Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-28
STORIES ABOUT LOVEJOY.

STORIES ABOUT LOVEJOY.
How the Great AboIitionist Aided Fugi-
tive Slaves to Escape
CornhIll Magazine.
He was of massive frame and stood npOn
the ground with frmness calculated to
resist all the pressure that could be brought
to bear on one man. He was of medium
height, with a broad chest and shoulders
that gave him the appearance of an ath-
lete; his head fit to crown this frame
broad forehead, brown hair, blue eyes that
could smile or flash, straight nose, large
mouth, and a jaw that had the decision of
court of last appeal. This was the MAN
who, from 1S40-64, in congress, and in the
west, lived and worked for the abolition
cause. Yet he had the gentle, winning
manners OF woman, and was cordial alike
to friend and foe, to young and old. He
had learned well the lesson of self-control
for he says: "When | was boy used to
strike back at every dog that barked at
me as | rode along the highway, but |
have ceased doing so long since, and let
them bite the iron that encircles the
wheel. ltwas in his family he was best
| and greatest; there he gave all the love of
warm and generous heart and no mem
Der ever heard from him even a reproving
word; a look was all that was ever in
ficted.
During his long stay at Princeton his
house was the station where all trains on
the underground railway stopped for
dinner, and that road did large passenger
business. His house and barn was full of
fugitive negroes from year to year. Late
one Saturday night twelve stalwart blacks
70 1hn 40
pursuit. He gave them shelter, took the
round dozen to church the next morning,
and used them in his sermon as an illus
tration of the iniqnities of slavery He
was frequently arrested for violation of
the fugitive slave law, paid his fines and
always announced to the court where the
next anti-siavery meeting was to be
held
A fugitive slave was once CAPTURED in
the harvest field and taken to the court
house for preliminary trial before being
returned south. The affair Screated great
excitement In the neighborhood The anti
slavery members of the district were soon
summoned and leaving their plows in the
burrows climed on their harnessed horses
and came galloping to town. Lovejoy
lived about three-quarters of mile from
the village. He was at once notified, and
his fleet Kentucky mare was soon in front
of the courthouse. He entered the court
house walked straight up to the negro and
cut the rope, put the knife in his hand and
with the assistance of few friends, rush
ed him out of the room and then pointing
out the mare, told him to ride for his life
The frantic negro slashed wildly at the
halter, severed it. and gashed the shoulder
of the mare, but managed to mount and
and off like the wind. What race was
that! The crazy, frightened fugitive far
ahead, digging with his heels the sides
and beating with black fists the shoulders
Of the flying race horse. The ''embattled
abolition farmers galloping madly after,
the Jang!ing chains of the harness striking
the legs Of their clumsy horses, rushed to
what they knew would be the asylum of
the fugitive.
The negro, trembling with fright, rush
ed into the house and was concealed by
Mrs. Lovejoy Her husband was among
the first to arrive. having lost both slippers
on the way, followed by officers, slave
catchers, and bowling mob. He planted
himself just inside the gate, and in a quiet
voice. but with intense fury, warned any
man against putting a foot inside the gate
There stood Lovejoy, and there stood the
crowd, both wrought to the highist pitch
of anger. The aspect of the crowd was
frightening, but the face of Lovejoy was
so terrible that not man dared approach
him while this was happening In front
of the house, man with black face was
seen to emerge from a window, and &C
scurrying off across the fields. He was
followed by the entire pack of blood
hounds, and when caught proved to be a
deacon in Mr.. Lovejoy's church. While
the mob was chasing the deacon, man
under broad brimmed straw hat walked
quietly to the barn. This was the fugitive
and was soon In the bottom of a wagon
filled with wool, and On his way to Canada
and to freedom.
A brooklyn manufacturer paid bill
without murmer the other day simply
on account of the way it was worded
His engineer found that the hot water
pump would not work and sent for
machinest The latter bothered with it a
half day and said it must come apart.
This meant a stoppage of the factory for a
long time. 1t was suggested that a neigh
boring engineer be sent for, as he was
genus in the matter of machinery. He
came, and after studying the pump a
while he took a hammer and gave three
sharp rapS over Ule VdlVe- L reckon
she'll go now, he quietly said. and put
ting on steam, ''she" did go. The Iext
day, says the manufacturer. 81 received a
bill from him for $3.50, The price
amazed me, but when had examined the
items | drew check at once. The bill
read this way: 'Messrs Blank & Co.,
DIR. to John Smith. For fixing pump,
so cents; for knowing how, s25. Had he
charged me $3.50 Tor fixing the pumpI
should have considered it exorbitant. But
so cents was reasonable, and | recognized
the value of knowledge, SO | paid and said
nothing"
Careful observations and comparisons
made by scientific Americans prove that
the hottest region on EARTH is on the south
western coast of Persia, where Persia bord-
ers the gulf of the same name. The Their
never falls below 100 degrees at
night and frequently runs up to 128 de-
grees In the afternoon.
A youngster fell from the Michigan Cen
trail train, making forty miles an hour,
near Albion, Mich, and when the trai1
Dad of Mortified passengers were backed
70 where it was expected to find
,he mangled remains the baby sat laugh
ng and playing in the sand OF the embank-
nent.