Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-10-02
.fc,,eInsea from first pagc.J

r. n
,,o.~er,is by allowing this man Colonel
.-y 10 incite you TO commit muir
der. or will Won, like brave men. grant the
onlv request have to make, that is, a fair
trial before your magistrates" Several
persons at once spoke up in my favor,
among whom was the landlord and his
brave little wife.
Twas then, much to the chagrin OF the
colonel. led to the lookup. and consigned
to filthy pen. There emained all
through that dreary night, fearing to lie
down on the straw in the corner on ac-
count. OF the number Of vermin that infes.
ted It. In fact. dare not stand still
through fear Of being bitten by the rats
that kept running about the floor all night.
Al length morning came. and was taken.
hand-caffed, weary, hungry. and filled
with dread (of what appeared my i'm
pending fate), before a justice.
A crowd OF people had gathered to see
an abolitionis; have the mockery OF a tri-
al. Col. "Legree" was asked by the jus
tice to state his case, which he did in true
save-driving style, as if determined to
force the case against me. In fact my
case seemed hopeless. l saw no way OF
escape from my desperate situation. On
every side was surrounded by men APP
parently thirsting for my blood and anx-
ious to vindicate the outraged laws OF the
State of Mississippi.
At length the Colonel finished his state
ment, which, reduced to simple facts was
ttat had called ut his residence on Sat
urtlaY last and requested permission TO
roam over his plantation to shoot birds :
that he had given me permission. and al
lowed his servant "Joe" to accompany
me that Joe" had not returned. nor
could he be found That he was sure had
aided him to escape and demanded of the
iustice that should be punished as me
gro thief I" deserved. His remarks were
loudly applauded by the hounds that
surrounded him.
The Justice turned to me, and in stern
voice said. Have you anything to say '
At this moment voice outside the
room shouted, "Here's Joe Here's Joe y
and rush was made towards the door.
"Joen was ushered into the court room.
and fell on his knees before the colonel.
asking his forgiveness for leaving the
plantation without permission. He said
he wanted to see his brother powerful
bad, and had gone to the plantation on
which his brother lived, about eight miles
distant, on Saturday night, expecting to
return by Sunday evening; but having
sprained his ankle, when he could not
move until Monday evening, he started
for home, travelling nearly all night. As
soon as he reached the Colonel's he was
told of my arrest, and early that morning
had come into Columbus to help me. The
Justice ordered the constable to release me
at once, and expressed his regret that |
had been subjected to so much annoy
ance.
The Colonel was completely chopfalen
at the turn affairs had taken, while was
surrounded by several Masonic friends
who expressed their JOY at my release. l
addressed the colonel, saying, that as he
had put me to much Inconvenience and
trouble, I claimed favor of him. He
asked what it was. l begged him not to
punish Joe" for what he had done, and
to allow me to present him with gift as
a mark of gratitude for his fidelity to me.
As these favors were asked in the presence
of the crowd. he could not very well re-
fuse my request. He sulkily promised
that Joe" should not be punished, and
said if / pleased might make him pres
emit. / then handed him twenty dollars in
gold for which TIE noble fellow hooked q
thousand thanks. was thus enabled to
evince my gratitude for what he had done
for me. and at the time present him with
means to aid him in escaping from bond
age.
Two years after this occurrence, while
dining at the American hotel in Boston, !
observed a colored waiter cycling me
very closely at last he recognized me,
and asked If remembered him. 1t was
Joe, my savior, the former slave Of Col.
"Legree." grasped the noble fellows
hand. and congratulated him, in the pres
ence of all in the room, upon his escape
from bondage. In the evening invited
him into the parlor. and introduced him
to several influential friends to whom
related the indcidents above related. He
afterwards gave me some OF the particulars
Of his escape from slavery. On the Sum
day evening following my arrest his broth
er Joined him in piece OF woods not far
from Col. Legree's plantation, where he
had secreted sufficient food to last them
several days. They succeeded in getting
away.-From the Recollections and Erpe-
riences Of DR.. Il. n. Ross.