The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-07-17
What Time Hath Wrought.
From the Philadelphia Press.

The death of Alanson Work at Hart |
ford, Connecticut, on the 9th inst,
at the advanced age of eighty-nine |
years, recalls an incident in his life |
which illustrates the mighty change
that has been wrought in public opin-
ion upon certain moral and political
questions, within the last half century.
Mr.. Work when young man emf
granted from Connecticut to Illinois,
and in 1885 located at the Mission In
stitute on the east bank of the Missis-
sippi not far from Quincy, at that time
an Insignificant village. Slavery was
an established institution on the other
side of the river, and stories of cruelty
| frequently reached the ears ofthe anti
slavery people at the Mission Institute.
Mr.. Work and two theological students
formed plan for crossing the river
and bringing away a slave family
| whose condition had touched their
sympathies. By some means or other
the Missouri authorities were apprised
of the contemplated "raid' and when
the three philanthropists crossed the
river they were seized by band of
armed men, and, after suffering great
indignities from the mob, they were
committed for trial. In due time they
were convicted of conspiring together
to abduct slaves, and were sentenced
to term of twelve years inprisonme
| of
Jefferson City. A mob of ruffians at
tended the trial for the purpose of
hanging the prisoners in the event
of their acquittal.
| When the three "abolitionistsn ar
rived at Jefferson City great mob fol-
owed them to the prison and hurled
all manner of opprobrious epithets
after them as they disappeared behind
the gates. Mr. Work, being a consci-
entious observer of the Sabbath, re-
fused to shave himself on the first
Sunday of his imprisonment, and for
this breach of discipline the one side of
chain fastened to his ankle. On the
following Sunday he still held out, and
was severely lashed on the bare back.
No further attempt was made to COM
pei him to act contrary to his consci'
entious convictions, and the prison
authorities amended the rules so as
to make Saturday shaving-day. There
are not many men who would be will
, ! 10 l. oh To- va
on Sunday, but the early abolitionists
had the spirit of the martyrs. After
serving three years six months of his
term Of Imprisonment Mr.. Work was
pardoned on the condition that he re
turn to Connecticut. The two theo
logical students were subsequent par
doned, Mr.. Burr after he had served
four years and six months of his term
and Mr.. Thompson after he ha6
served four years and eleven months
At the time these three conscien
,. tious, pious and highly reputable
gentlemen We're sent to the Pen
itentiary their punishment wa
justified by public sentiment not onI,
in Missouri, but in Illinois and othe
free States. Governor Marmaduke
who, although representative of the
, slaveholding oligarchy, was not des
titute of humanity, paid visit to Mr.
Work in his prison and told him tha
, he would pardon him, but public sen,
timent would not sustain him in sucl
an act of clemency. Nevertheless, th,
, Executive conscience was not entirel,
easy on the subject, and, as abov,
started, the three phlanthropic ICON
spirators" were pardoned by Governo
Mormandukes successor in office. Mr.
Work returned to Connecticut anC
4 spent the remainder of his long life il
his native State. His eldest son
Henry G.. Work, is a song-writer o
considerable note. He is the autho
1 of number of popular ballads, includ
ing the famous battle-song of tn
colored troops, Babylon is fallin'.
: Mr.. Work lived to see his motive il
crossing the Mississippi to rescue
slave family from bondage fully vim
dicated in the judgement of the Who'll,
civilized world.