The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-03-24

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90 bothered that he finally began to look
for hiding place, for 1t Was getting late
In the night. After cropping about he hnal'
" came TO the Memphis cemetery, and
here among a thick cluster of evergreens
he lay all day, with nothing to eat or drink
The next night he started out, and getting
we'll back of the city he turned towards the
north star again. lie travelled on night
after night, keeping hid daytimes, Ills
one great trouble in Tennessee and Ken
lucky was to get food. Finally the ono
river was crossed. Then he found twice
the trouble to make his way. Negroes
were often running away to free states, and
along the border of a slave state men were
constantly on the alert for runaways, hop
ing to get the reward for their return
Berkeley was very shy until he got well up
ia the State Of Illinois, for he declared the
southern part of Illinois gave him more
trouble 10 keep out OF the hands OF hunters
after slaves than any slave state he was ever
In. When he arrived In Ottawa two men
were here 10 "a eet him. But II would hard
ly do to take him openly; Berkeley had too
many friends, One of their plans was to
kidnap him. They formed plan with u
man living down over the sidecut, to invite
him to supper and while he was eating
with his back to bedroom door, the men
we're to spring out, overpower him, put
shackles on him. then HE him away. The
afternoon of the evening this was to take
place discovery Of the Infamous plot was
brought to light In this way: A man, his
wife and two children were. boarding In the
family OF Mr.. NJ. A. Cushing. This mans
right name was Baldwin, but he went I'M
der an alias here which was Phillips. He
was while here connected In business with
a man named Turney English. and per
feet scoundrel. These two rascals ran an
auction store In Ottawa at this time. Bald
win was often out of town for days at
time At the tire of this excitement he had
been gone several days He came home
on the afternoon of the evening the kid.
mapping was to take place. Repairing to
the residence of Mr.. Cushing In a great
hurry, he at once called his wife into their
room. She soon came out and asked Mrs.
Cushing If she knew where Berkeley was
Mrs Cushing noticed she was very much
excited 10 her manner. She returned to
her room, and he soon left In haste, saying
he would not be back till late In the night,
or following morning. After he left Mrs.
Gushing went into the lady's room and
found her crying and asked her to tell
what was the matter. She said she did not
dare to tell. Mrs. G. by questioning her
finally found out her husband was 10 the
plot to kidnap Berkeley that night and run
him back to slavery. Mrs. Cushing at once
went to the house Of Mrs. G.. Bean, and
Mrs Bean sent her son Arthur down town
to report the case. AT the meeting In the
Court House that night (the one hr. Arm
strong alludes to In the FREE TRADER OF
Feb. 18TH the plot divulged to Mrs. Cush-
Ing was told, and of course Berkley's
friends protected him. Had It not been
for Mrs Cushing the plot would probably
have been carried out.
The man Baldwin, alias Phillips, was
afterwards convicted of horse. stealing In
the State of New York and served his time
in the pententisry. Ills wife was a fine
woman, and died several years ago.
The story that Turney English told, that
the two men were couple of deputy sher
ifs from st. Louis after white horsethief,
was lie,--.the same as any other thief and
scoundrel would tell,
After this Berkeley was secreted by his
friends Mr.. Claude King was of this
number In Ottawa; Mr. James Lay, north.
east of town, was one, and Mr.. Timothy
Wright, of Grand Rapids township, on Sec
8, on the farm now owned by John Kettle.
Once my father rode on horseback out
into field on this place, where Berkeley
WAS hu.king corn He at first thought 1t
was one of party to catch him. and began
to slip off, but finally recognized the mare
my father WAS riding.
After keeping him hid for some time
Berkley's friends told him there was little
or no danger, when he again appeared,
4 day or two after he arrived In Ottawa
my brother was In with two horse wagon;
Berkeley rode out With him. The writer
was chopping wood at the wood pile as the
wagon drove Into the yard and up within a
rod of where was chopping. When the
wagon stopped my brother engaged me 10
conversation, when soon Berkley, who was
laying In the bottom OF the wagon, raised
up before me- You may safely say was
surprised, for supposed he was at that
time slave on some plantation In the
south, His first words were; "If had
taken the advice Of my best friends II
would have saved me great deal Of trou-
, BILE" After supper he told about his sor-