The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-01-28

ted that they had been very kindly treated
by their " Old Marsas" and Misses, bu
all had a fear of being sold to the cottor
fields and coming under the lash OF hruta
overseers and heartless task-masters, bu
above everything else was the natural In
ate love of freedom, planted in every hu
man heart, be its owners body black o
white.
Occasionally large numbers would ar
rive together AT Mr., Works. On one DC
casion he had ten men and women II
charge, in one wagon.load, and in driving
across he prairie toward Magnolia, in the
night lost his way, and was so belateC
thereby that he had 10 take his dark cargo
through that village in broad daylight
But no one molested him or gave him any
ANNOYANCE, though there We're several per
sons there,-prog inent citizens, too, who
strongly opposed his method of freeing the
negroes, and who, with pecuniary profit t
themselves, could have delivered him NJ
20 the punishment of the law had they
been 50 disposed! During the ten years he
spent as a driver" on the "road, he aver
aged thirty negroes a year, or in al! he
helped along on their way to freedom
about three hundred slaves. For the re
coyery Of some Of these chattes liberal re
wards were offered. The slaves in the
southern markets would have brought from
$3.50 10 $1,000 each, according 70 age, &c
Some of these rugitiyes were very ragged
and none had any money. They were Of
all shades of color, from that of the Ie'
black African, through every grade to thai
of the nearly pure Caucasian! Among
them wore husbands who had left their
wives, wives who had departed from theiI
husbands, mothers from their CHILDREN still
in bondage, and lovers who had temporar
rushed from the embraced Of their tear
full sweethearts! The fond and treasured
purpose of every one of them was to earn
money enough TO redeem their beloved
friends from their southern tolls, and help
them to the land of freedom.
sLAyE.HUNTERs FoGLED.
In 1887, Alexander Ross, "bonny
Scotchman, a Presbyterian, and an enthu-
siastic democrat, living near Hennepin,
while on his way to Galena to buy govern
ment land, when few miles beyond
Princeton, Bureau county, encountered a
couple of beautiful, attractive and modest
mulatto girls who were in the custody of
a pair OF slave-hunters, who were returning
their unhappy prisoners to hateful bond
age The girls had escaped from southern
Missouri, and had successfully and safely
journeyed alone TO Rockford before their
pursuers caught them. This was case
which appealed to the Scotchmans maR-
hood and touched his generous feelings to
the quick. He respected the laws of his
adopted country, but loved humanity more,
and he resolved to act promptly and reso-
lutely. so he proclaimed TO the slave
hunters, at dinner in farm house where
he met the party, that he was bitter anti,
abolitionst, and cited scripture to prove
slavery Divine institution He denounced
the abolitionists as "slave. stealers," whom
he was in favor of hanging "higher than
Hannah" The slave-hunters were delight
ed TO make the acquaintance of man SO
much after their own hearts, and they
drank and smoked together like old-time
chums. They asked his advice as TO the
best manner of getting their precious
charges through the abolitionist section of
Princeton, which bore a bad reputation as
place of safety for mep of their political
faith, He promptly piloted them to the
house of friend, who, Ross assured them
was "all right" and he was too for Ross
scheme, and so was the lady of the house
who was quickly apprised of the part she
was to play. The girls retired, and soor
after, through Mr.. Ross extraordinary at
tentions, aided literally by the host, the
strangers found themselves rather mystitieC
by frequent rotations of "hot Scotch
punch" and It required but little persua
sion to get them to go to bed, while Ross
very kindly undertook to guard the doc
and see that the girls did not escape! A
soon as the house was quiet and the strang
ers loudly snoring, the cunning consplrato
and the hostess aroused the girls, bundled
them into cutter, and fairly flew ava.
with them to the house of Mr. James w
Willis, of Florid, four miles east of Henne
pin, about twelve.miles from their forme
stopping place, and by daylight next morn
ing the girls were safely in Princeton, ant
thence they went without further trouble
to their destination in Canada, The mex
morning, when the strangers awoke an,
enquired after their property, lo the bird
had flown, and Ross was found at his pos
SlecptHg the sleep of the just, where he al
peared to have been all night, and slOwl
opening his eyes, he exclaimed: ~ mus
ha slept ouer lang! That whisky was unC
guide and wee bit strong Then to kee