Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-05-18

DeAth OF q" ncle IOnt.'
Rev. Josiah Henson, the original Of Uncle
Tom in Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stoves famous
story Of "Uncle Toms Cabin" died on his
farm near Dresden, Ontario, on the 9Th inst,
in the 94th year of his age. Mr.. Henson
had lived during the latter part of his life on
farm of which he was the owner In his
old age he was large, sinewy, compaotly-
built man, but still bore the marks Of hard
usage to which he was subjected during his
slave life. Both arms and a shoulder blade
were so broken by the overseer, Bryce Lit
ton, who corresponds in character to Mrs.
Stoves Legree, that be was unable from that
time to lift his hands to his head His mas
ter's sister ofiiciated as surgeon and splin.
tered up the broken bones as best she could.
and nature did the rest His escape from
slavery was a remarkable one He carried
on his broken shoulders his two youngest
children, while his wife and two other little
children trudged YEARLY by his side through
swamps and by.ways in the long night
marches toward freedom. When he had
made progress as far as to Cincinnati they
were weary and footsore and out of food,
and Mr. Henson's back was chafed and bis.
tered. He hid his wife and children in the
bushes and boldly marched into town He
had been there before by permission of his
master, and had many acquaintances among
thS liee COlOIcu pOpuldllOu anu ne was cor
daily welcomed by them and during the
day they managed to bring in his family.
They tarried in Cincinnati some days till they
were rested and procured a better outfit
They were advised to strike for General
Hulls military road at the SciOto, which led
through a wilderness, where they could trav-
ell during the day. Nearly all that part of
Ohio was a wilderness 80 years ago when
Mr.. Henson made this journey. The trip
through that section was anything but
pleasant jaunt. There were terrors of Indi-
ans by day and the horrors of bowling wolves
by night and the road was SO obstructed by
fallen trees that the journey was slow and
painful. However, il they had known it,
they had much less to fear from the few con-
quered Indians that still fingered in that will
derness, or even the wolves than from white
men. 1t took them more than four weeks to
make the journey from Davis county, KY,
to the lake, which they reached near San
dusky, Ohio. Mr.. Henson hid his family
for the last time in the bushes, and, seeing a
vessel at some distance, walked out boldly
toward it. As he approached the captain
hailed him "Ha, man Do you want to
hire" ''Yes," was the prompt reply. There
was colored man in the gang, and Mr.. Hen.
son managed, as they carried in the sacks Of
grain, to get near him and whisper: How
far is it to CanRdaY' The colored man un-
derstood at once that his interrogator was
runaway" and with a significant look and
gesture, answered "You had better 90 with
us to Buffalo" "How far is Canada from
BufaloT" Just across the river" "But
have family hid out in the bushes" "Well,
our captain is a good fellow; you can trust
him. I'll speak to him about you" All
this was whispered under their breath as
they passed and repassed with their sacks of
grain The paDtain Iulv ipfo %
the matter and, calling Mr.. Henson aside
promised to take him and his family to Buff
falo. 1t was accordingly arranged that he
should work on till the vessel was loaded
which would be about dark then he was to
walk down to the point where his family was
concealed and the captain would drop anchor
and send out a small boat for them. The
captain was true to his word, and dropping
anchor opposite the point where Josiah Hen
son stood on the shore, sent a yawl to him in
which were the colored man and two sailors
The colored man and one sailor accompan.
led Henson to help bring on his family. But
when he reached the place where he had hid
them they were not to be found. He called
loudly, but there was no response However,
hunting around in the darkness among the
bushes he stumbled over one of his children,
and as he embraced him and told him that
deliverance was at hand they all came rush
ing in upon him, overjoyed In the awful
suspense of his long absence his wife had
concluded that he had been captured, and
when she heard the voices of others with him
her worst fears were confirmed, and she bade
the children to run and hide aud make no an
swer if called. They were soon on board the
ship and on the way to Buffalo. The cap
tain fed them well, and in the morning after
breakfast, as the ship dropped anchor at Buff
falo, said to Mr. Henson That is Canada
just across the river. I'm going to see this
thing through. Get ready and I'll send you
over" They were placed in boat, and the
captain staid on the deck of his own vessel
and watched them until the fugitives were
safely landed and out of reach of American
law. Mr.. Henson has been much on the lee
ture platform since his stories have made
him celebrated, and some years ago visited
England, where he received much attention,
the Queen inviting him and Mrs. Henson to
visit the royal family at Windsor Castle. The
Queen presented him with full length cab
met photograph of herself set in an easel
frame of wrought GOLD