The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-24
SOME NEW hooks,
.the rrne story of DC rnderrrouna Rnllroaa.

~Ihc True story OF the 4 underground hh'ro""'
Readers II t'nclc Toms Cabin" will re-
member the Quaker couple, Simeon and Rachel
Halliday. 10y whom tho fugitive slave Eliza
was helped TO escape to Canada. Thes' persons
were In the stric'ost sense life portraits. the |
originals hcing Levi and Catharinc Coffin, |
whose house in Newport. Indiana. was. for |
many years, tho central station Of the so-cancd
Underground railroad The record Of their
lahors and experiences. which forms n most in
t,rDsting and important contribution to the |
history OF the ti-slavery movement. has now |
been published by the Western Tract Society |
under tho title Of "Reminiscences ~ Leri conn. |
Not few OF the incidents here chroni1ed are |
Of % thrilling and surprising character. but the |
reputation of tho venerable author Is snfi~
cicnt gouchor for their authenticity. whilc the
horrly narrative bears on its face the marks OF
truth.
Curiousy enough. the secret association or
gau,zrd forthc assistance OF fugitive slaves was
i'm 10 certain sense. a southern institution, most
ul ita founders and CONDUCTORS beng natives OF
North Carolina At an early date many Quaker
families had settled in GuiliOrd county OF that
state. ami It was here that Levi Coffin was born
anil iivci until he was nearly 80 years Of age.
Although most OF the farms belonging to his
ktnsmon wore cultivated 10y FREQ labor, some of
tn Uar-ne-t phnses of slavery came under the
young Quaker's observation, and he cites from
hls diary incidents which doubtless helped TO
make him determined aboltionilt The case
which seems to have wrought most keen
Is upon his sympathics deserves for ts
own sake to be bri fly outlined. slave-
holder. h. tells rs, living in Virginia owned
beautiful slave woman who WIS almost white.
Sn' became the mother Of n child in whose
VEINS ran the blood of her muster. ana the
closest observer could not detect IN its appear
aure any trace Of African descent. The little
boy WIS placed hy his father in the care "
fronl living not TAR from the Co1ln homestead
in Gullord county. where he received good
common hool cdu alton. learned atrade. ami
having grown W, married IN est imable young
white woman. by whom hc had five or six chill
dren. llc made u comfortable living. and was
much respected in the community. neither he
nnruttui his ncighhor- having tho slightest
knowledge of the faint in his blood. BY
ANA hy. however. his father. the Virginia
.Iute owner died. whcrcupon the cxccu-
tr- mado search for the son Of the slave
woman who hy law of course. belonged TO the
estate. and. having traced him 10 Guiliord
county. sold him To a negro trader, without
maxim. themselves known ON the same light.
wAile the young man was watching hy the bed
e.ir of his sick wife, tho slave dealer we are
told. came with a gang of rufans. burst into
tI' house. and scizing their victim hurried
hlmDf the Georgia slave markets. To- got
h.m hurl enough they washed his face with tan
oo2e AMI kept him tied in the sun. and having
completed his resemblance Ia a mulauo by
cutting his hair short and soaring it with
hF iron TO make it curly. they were
alie Co. sell him without questions. some
months alt.rward he succeeded in escap-
in. ami nude his way back u Guiliord
county. wArro Ae learned that his wife had died
a few days after hi- capture from the shock Of
that calamity. and that his children were scat
t,rol among the noighbors Presently his
master guessing his whereabouts. came in
pursuit oi him with hounds. but the fugitive
conirivcd To roach the house Of Mr.. Coilin :
faiher-in-law. whs. believing his seizure 10 be
Illegal instituted proceedings On his behalf
The unfortunate man however, had been 50
much exposed and worried. traed 10y dogs and
forced t. lie in swamps and thickets that his
health was shattered and he died before the
next term of court.
II was such oceurronces as this-many Of
which ar, les ribbed in this volume with a sim
pli.Ity viii b invests the details with harrow.
INK poignan 'y-tAat led many of the North
Caro'inu Qu,kors Gao seek a now home In a free
St.io. The C1nln family settled in Indiana,
Levi engaging in q mercantile business at New
port. which he soon discovered was on one of
To- lines of the underground railroad. Their.
WIS. ii -eeul-. IN the noighh0rhool, "a number OF
fraec u.or.i families who were willing enough
+, roni"r all hut were mt skuiul
in cou ealing the fugitive slaves wA1
t.uS r"iu-o with them. or -hrowl Ia making
ARRANGEMENTS 10 forward these = Canada
liaut. .ir-t. L.,. colin -aem- o. have -iur-
DIS st ~ l4u-lt tia Law. AMI his Aouse soon
.ln" .n .wn. nlt only iu the neishborho0d
hut "a ali t.n routes that culycrsel from tl'
slave Safest o. Newport. as depot whero Tho
Alraa."l trly J.. 81, lourueyins norhwar,
Nl tAe uu ier-r.unl road could End suf