Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-07-12
WHITTIER.
A Reminiscence OF the Poet

a correspondent Of the Providence
Joerual, who has lately visited John
G. Whittier, gives this account of y
conversation with him:
Everybody knows, to that Mr..
Whittier was an original abolitionist
with Garrison, though he did not
agree with him in all his ultra no
tions. lie told me that when Garri-
son'was imprisoned in 1892 for pub
fishing his anti-slavery paper in
Baltimore, he was sorcly tried, be-
ing himself very poor and without
influence to find out how he could
aid him. Mr.. Garrison was a great
admirer and friend Of Clay, and had
written 4 strong article urging his
nomination for the Presidency. Mr..
Whittier said he incioscd the article
i'll note to Mr.. Clay, asking him to
use his influence for Garrison's
release from prison, and that Mr.
Clay responded cordially at once
that he should have done everything
in his power for his friend, but that
he was discharged Just before his
letter reached him. The next year
Mr.. Whittier wrote his first pam
phlct against slavery. Arthur Tap
pan had five hundred copies struck
off at once and distributed. It was
for circulating this pamphlet in the
South that DR.. Crandall was i'm
prisoned.
Mr.. Whittier was in the midst OF
three great anti-slavery mohs, but
he told me the mob in which lie in
CURED the greatest personal risk
was at Concord, \. H., where ht
and George Thompson, the English.
man, went to hold an slavery
meeting, The mob collected il
great numbers, armed with clubs
stones and muskets, broke up the
meeting, and followed him and
Thompson to the house Of tho
friend with whom they were stay
ing, Mr.. Kent, brother of Governor
Edward Kent, of Maine. Mr.. Whit
tier came near losing his life by a
severe blow from Il stone in his back
and shoulder. But they got into the
house, and Thompson managed to
get out at the back door and into
the woods unobserved. Mr.. Whit
tier said il was the most exciting
scene he had ever witnessed. The
mob surrounded the house and
threatened to tear it down unless
Thompson was sent out to them.
Mr., Kent was firm man, and barred
the doors against them. The family
were all beside themselves except
Mr.. and Mrs. Kent. Two daugh-
ters Of EAekicl Webster were there.
Mr.. Whittier said one Of them
threw her arms around him, saving.
"Oh! Mr.. Whittier, we will ,lie with
you" JUST theR 8 clergyman who
was in the house proposed that they
unite iii prayer, but Mrs. Kent said
that she thought they had better
fight than pray (God hloss her
iberty-loving sen! forever, I sayD
The NAB finally dispersed. Thomp-
son cot into the house. Whittier,
exhausted, fell asleep Oh The bed,
while Thompson sat UP. Directly
q stone dashed in the window of the
room where they were, and Whit
tier said he jumped clear from The
bed.
The mob returned, and with them
a friend OF Mr.. Whittier, who pre-
tended to be in the interest Of the
mob, who, by his fnesse and tact.
got them away a second time, when
Thompson and Whittier GOT into a
carriage and drove off. When \
short distance from the house mus
ketshots were tirod at them, but do
ing no further damage than 4 hole
through the carriage. And thus
they escaped. 'And now," said Mr..
Whittier, "you may think that,
poor, despiscd and prosecuted us we
were 4 very miserable set; but it
was not SO. We had a very pleas
ant time together, and think | can
understand how the old martyrs
might have enjoyed themselves very
much"