St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-05-18

ORIGINAL OF MRS. STOW J. -lNCLE
TOM"
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. May ). in the ninety-fOurth
wear 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 Il large, sinewy,
compactlv- 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 bad
" broken bV the OVeTsceT. Bryce Lit
ton. who corresponds i'll character TO
Mrs. Stoves Legree, that he was una
bile from that time to lift his hands to
his head. His masters sister otlclated
a. surgeon and splintered up the brok-
81. bones H. best she could, and nature
did the rest. His escape from slavery
was Il remarkable one. He carried on
his broken shoulders his two youngest
children. while his wife and two other
little children trudged YEARLY 10y his
side through swamps and by-Ways III
the long night marches toward free
dom. When he had made progress as
far rs to Cincinnati they were weary
aud fuOtsorc and out of food, and Mr..
HcnSon's back was chated and blister
ed. He hid his wife and children III
the bushes and boldly marched into
town. lie had been there before by
permission of his master, and had
many acuuaintanCcs among the free
colorcd population and he was cordial
" welcomed by them and during the
day they managed to bring i'll his taml-
Iv. They tarricd in Cincinnati some
DAYS till they were rested and procured
u better outfit. They were advised to
strike for General lIull's military road
at the Scinto. which led through a will
dcrncSs. where they could travel dur
mp the day. Nearly all that part of
ohio was wilderness tfty-two years
ago. when Mr.. Henson made this Jour
ucy The trip through that section
WAS ANYTHING but Il pleasant Jaunt.
There were tcrrors OF Indians by day
aud the horrors of bowling wolves by
night. and the road WAS 50 obStructed
b, fallen trees that the journey was
slow and painful. However, II they
had known it. they had much less to
fear from the few conquered Indians
that still fingered in that wilderness, or
even the wolves, than from white men.
II tool, them more than four weeks to
make the Journey from Davis county,
Ky..t the lake. which they reached
near SandusIly, Ohio. Mr.. Henson hid
his family for the last time in the
bushes. and seeing vessel ut some
distance. walked ont boldly toward It,
As he approached the captain hailed
him. lila. man, DO You want to
hire" "lcs." was the prompt reply.
There was u colurcd man in the gang,
and Mr. Henson managed. as they car
ricd ia the sacks of grain, To get near
him and whisper. .'HIOw far is it to
Canada p" The colorrd man under
stood AT once that his interrogation was
u ''runaway." and with Il significant
look and gesture. answered "lOu had
better 90 with us to Buffalo" GLOW
far is Canada from Buffalo - 'JuSt
across the river. e. But have a fam
ilv hid out in the buShcs.' "Wcll, our
captain is a good fellow you can trust
him. I'll speak to him about you"
All this WAS whispered under their
breath Us they passed and repassed
with their sacks of grain. The captain
4 1 FL IL
"IT ""'E "''"' INV. W ;..,I -,
'",''IG VII ',r';N" r' ";,'' r p,n.,1, H.
take nun an" ~ '"'''nE =" u'nt J..
was 2''"''ilnS'H "a; 1,'' ,i, '''i'' ~,
Sh"u'I worn ." ~, NV
i"'''''' N"''H WIN -" ''''' ,'''ini
Tue" 'r VIZ y" ",,'N ''"m =. ~, ',, iI ,i
N"''r MS '",'i"2 ,.I ',I
81 l'''''' "u'i'' "."P . H., 'Tha ,,m
our It ~'''!l' '"'' iGi ''''1'' j ,I',,;,r,
tam was ''"' !" ms WIZ 'i,"
3n'h"r "pP"T''' 'n' POM 'o'. ",',,'1
Il''l>"'' N,""'' on ''' S''"''' IN q '.N
!" MN j." why" ~, ''' Wv. J'" ,,'.' "
man an" Nv" >''''''S ~ IT IT.'. ''''.''
an" one S','"' H''on' l''''i I,' I y"
"lIh% "n MS '''''''N "',' wv" nv, nv
lI''h',' the P'''' Nn',r .i' ,'i''' ill., ill.,
'"T'" ''i'N m''' u"' -. I '""''", -.
'"'''" "'I%'N' "u' ,7..,,,,J j.,
NI""I'' I' IT,
'"' ",' ness ''''"''E '''' :,'i, ,i
"I'' "N'' ",'' VI "iN IT, 'I''''
IN ne ''''''''''' nun anu ,"''' MN ''''''
"'I,N''''i'' was 1T "'"" my an ''' T