room here Tor the detaIls
damages than the plaintiffs claimed, and the judg-
ments swept away every dollar Of his pro erty.
Wncn the Trials were concluded Mr.. Garrett arose,
the court being adjourned, and made speech OF an
hour TO the large crowd IN the court room. In tue
course OF which he declared his intention redou.
pie MS exerti0ns. so help him God. HIS bold asser.
ton was greeted with mingled cheers aud hisscs
and at the conclusion of his speech OF the Jurors
who had convicted him strobe across the benches,
grasped his hand and begged forgiveness.
MT. Garrett Kept mis- pledge and redoubled his cx-
ertions. The trial advertised him, ana such was the
demand on him for shelter that he compelled to
put another story on his back buildings His friends
nelped MN TO start again in business, and, CON-
mencln4 anew In MS slxtleth year with nothing. he
again amassed handsome competence uencro,isy
contributing all the while to every work in behalf OF
the downtrodden blacks or his suffering fellow men
OF any color.
In time the war came, and, as he remarked, the
nation went INTO the business by the wholesale 50
ne quit his retail operations, having after he com
menced to keep record, helped or over 2,7OO
slaves and no inconslderable number before that
tine.