The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-06-14
A SLAVE LOOKUP.
A Relic of the Anti-Bellum Days
in the Cellar of the Indepen-
dent Engine House, now
Being Demolished.

The tearing down of the old lnde-
pendent Engine House, on Church
street, to give place to structure OF
more modern appearance and equip
ment, discloses many interesting facts
pertaining to the days when slavery
was at its height in the South, and no
strife embittered the friendly relations
existing between the people north and
south of the Mason and Dixon Line.
Indeed there are very few old build
ings in this city, around which do not
linger romance, reality and memories
of by-gone days, long before the pres
ent generation saw light and modern
progress succeeded crude methods and
manners. History contains many in.
stances of this kind pertaining to
Frederick and vicinity, but many
items fail to receive that attention
deserved by their intrinsic value. But
to return to the building mentioned.
Many years ago, In the anti-bellum
days, when this section of the State
was a most prosperous agricultural
region, vast estates were owned by
rich men, the descendants Of whom
are among our best and most prosper.
GUS people. All, or nearly all, were
slave owners, and numbered their SER
wants by the hundreds or thousands.
1t was rule in this city that all he.
grOes out after ten p. M, without salts.
factory excuse, or in company with
their master or mistress, should be ar.
rested and confined until claimed by
their owners, in which event they
were returned. In the front cellar OIL
the now partially demolished struct.
ure, under the hall at the left of the
engine-room, at one time the old
Mayors office and later the office of the
old Mutual Fire Insurance Company
now used as meeting-room, is a lock
up, where slaves were placed ovel
night when found after the prescribed
hour, either intoxicated or wandering
about the city. Comparatively few
persons, we feel sure, knew of its exis-
tence, although it has remained in its
present condition, unused since those
days. 1t is small damp chamber
about ten by twelve feet in dimensions
lit by small, narrow opening in the
side, about nine feet from the floor
and entered by means of a door, tn,
upper part Of which is open, ant
strong iron bars running up and dowr
are firmly set in the woodwork. Sew
eral bolts and massive iron lock max,
it almost impregnable. The interior il
dark and complete view cannot b.
obtained of the lower half unless {
light is procured. The floor is of hare
packed clay and the walls of stone
Mildew in great abundance clings t
the sides and peculiar odor pervadel
the place. Could this uncann,
stronghold speak, what tale it would
unfold of long hours of solitude anC
suffering, cases of mistaken identity
and rightful Imprisonment. When
certain length of time expired and ,
slave was not claimed, several lashe'
were administered and the unfort
innate being set at liberty with an ad
m0nltion not to be guilty of a second
offence. Once was usually enough
Old citizens can yet recall those times
and many interesting and startling
! accounts are told, which in these day,
of peace and quiet, seem like extract
from the Arabian Nights. And We
truth is at most times stronger thar
| fiction.