Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-08-07
A FLIGHT FOR LIFE.


A FLIGHT FOR LIFE.
from Hanging.
Perhaps the most exciting expe.
rience Mr.. Garrison ever had in this
city, says the Philadelphia Times,
was that attendant to his escape on
the night of the Pennsylvania Hall
riot (ls3s). Shortly before that
time the Legislature Of the State of
Georgia had enacted law authoriz-
ing the payment of $4,000 for the
head of Mr.. Garrison, the object be.
ing understood to be to incite some
one to take his life. BY the way, it
may be mentioned that the law is
still on the statute. books Of the State,
and never has been repealed.
Whether any sordid feelings animal.
ed the riot or not it is impossible, OF
course, to say, but there is scarcely
any doubt that some of the people
engaged in it had that So, 900 in their
minds, and there is no doubt what
ever that Mr. Garrison was the pr.n-
cipal object of the attack.
Fortunately he was not recognized
at the hail. He stood face to face
with man who breathed threats
and profanity againstthe Abolition
list, who smiled at him, and called
him foolish enthusiast. Had there
been an Identification Mr.. Garrison
would have swung from lamp post
as certain as fate. His friends were
much frightened for his safety, and
under the pilotage of a little negro
boy he was led up back streets and
obscure alleys to Twelfth and Race,
and subsequently by Broad street to
Lombard, and then to Forten's house.
When once he was in, the streets
were guarded in every direction, in
order that if the mob got on the trail
he could escape. Then preparations
were made for hasty midnight ride
Railroads were not of those days,
and stage coaches were used for
travelling. But stages were not for
Mr.. Garrison. He was marked
man. Every mans hand seemed to
be against him, even as his was
against slavery. He dared not travel
by stage, for it would have been put
ting his life in the hands of people
who wanted it very much indeed.
Hastily James Forten ordered his
horse hitched up, and calling to him
his son, Robert Forten, and Robert
Purvis, who afterward became his
son-in law, he said: 'You have
four hours to drive Mr.. Garrison to
Trenton. Start at once" 1t was in
vain that the great Abolitionist pro.
tested that he would not steal away
SO like a thief. His friends had
measured the depth of hatred that
was entertained for him, and knew
better than he that the danger was
1t was only by threats
that he was finally induced to step
into the carriage. Robert Forten
seized the reins, hasty "God bless
you, good-by," and the carriage dis.
appeared around the corner, turning
northward. Ten minutes later, Mr..
Garrison, leaning out to look at
crowd on the corner, heard a man
abuse him with oaths and appella.
tons the reverse of complimentary.
He leaned out further and called the
man to him "Do you know Mr..
Garrison?" he asked. "No, never
saw the - "Well," said the
Abolitlonist, counting danger by max
ing himself prominent on the street;
care you not ashamed to abuse so
much a man you don't know?'
The carriage drove on. Mr.. Gar
rison looked at the faces of his col
ored escort and broke out in loud
laughter. They were so much af-
fected that pallor of fear came on
their black faces and could be seen
there. Half an hour more the city
was behind, and the sturdy little
horse was throwing the dust behind
and moving at fonr minute gait,
dragging tho buggy with the three
men it contained. Before they left
the city Mr.. Forten called Robert
aside and admonished him to push
On for dear life and reach Trenton
as early as possible. The lad obeyed
the instructions to the letter They
heard the midnight bell striking as
they dashed through Bristol, leaving
behind the echo of the horses hoofs
and rolling of the carriage wheels.
The night coach to New York was
caught up with and passed so fast
that the guard is understood to have
always afterward believed in ghosts.
The clock struck one as the editor of
the Laberator set his foot on Jersey
soil in the streets of Trenton-the
sturdy little horse had made the dis
lance, thirty miles, and drawn three
persons, in three hours 1t was not
until the next day that the bowling
mob found it had been cheated of its
prey and they took characteristic re-
venge making the negroes the object
OF their wrath.