New-York tribune., 1893-12-24

the Rev Calvin Fairbank. He is now seventy
seven years Old and lives in humble circumstances
with his wife In Angelica In this state struggling
against poverty and the infrmities of old age. In
creased In his by the hardships which he has
undergone, and dependent for support upon the
sales OF a book which contains the narrative OF his
truly remarkable career He helped forty-seven
slaves 10 gain their liberty without assistance from
others besides taking a hand in the escape of
many more For his efforts in obedience 10 what
he believed TO be higher law than the statutes
OF the slave States he spent more than seventeen
years In a Kentucky prison. where he received from
his jailers than 5000 lashes before he was
set free through the efforts Of President Lincoln
Calvin Fairbank was born in Pike. y. Y When
twelve years old he attended with his parents a
Methodist meeting In a neighboring town. whore
he a coored family who had escaped from
slavery In Virginia. The story of their sufferings
made such an impression upon the boy that he
resolved to do what he could. when he should be
old enough. 10 alleviate the condition OF the slaves.
The opportunity came In the spring OF 1897. The
boy had grown, meanwhile. to young manhood. and
had removed with his family to the West. While
taking IA raft OF logs down the Ohio he saw on the
Virginia side of the river a negro walking the
bank with an axe his shoulder He hailed him.
persuaded him to come aboard. and then set him
on free soil on the Ohio side, directing him TO a
nclghborng house. which was station OF the Tn
derground Railroad.
In jail at Lexington Ky. Mr.. Fairbank found
among the prisoners In March. 1873. young woman
OF exquisite beauty OF face and figure. She
slave. whose master. who also her father. In
tended sell her at auction within few days for
the New-Orieans market. Her jealous mistress
wanted 10 be rid OF her. The girl had only one
siXty-fourth of African blood and was modest and
accomplished; Mr. Fairbank hurried OF TO Gin
cinnati and laid the case before Salmon Il. Chase
of that city returning 10 Lexington with s2.275 in
money. and authority to draw on his CINCINNATI
friends for $4,000 more II necessary 10 save the girl
from enforced life of shame.
Two thousand people attended the sale among
from the principal cities OF the country. The auc
tloneer pointed out the beauties Of the girl and the
thick k-necked. black-eyed Frenchman from New
Orleans who for some time had been Mr.. Fair
How high are you going to bid?"
Higher than you do. Monsieur" was the only
The sale continued. When sl.tj0 Of Northern money
had been bid The frenchman vas silent The , aue-
and exposinS superb meek meek and bosom & 70 the
going TO lose such a chance as this?" suppressed
cry of shame and contempt was heard from the
spectators The Frenchmsn renewed his bids Mr.;
mer fell The girl tainted and the crowd chsered
Freedom papers made out. In Gin
cInnau the girls education was completed. She has
band and a few friends know that she
slave or has drop of African blood In her veins.
For one OF his adventures In behalf OF the slaves
Mr. Fairbank was arrested tried and sentenced 10
fifteen years Imprisonment at Frankfort. Governor
Crittenden of Kentucky. parloned him in lsi9.
Mr. Farbank went North and used every effort
to prevent the passage OF the Fugitive Slave bill.
When II became law he resisted Its execution
whenever he could
This brought him TO prison once more. He had
succeeded I'm rescuing from her master In Louis
vile mulatto girl. with whom he eluded pursuit
and safely reached Salem. Ind. one week later he
was Kidnapped In that State and taken back to
Louisville. where. after farcical trial. he
again sentenced 10 fifteen years imprisonment this
time at hard labor The warden's instructions 10
IL subordinate were succinct. Mr.. Davis" he said
take Fairbank TO the hacking house and Kill
him' SO the clergyman compelled TO hackle
hemp. and whenever he failed TO complete an i'm
possible daily stint he fogged with n rewhide
whip. the workroom was filed with sitting dust
and the cells were horribly filthy. Many OF the
prisoners died from the har1ships which they suf-
fercd \ strong constitution and great muscular
strength enabled Mr.. Farbank 10 live through
more than 1899 floggings. but he was an old man
at forty
While he In prison the war broke out. Con-
federate soldiers repeatedly visited the prison FOR
the purpose of finding and killing fairbank, but
without success. Two years later he was set free.
lie married Miss Mandana Tileston. of Williams
burg Mass. to whom he had become engaged be-
fore his second imprisonment lie came 10 New
York in 1860 and for the next ten years was in the
employ OF various missionary and other religious
societies. doing much in that time In behalf or the
for which he had already suffered so mucl.
The book already referred 10. How the Way
II Is an account OF his life In slavery days and re-
counts many thrilling incidents. The price is 81 50.
Copies may be had by addressing the Rev. Calvin
EairDauF. Angelica Anog1ny y.