Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-08-18
THE UNDERGROUND RAILWAY.

Sketches OF Lancaster County Abolltlonists.
Tho war Of the rebellion is over aud the
passions it has engendered arc mere mem-
ories in the minds of the present genera
tion. Yet few would wish to forget the
history OF the dread conflict, and the
heritage of brave deeds with which it has
enriched the nation, gloomy though it be,
will ever be cherished. 1t is for this rea
son that any contribution throwing light
on particular features of the "lste nm.
pleasantness' is hailed with special favor
by those who delight in studying the
sources of history. @
Such a work is the d" History of tho I'm.
derground Railroad" q neatly bound
octave volume, Of 305 pages, which deals
with the means taken by bold spirits in
Chester, Lancaster and adjoining counties
for helping fugitive slaves to haven of
safety. In those pro slavery days when
the negro was chattel of no small monied
value, it was porilOus task to assist him
to his freedom. The fearless philanthro.
pists who organized and operated the
" Underground Railroad" were nearly all
OF Quaker ancestry, and what they accom-
plished required not the Intervention OF
the sword. This system of helping slaves
to their liberty was termed an &c 'Under.
ground Railroad" because of the sudden
disappearance of slaves on reaching given
points in the route occupied by the homes
of tho benevolent abolitionists. RAPIDLY
we're the fugitives passed from hand to
hand, and often was the cunning of the
Quaker called into exercise to make fruit
less tho quest of the pursuing slave.
owners.
The book possesses a deep local interest
from tho fact that the lower portion of
Lancaster county, lying just across the
Maryland border, contained one of the
main thoroughfares over which hundreds
OF slaves hastened to their friendlier North.
Tho routes lay through Adams, York, Ian
caster. Chester, Montgomery, Berks and
Bucks counties to PbOnixville, Norris
town, Quakertown, Reading, Philadelphia
and other places. The work is illustrated
by twenty eight engravings of the promi-
nent actors ID the anti slavery drama, and
the sketches of their lives in relation
to the thrilling work Ofthe UNDERGROUND
Railroad" form the bulk of the volume,
The book displays careful historical re-
search, and the materials of its compost
tion are blended together with rare good
taste. Many of those who figure in tho
work still live to see their best hopes real
iAoO LII Iuo tOCai 1DOiltlOl OF slavery and
the increased respect shown for the once
friendless negro. Among the many famil
lar names of those who were ready to
sacrifice their all in devotion to u principle
are those of the Gibbons family, the
Whitsons and the Hoods. The portraits
of DR.. Jos. Gibbons, Thomas Whitson,
Lindley Coates, Caleb G. Hood, are in
cluded in tho work. with biographical
sketches of them and reference to such
we'll known citizens of the lower end az
Jacob BushOng, the Brintous and Bros
fuses. Jackson, Lewisss and others. A
history of the "Christiana riot is ono of
the features of the book.
The original author of the history, DIR.
Robert c. Smedley, died in the early part
of the present year befors finishing his
task, and tho labor of it's completion was
taken up by Robert Purvis and Marianna
Gibbons, by the special request of the
author. 1t is needless to say that thew
have performed that duty acceptably. For
those who desire to attain an accurate
knowledge of the anti-slavery agitation in
this section of the state, the book may be
commended in the highest terms as one
that will repay careful perusal. 1t is for
sale at No. 16 North Prince street ut the
retail price of $1.5O