New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-10-20
a Negroes Search for Freedom.

A NegrO's Search for Freedom.
There is negro in Atlanta whose
experiences as q traveller have been
both interesting and remarkable. His
name is Riley. He is a bright mulat-
to, possesses some education and q
great deal of shrewdness. He claims
to have gypsy blood in his veins. This
claim is, perhaps, well founded, for he
has long been wanderer. A few days
ago Riley entertained a party OF gen
tlemen in Whitehall Street store
with some account of his wanderings.
The most remarkable was that which
is here related:
'sBy trade" he said ~ am car
penter. My master lived before the
war near Macon. was Of great val
ue to him, because saved him many
a dollar he would have had to pay
out for carpenters work If hadn't
known how to use the saw and
the jack plane. He let me have
good deal OF liberty, which fused pref
ty much as l pleased. I was always
of a restless nature, and often
thought Id,run away. Ihad a notion
that if / could reach the North, I'd
find both freedom and friends. One
day went to the depot with my mas
ter, to meet some friends of his While
waiting l amused myself looking at
passenger car, trying to see how it
was put together. Igot down on my
knees to examine the timbers under
meath. Just about minute after, l
felt my heart humping against my
ribs. I'd found way to go North
without having to walk. When l got
back home, stole some cloth, thick
and strong, kept by my master to
make winter suits for slaves that
worked in the fields Out of that cloth
l made four broad bands, strong
enough to sustain the weight of a
dozen men. I got a blacksmith to
make me eight strong iron hooks,
which fastened securely to the ends of
the bands. l was then ready to start
North.
Zone night / slipped away from my
masters home and went to the depot.
l was looking for the train to Savan-
nah. I found it out in the yard,
waiting the signal to back into the
depot. l crawled under the rear car,
hooked my bands to the iron rods
that run on each side, and then placed
myself at full length upon the cradle
the bands formed. The train backed
into the depot and then started on
it's trip to Savannah without my be-
ing discovered. The first few miles I
thought I'd die. The dust nearly suffo-
Gated me. But got used to it, and
when the train reached Millen l crawled
out of the cradle, unlocked the bands
and went over to the Augusta train
and got ready for another ride.
II reached Augusta safely, but
l looked like man that had
been rolled in the dust a hundred
yards. l skulked about the outskirts
Of the city all day, obtaining some
thing to eat from old negro women.
At night l went to the depot and hook
ed the bands under the train for
Charleston by way OF the South Caro-
lima Railroad. | WASH It troubled with
the dust between Augusta and Charles
ton, because it rained all night. But
/ came near losing my life. I'd gotten
so used to riding in the cradle that I
didn't feel much inconvenience. and
about midnight went to sleep. Some
how or other one OF my legs slipped out
of the cradle, and when / walked up
my foot was bouncing along on the
cross ties. didn't go to sleep any
more.
"From Charleston to Washington
city | had an easy time. Ispent each
day in some negro's cabin, and travel
ed at night. got all wanted to eat,
and, to keep from dying of thirst at
night, carried along with me bot tie
of water.
"When say had an easy time, l
mean l had an easy time under the
circumstances. There were some
things about that journey that make
me shudder even now. I've already
mentioned the dust. Besides that the
sparks from the frebox of the engine
would fly along the track, and some
times they'd dash all over me. For
tunAtely | was always under the rear
car, and always managed to put out
the spark before they did me any
damage. When the train runbled
over the trestles OF bridges the sound
was like thunder When l reached
Washington city was as deaf as a
post. I tell you, gentlemen, there are
plenty OF pleasanter things than riding
under a car as did.
Eat Washington city my journey in
search of freedom and friends came to
a sudden end. was arrested by a
policeman and locked up. A telegram
was sent to my master, and he order
ed me to be sent back l expected
he'd whip me the minute he laid his
eyes on me; but when | reached Ma
con, all he did was to say: "A niger
that can stand such ride as you've
had is too tough to be hurt by whip
ping. Atlanta (Ga.) Constitution.
The Great DR.. Abernethy.
All the Year Round.
0roa u,ho,>