Smyrna times., 1871-02-01
MiSceI IIU ~ e o IL s.
Death Of Thomas Garrett.

lhlS celcOrlted Individual, notorious IN for
mer years as the alder of runaway slaves, and
sincere Aboitionist through life, died in
Wilmington on Tuesday night of last week,
oath ult. in his Slst year, Of an affection of
the bladder, from which he had been suffering
for several years His last words were.
" 1t IS all peace, peace, peace, but no rest
this side of the river"
He was born of Quaker parents, in Upper
Darby, Delaware county, Pa, on the 2lSt of
August, 1859, on IA farm still in the possession
of the family. His father, though farmer
| bad been scythe and edge-tool maker, and
Thomas learned of him the trade He went to
| Wilmington in 1920 and commenced business
as an iron merchant, by which he acquired an
ample fortune. But the principal interest at
tached to the man, and which made his life
eventful, was his efforts in behalf Of the enslav-
ed race, TO which his sympathies were first en-
listened when he was about % years old
| He returned one day to his fathers house.
after a brief absence, and found the family dis
mayed and indignant at the Kidnapping of a
cOlored woman il their employ. He imme-
diately. resolved to follow the kidnappers,
| which he did, and secured the release Of the
girl in Philadelphia. This circumstance, so
enraged him that from that time forward he
never failed to assist any fugitive from slavery
| on the way 10 freedom, and in course of time
his house became known as one of the refugees
for fugtives. We make the following extracts
from the Wilmington Commercial:
Many and Interesting stories are told Of the
men and women he helped away, some of
them full Of pathOs, and some decidedly anus
+ ing He told the latter which related to his
ingenious contrivances for assisting fugitives
to escape the police with much pleasure in his
later years. We could repeat many Of them,
but this is not the time or place. The necessi-
ty of avoiding the police was the only thing,
however, which ever forced him into any Sc
crecy in his operations, and in all other re-
spects he was without conceament and
without compromise" in his opposition to sla
very. He was a man of unusual personal bra
very and of powerful physique, and did not
pcrsC mt an encouraging object for the bullying
intimidation by which the prO-slavery men
. of that day generally Overawed their opponents
He seems to have scarcely known what fear
was, and though irate Shareholders often call
ed on him to learn the whereabouts of their
slaves, he met them placldly, never denied
having helped the fugitives on their way, posi-
! lively refused to give them any infOrma ton,
and when they fourished pistols, or bowie
knives to enforce their demands, he calmly
pushed the weapons aside, and told them tha
none but towards resorted to such means t.
carry their ends.
He continued his labors, thus for years, help
ing all who came to him, and making no con
cealneut OI his TcdulDeSS 10 40 SO. His nrm
ness and courage slowly won others, first t
admire, and then to assist him, and the littl,
band of faithful workers, of which he wa
q chief, gradually enlarged and included in it.
number, men of all ranks and differing creeds
!, and, singular as it may seem, even numberin,
d. some ardent Democrats in its ranks. He has
al in conversation with the present writer anC
others, frequently acknowledged the valuable
L. services of two Roman Catholics, of Irisl
birth, still living in this city, who were faith
full to him, and will now be amongst those VIII
most earnestly mourn his decease
- His efforts, of course, brought him mucl
persecution and annoyance, but never culm
mated in anything really serious until about til
, year 1916 or AT.
He then met, at New Castle, man, VIC
man, and six children, from down on th
Eastern Shore of Maryland. The man wa
free the woman had been slave an
while in slavery had had by her husband, tw
oil children. She was then set free and aftel
wards had four children. The whole part
ran away. They travelled several days an
finally reached Middletown, late at nigh
where they were taken in an fed and cared fC
by John Hum, wealthy Quaker, there, The
were watched, however, by some persons,
that section, who followed them, arrestt
them, and sent them to New Castle to jai
The Sheriff and his daughter were anti-slave
,,v people and wrote to Mr.. Garrett to come owe
~. He went over, had an interview, found fro
20 their statement that four OF the party We