The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-07-17

~ VOL L VIII cGldI Thai
Browns ~mad-outbreak was less of a surprise
to me than might have been had | not had
visual knowledge of ONE of the means be-
ing used by the Abolitionists TO despoil the
shareholders, and goad them into Dis-union.
during our four weeks school-vacation.
being unable TO return home. | made fire.
quent trips into the surrounding country.
and became quite well acquainted with the
mountain towns of Mitfiin, Lewiston, Mil
ton, Bellefonte, Milroy, ETC., thereby gain
ing curious insight into the operations ofthe
mysterious UNDERGROUND Railroad - of
which there were a dozen or more lines run
nlng from points on the Southern border TO
Canada.
As is now well known, indeed openly
avowed 10y the Abolition Leaders, a small
army OF secret agents were employed for half
a dozen years prior to the war, in scattering
ire brands among the Southern slaves, and
abductlng such of them as could be persua-
ded to attempt TO escape. The work was
carried on Systematically, and in a variety of
methods. 1t will be remembered that a
scheme for boxing up negroes, and shipping
them to Philadelphia by express was dis
covered after one or two had thus escaped
from Richmond, Va. Quite a number We're
brought out disguised as women, with paint
ed faces, wearing thick wells, and deep
mourning.
The general plan of the UNDERGROUND
was a Relay-chaln OF posts or stations, at In
tervals of a nights journey, Except in the
mountains where there was little danger in
day-travel), kept by trusted agents, who
acted as guides to pilot the tugitives to the
next resting-place. These stations, usually
located at some isolated farmhouse, or char
coal-burners cabin in the depths of the fer
est, were constantly supplied with food,
clothing, shoes, and medicines, for the use
OF the runaways who were generally retained
at the first safe post until half a dozen or
more were assembled to make the transit to
Canada. One of the routes, and think the
chief one, ran from Harpers Ferry to the
through the Piedmont Region, Of
will show that the Blue Ridge chain, ex-
tends from the Great Lakes nearly to the
shores of the Gulf, serving as a kind of
Backbone for Maryland, Virginia, North
and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and
Tennessee. This mighty range, with its
numerous parallel ridges, gloomy %ravines,
rugged cliffs, and dense forests, rarely visited
save by chance huntsmen, answered admira-
bly, the purposes of the Slave-Stealers
forming a natural trackway along which
they could extend the ramifications Of the
''Under-Ground' into the very heart of the
South. 1t was easy for their secret agents,
disguised as woodchoppers to lurk amid the
mountains by day, and descend into the
lower country at night to organize revolt, or
seduce the slaves to follow them. In the
vicinity of Harpers Ferry the first supply
station was reached, after which there was
little difficulty.
On passing Masons and Dixons line, the
runaways were armed, and no longer travelled
bv night. Indeed the spirit of Abolitionlsm
had 50 pervaded the mountain region of
PENNSYLVANIA that little concealment was
deemed necessary. Not ~infrequently a gang
OF three or four stout darkeys, could be met
struggling along the mountalntralls or cross
inc the valleys from one range to another,
s~louching leisurely in the wake of a white
man, or boy, who served as their pilot to the
next post. Many of these squads were CON
Quoted boldly into the towns and villages.
Old DIR. McC.-perhaps the wealthiest, and
socially first citizen, of the beautiful village
Of Perrvsville. whose stately mansion stood
within the shadow of the church, wherein he
was an officer, openly admitted that he ''har-
bored fugitive slaves, law, or no law,
whenever there was opportunity. tie had a
small building fitted up directly in rear Of
his kitchen, with beds, tables, etc, wherein
meals were regularly set for all who came
| provided they were black OF SKIN. Inc good
old elder for he was a good man IN most
respects sat high up in the synagogue, from
Sabbath to Sabbath, listening complacently
to the word Of the precept-'1ho" shalt not
| STEAL or "IOret not hy Ne1yhbors naou'-
Stare. nor reconnaissance, nor ANYTHING That
IS his" while well aware that at the very
moment his kitchen was filled with stolen
Southern property-big g. greasy fellows.
whose lounging gait, andthick- Tipped lingo,
bespoke them fresh from the plantation. The
presence Of these .'Fugitives" was no secret
to ANYBODY. They were ''harbored' almost
directly under the noses of United States
| officials, sworn to execute the laws, yet no
one dreamed of arrests being made, and |
doubt if they could nave been maintained if
made.
A PETTICOATED PILOT.
have said the operations of the under
ground railroad were conducted by paid
agents, but it may be only just to say that
in many cases these services were given
-.auclv from motives of mistaken phil