Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-11-03
THE CITIZEN
A Secret Dungeon.
New Castle NelcS.

New Castle Nelcs.
On prominent residence street of this
city stands a large brick house, apparently
not remarkable for anything but its age.
1t is a two-story building, and was built IN
the childhood of many OF our citizens.
The house possesses an interesting his
tory, and has connected with it very re-
markable feature, long forgotten, but re-
Gently brought to light. A short time
since, the present occupants were engaged
in house cleaning, and when the carpet on
small first-hoor bed room was removed,
small trap door, which had long passed
unnotieed, was detected in the floor.
Upon being opened it was found to lead TO
small cellar, which had no communlca-
ton with the main cellar, being separated
from it by several feet of earth. No stair
way or ladder led down to the floor, and
a lantern was lowered into it. 1t was
found to be about ten feet square, with no
window or opening of any kind excepting
the trap door The floor was not paved IN
any way, but the ground was nicely leveled
| and packed tightly down. The cellar con-
tanned nothing but an old stool, battered
candlestlck, and mildewed shoe.
A quiet investigation was instituted, and
at last there was found an old citizen who
explained the mystery ofthe long forgotten
| cellar In the days before the war when
the snti-slavery agitation was at its height,
the house was owned by lady who was
member of a secret society having for tie
object not only the abolition of slavery,
but the aiding of escaped slaves to freedom
Many times the pursuit of the un-
fortunate blacks was so close that the
society found it difficult to make sure their
| escape. 1t was hiding place for use in
| such case, that the cellar was excavated,
| and many slave was quartered for days
and sometimes weeks, and cared for by
the charitable lady of the house.
Until shortly before the war the New
Caste branch of the society continued
operations but as the membership was
small, the organization was easily Dissolved,
the north and south began. The trap door
was fastened down. an toe house being
sold vhea he lazy l,rl. over quarter of
a.centurs ago; the cNi>truce of the cellar
was forgotten. sld uttil few months
ago, tie trap door pass
Ell uannticed The Of gentleman
from whom the infor,.s atIon was obtained
told some very interesting stories regard
ing the unfortunates who had been hiding
in the cellar One poor black who had
escaped from his cruel owner, who for
some distance had pursued him with blood
hounds, as 50 weakened by sickness
brought on by privation and exhaustion
that he died shortly after being placed in
the benevolent lsdy's care, and at night
was buried in Neshannock township not
far from the city limits. Not only did the
runaways have to be guarded against their
owners but also had to be kept out of sight
of northern people so far as possible, on &C
count of the laws, and rewards offered by
their masters. The cellar will proba-
bly, be filled up as it can be put to no use,
and the tenants of the house have kept
its existence a secret to all except few
friends fearing annoyance from the curl
osity which would be aroused should its
locality be made public. The gentleman
who gave the history of the cellar says
that he is one of the two surviving mem
bers of the society which in quiet way
extended much efficient help to the escap-
Ing bondmen