The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-03-17


south."-three words that made Negroes
heart ache. Arriving at New Orleans,
Berkeley was sold TO sugar planter. With
him he did not sta!') ong, for he soon start
ed In the direction Of the north star. Ills
travelling was all done at night, keeping
hid through the day. On cloudy nights he
also had 10 lay still, as his only guide was
the stars. II ii raired, he got wet; II he
got wet, he caught cold he was sometimes
sick his only bed was the ground his on
| ly covering, the sky overhead. In travel
ing, crowding through brush, now wsding
through creeks or small streams; when II
large one, going up or down It to find a
boat, and falling on that would resort to
swimming, keeping In mind that an aliga'
tor u ipht make meal Of him; while on
land, wild beasts TO devour him. for In
the woods were panthers and bears; OF
being seen by men to be caught, and his
hopes blasted To endure all this and not
b. eak down and give up, no one but a
brave man will
After many weary nights and long days,
many times nearly starving for food, he
arrived at the old home In salina Co, Mo
but he was afraid to show himself 10 any
one for fear of being trapped He had
good reason 10 suppose the sugar planter
had traced him back TO where he started
from, not on his slow course, but he could
easily trace him back TO 81. Louis, - the
baker, at least. Berkeley lay upon a hill
side covered with woods which overlooked
his old home for nearly two days before be
dared 10 venture down to the cabins. The
negroes were making hay al the foot of
the hill he was lying upon. Each after
noon the overseer had been In the field
overlooking the work. He went 10 the
house about O'clock Barley watched
from the hill side on the afternoon of the
second day until the overseer returned TO
the house; and then he came down the
hill. Along the foot of the hill was rail
fence, and over this fence was the hay field
In which his we'll known boys were at
work. He knew some of them would be
nearly wild If he should show himself,
and would be likely to tell about 1t. He
did not wish his late young master to know
he was around, for the master:kn Berk-
ley would be likely to make them discon-
tented, and coax them of to Canada or to a
free state. For this reason he did not wish
his presence 10 be known on the place by
any one but the slaves, and was very much
afraid some Of them would tattle As be.
fore said, Berkeley came down the hill to
the rail fence-in plain sight now, and but
a few rods from the boys in the field. Lean
Ing against the fence for little time they
did not see him. He pulled piece of bark
from rail, and the noise 1t made, they
heard, and looking up saw him, when he
motioned TO them to come to him. They
walked up 10 the fence looking dumb
founded He said, "Boys, I'm back TO the
old place, and don't want any white folks
or children TO know It; none of you must
tell am here; II you do, will be taken
back. am coming down to the cabins
to night, after bed tin g and want some
thing to eat; now don't one of you tell am
here mind that: now go hack TO your
work" This talk only lasted very short
time, and Berkeley resumed his hiding
place on the hillside woods. About the
time Berkeley thought the white folks and
negro children were In he'd. he ventured
down and went into one Of the cabins where
warm supper was waiting him.
He told the darkeys many things about
his travels, and that be was going 10 get
where negro was free, or die in getting
there. Five or six young men and two
girls decided 10 90, but he told the girls
they would never stand II To make such \
trip, and would he the means of having all
hands caught. The boys wished day or
two TO prepare. Berkeley left the ca In
(making them promise not 10 tell he was
l
around), and sought his old place on th..
hi Tue next evening he went down
20 the cabin The plan was 20 start the
next night for freedom 80 he went back
again to his hiding place, carrying food "a
last until the next night. Returning 20 the
cabin, a talk soon showed that all had
backed out hut two, u negro by the name
Of Aaron, and one 10y the name of Jim
who declared they would go The weary
,urney Berkeley had experienced out oi
Louis,aRa. through Arkansas, snd mm.
than hall way acr 50 Missouri, from south
t. north, Ia I soured him in regard Ia TIE
rights Of white men Ia property la negroes
and his sympathy fer the property right
of his first master had entirely fled from
him, and he said he did not hesitate t.
shrink all the negro property on the plan
ration down 10 nothing At the same tim,
the story he had trld them. In regard 10 III,
trials he had passed through, took TIT
runaway spirit out of all but the tw'
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