The Benton weekly record., 1882-08-31

EEsED DOUGLASS, SAVIOR.
Etse ssreT0tor vvzsn Ese1ayes2 "a Dtapat ca
gor Sac Ex@Sjayess 8rres..
From the ph:!adelpb Times.

S1ea, sji AIN the nlan VINO saved Fred
Douglas from beiug hanged " he's :Old
John HGown' waa captured II uarpcr's
| Ferry. Suppressed 4 tli>palci, address Ell
- 'i.4 < .eEiif Of Philadelphia iustructll2
| bin 70 Arrest Douglass, who WAS llle!3 in
t!s<- "i>E, s proofs o. his compliuity in Tie
F.! memorable raid were discovered wheu
John H;nwn Was tax en- into custody"
Seated OIL the door->teps Of his cosy
cottage. few miles outside Of Vineand,
n. J., was John w. Hurn, pleasant gray
heartieei man Of sixty, who, when ques-
toned, answered as above respecting the
aid rendered by him to the noted aboli-
| ZIONIST.
"A5 that time I WAS telegraph opera
| tor located In Philadelphia," continued
Mr. Harm, land when I received the dis
patch ! WAS frightened nearly out Of my
wits. AS was an ardent admirer OF the
great ex~siave, who was doing all that
mortal could do 70 agitate the anti-slayery
question, ! resolved to warn Douglass OF
his impendng fate, no matter what fie re-
/ suit might be to me. The news had just
been spread throughout the country ofthe
bold action Of John Brown and his intrepid
followers in taking the little town Of .Har-
per's Ferry, Everybody was excited and
public feeling ran high. Before intelli-
gence came that Brown had been captured
sent by The Sheriff of franklin county,
Pa, to the Sheriff Of Phi1adelphia, in
forming him that Douglass had been one
OF the leading conspirators, and request
ing that he should be Immediately appre-
hended. Though I knew it was illegalsto
do.so, quietly put the dispatch in my
pocket, and, asking another operator to
take my place, started on my search for
Fred Douglass. went directly to Miller
NcKim, the secretary Of the contraband,
underground, fugitive railway office, in
Philadelphia, and inquired for my man.
Mr.. Mckil. hceitated to tell me, where
uponsl showed him the dispatch, AMI
promised him not TO allow it TO be deliver
ed within three hours. told him that [
would notdo this unless he agreed to gel
Mr.. Douglass out Of the State. This he
readily a.sented TO, for it was his business
70 spirit escaped slaves beyond the reach
Of the authorities. ] returned 10 the tele-
graph office and kept q sharp lookout for
similar dispatches. None arrived, how
ever, AMI when the allotted time expired
sent the l,elated message to its deslina-
zion.
ssID he meanwhile those intrusted with
my aecret saw Mr.. Douglass and urged
him to leave town as quickly as possible.
He was 10th 70 do so at first, but tbs expoe-
rulsIiof1s of his friends overcarne his OBJ
jeetions. and iii al hour he left on rail-
way train which placed 4 gap Of forty
miles be5Heen him and Philadelphia every
aour. fze reached Rochester, Ny, in
safely, destroying the compromising doe
uneufs, and then packed his grip-sack and
him thaf he lefGas soon as he did. for i'm
mediateIF after his departure for RoctI-
ester his home was. surrounded by officers.
Those were queer times, and persons
hadto BE- careful what they did and said
I Gid no. tell Of ny share In the rescue,
fo7 faazed the power Of the slave party,
A. they eould have me imprizoned. When
1 lool back and think ofWhar did 70 save
ttsat l'aas1 from the galloHs--for he would
undoubtedly have gone thara had hs been
arresteaT feel that an rewarded By
coltenp astng that tho life saved Vas well
VoEsh aaylng. =