The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-27
maj SLAVERY TO FREEDOM.

rRO,l SLAVERY 70 FREEDOM.
c,,,r,ers In ONO HistOry.-The
ITati,ISIustn OF Early Anti.Siay-
~, IInys In Trumbuli and Ash.
,.SnIn 1 Ountips-Tlie Names OF
wnIr nud GiddIugS Among the
n,iirrrs of the Famous Under
S.aunh IsaiIrDDL-SlnYe FainI-
lies ISeirienhed and SInIe'hold-
ers Deiudcd.
WARREN, TrumLull County, Ohio,
Saturday, Feb. 10, 1873, !
tuaposIsatS, Y. Times.
tn. sudden and continued illness Of
Nan, B, +. Wade, one Of the pioneers in
4, slavery agitation in this State, has re-
lived interest in that old time which
hid mems souls. Right through
A, be,rt Of this county and on
"A A.htabulA passed the under
,,oupd railroad, which was the
mean. Of bringing so many slaves from
b,Dj,se in Virginia and Kentucky to
'b,edonin Canada. Giddings and Wade,
hen yolus men, we're officers in this
r,iI,o.l, aud, a, they attended court in
three OF tour counties. had an unusual
opportunity for spreading their opinions.
|Th,y woaid 70 each night after hard work
during the day in the courts and make the
na. ringing speeches at the anti.slaVery
n.slius,that were everywhere appointed
10 advance for them, and thepeople were
al ubllh with enthusiasm. | have been
,soWu oil country residences, construct.
.l.bout lhia time by the leaders Of this
movement, which have hid many an es--
sipsd fugitive. | have one especially in
Mid, made by Mr.. Charles Brown,
1t North Bloomfield, about 1850. II
i Of Gothic architecture, but hav'
|la till rather more wings and
apoln than are common upon
similar houses. 1t was formerly kept uF
Vilh the utmost care and at great ex-
pre, being the home Of a prosperous
soanlry gentleman. The location being
upu high hill commanding view il
every direction for several miles, 1t could
roI be approached unawares, and thuG
va especially favorable for hiding
liues. Here tho unfortunate ones were
yrsn shelter, and when the slave chaseri
VHe ob.Crvel coming were hustled into
he secret closets. The peculiar shape o.
'hs house preclnded the possibility OF ont
iOul the outside forming any conception
d the amount Of rOom that should bG
hatd ibsidC. In this way, when a close
toot opened, no one unused to the hUust
could tell whether it should DO any larg
uthan i, appeared 10 be or not. RICH
ia the rear OF these many closets lay 9th
Il Ecrrt ones, connected by close tittini
ssitI dOor4, which no one could dvtec
'iIhout their being pointed our. A favor
lie close! vast The principal cupola .
tAshOu.s, aud from secret Windows herr
Ii, ,IIve could observe the approach 0
lis Par.uers with n feeling Of perfec
nIsty. No one except the sworn AM
illhlal builders knew Of tho recent con
rrusllon OF this gentlemaN'A house, bu
la and near he was known as one Of tn
no'I earnest workers in the underground
Flltosd -Cheme.
0ae Of the old citizens OF Bloomfield
d. George ". Howe, recently related tt
nethe story OF, the rescue Of a Negro
haily which happened here more thar
Syeirs ago and Of which he has q per
t,ct remembrance. One Sunday after
noou, in September 1926, just as the goo
PsOpIe q the village were returning
home from church, they beheld'a family
81 colored people, consisting OF father
mother and three children, making theiI
way northward on the old turnpike lead
i's from this city TO Ashtahula, on thC
Ats'hore. Two Of tho children wer,
|s'lng led by the mother; the third was il
Tie arms Of the father. sympathy wa
,f0u'ed in every heart, and every on
t'tE what WAS their condition. Arrlv-
l3s@ the hotel Of the village, they stopp
SInd related their story to the landlord
u Ea' in substance that they had beer
'IiEs upon Virginia plantation, haC
|ss'Fd, and were endeAvoripg, by tn,
atIPot God and the light Of the nortl
'1', 10 reach Canada aud freedom. They
ntTl assistance, saying they were yer!
4fsd aud hungry, not hSvin. tasted fOol
fIhSs early in the morning. They wer,
gwen Iooi, and, while they partoOk Of II
'ild laM they we're closely pursued; tina
nan! lights since they started they hat
asini the hOOi, OF the horses Of lheiI
Panu.tt behind them, and crouching il
'se darkness in fence corner, had sect
'a'H ride past; then taking another road
ad sIaded them for aiime.
Alter an hours rest the fuHitives pass
Non Near dark, not more than two
aoqfl alter their departure, the owheI
.e' b, son, with a single supernumera
rode upto the hotel, and called for
sEy upper, began 10 ask questions ii
"ssd 10 the escaping family. With ii
SuSa delay as possible the supper wa
rsP'fed and meanwhile the information
.uSoave!ed that the persons they wer,
itW1'oS had pissed that way 20 long be
S Lo,s 'aaii 1t would be Impossible to over.
S.9. Them thu. night, and it would b
NV, .r'S' polio! to remain and get IN earl,
Nv, ,a' IN the morning, by which mean
10y ~. would be certain to take them bs
; Wv 'At close Of the forenoon. Listen
~! s@ his advice, the slave.huniers re
,% .', to rest, giving positive inrtruc
s w. hat they be called early IN tn
SSt iu'nE 10 pnr'ue their journey. Mean
~, wv, The excitement in the little yillag
N The highest pitch. A meeting Q
s,liSharrground railroad men was inlor
~, Nv, called, and various plans OF assist
tS 'oF the iugitivcs we're discussed
M ~, 'Aeid ones we're in favor Of dis
,,,s so' the slumbering slave.chasers il
s.ITg4a'y manner during the silence o
i.s ss.sai. Bu! a more moderate and et
ny" I'' and le's dangerous plan pre-
S," NV IVoIonel Ephraim Brown was th
NM 'plfit who utilized the willin
s,,., 20 he best advantage for all cor
w., a'o. lila covered wagon, which ha
w ',Stv'ce on many similar occasion,
,,%,. O'oaghi out, aud rome halt.doze
d,S! men were sent with II in purSui
H. fugitive family, With orders to saw
Nj, ~ all hIlards, but TO make ~ It'll
an possible. These started a It'll
MI, TI !. and overlook the fugitive