Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-07-09

Some months ago a representative of
The GAZETTE had the opportunity of
very interesting conversation with an
aged Unitarian clergyman, sincesdead,
who was an intimate friend of Ralph
Waldo Emerson.
The pleasures of that occasion, highly
priced as they are, were repeated ac-
cording to their own features Saturday
afternoon last in most delightful visit
10 Norris Maris, the sole local survivor
, of that fearless band of ubolitionists of
this region whose peculiar distinction
twas their brotherhood in the historic
l"Underground Railway"
T, The noble old gentleman, who is now
Tin his S9th year, is as bright and COM
1 municative as many man who has not
. yet touched the vestibule of the sibyl-
line prophets three-score years and ten.
Mr.. Maris home is picturesque resi-
dence, thickly EMPOWERED in shade
trees and located in the western portion
of the city. Its quiet sequestered beauty
suggests the idea of fitting harbor for
the good mans declining years. He
was seated on the porch, surrounded
by relatives and friends. A comforta-
BILE arm chair was handed the reporter,
who found no difficulty in getting the
courteous old gentleman to speak of
past "reminiscences and of by-gone slave
holding times.
Long ago, he said, there were a num-
. Der of anti-slavery societies in this
region who found it necessary to form
themselves into body for mutual help
an the extremely risky and difficult bust
ness thew had undertaken.
They were all inspired by the idea
that human nature never had any BUSH
ness to be enslaved. This belief en-
crossed their minds above all things.
Elijah Pennypacker Of Valley Forge,
Chester county, was leading spirit IN
the movement Thomas Garrett, father
of Elwood Garrett of Wilmington, to
Iss the speakers exact phraseology
twas a tremendous man at it, lie
passed thousands of negroes through.
''Do you mean to say the reporter
asked, Hthat he literally passed thou
sands of negroes along the underground
railway ?"
81 do say SO. know myself he passed
over 1900 safely along. He used to
pass them to DR.. Bartholomew Russell
at Kennett Square. Sometimes six
negroes at time. Sometimes more"
y AWould they not be noticed asked
the reporter, "or would not they be sus-
pected as they passed along in such sue
cessive numbersl"
"No, no. Mr., Maris replied with a
merry chuckle. "rhey could not catch
\ us. We did it always at night time
That was why il was called the UNDER
ground railway. We had to pilot them
along at night. The masters could not
follow. They might watch if they
liked. But so did we. 1t did not pay
them to waste time trying to find out
anything. Nobody could see and moth
ing was discovered as the slaves were
always very cautious. They too knew
the risks they ran. They stopped at the
various stations, that is to say friends
or sympathizers' houses during the day.
Then at night time they again com
menced travelling until by successive
stages they reached the Canadian line
And then you know Immediately they
reached British territory and stepped
over the line they were as free men as
you or l, and all the United States
could not enslave them again. Nc
Shareholder or slavemaster could raise
his hand 10 touch a slave on British
soil"
THE LOCAL U. G. RAILWAY.
,'"Could you describe, Mr. Maris' til,
: the reporter asked, "of your own per
sonal knowledge, one of the local un
derground routes :"
ooh, yes. A bunch of slaves woul,
collect at Thomas CARROTS house il
Wilmington. That was kind of head
quarters known all over Maryland an,
Virginia, but unfortunately as well b,
the slave owners as by their humai
ichattels. Then from Mr., Garrett
they were passed TO DR. Fussell's; the
to John Vickers, Chester county; rs III
house of Norris Maris, (my home) i
Chester county; to Esther Lewis, Kim
.berton; to Elijah f. Pennypackel
Schuylkill township; then on TO Phila
delphia or Norristown or otherforward
ing point, whence eventually to Canadi
A The depot in Philadelphia was at til
\ home Of j. Miller McKim. This wa
the regular anti-slavery Office
Mr.. Maris' son, George l.. Mars, VIII
was little boy at the time, used 10 hcl
in sketching out route maps for the fug
tives. On these maps were CAREFUL
marked each road the negroes had /
pass in order that no mistake be mad
The crossroads We're marked in ordC
that the men need not stop to ask dire,
tons. They stayed around the static
all day and would only venture fort
at night fall. They would hide up
the barn or any convenient place.
The highest number ever passed
one time along the local railway W,
81. About five or six was the usu
number. Joseph Ebert, who recent
died in this city, was one who was thu