Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-03-19

time of trouble, and she saw no reason
for wondering that He had done so
this time.
One of the fugitives whom she helped
to escape was man named Jue, whose
first master sold him. The morning
after the bargain was completed the
new owner ordered Joe to strip, and
then gave him a severe fogging, ad-
mitting that Joe had committed no
offence to deserve punishment, but
saying that he always began with his
niggers by giving them "A good lick
ing, so as to establish his authority
over them firmly. After this chastise-
ment, Joe went at once to the cabin of
old Ben, " Harriet's father, and said |:
Mex time Moses comes, let me
know. ="
Being therefore put in communica.
tion with Harriet, Joe joined party
which chaneed to be more hotly pur-
sued than were most of her companies.
The fugitives were obliged to separate
and take different roads; but they met
again in the house of Samuel Green, a
free negro living in Dorchester county,
Maryland. This Green was afterwards
sent to jail for 10 years, by sentence of
a county court held in Cambridge in
that State. because COPY of "Uncle
Toms Cabin" was found in his pos
session.
Two thousand dollars was offered for
the capture of Joe, and the roads and
woods through which he and his com
panions made their way swarmed with
hunters eager TO catch him and secure
this money. When the escaping party
nFared Wilmington Bridge, friend
warned Harriet that advertisements
were out concerning Joe's flight, and
that the bridge was guarded by police.
men, She hid the fugitives in separ-
ate places, and contrived TO get word
into the city TO Thomas Garrett, adj
visng him of their sore strait. Tho
staunch old Quaker sent across tho
bridge two wagons full of bricklayers.
who shouted and sung as they passed
the officers. They returned after dark,
still shouting and singing, and the
guards did not suspect that while
the noisy workmen occupied the seats,
certain silent negroes lay close together
on the wagon floors.
When this company finally arrived in
New York City, Harriet took them
into the Anti Slavery Office, and Oliver
johnson rose up Ia meet Joe, exclaim-
ing: " am glad 10 SEQ the man who a
worth two thousand dollars TO his
master. The slave holders adver-
tisement had preceded the slave to the
Office. When Joe learned this his heart
sank within him. lie fet sure that
his master would follow and seize him
before he could reach Canada. 1t was
now proposed to forward tho fugitives
the rest of the way by train. Poor Joe
was alarmed at this idea. lie thought
they would be safer to go on foot, walk
ing by night and hiding by day in
forests and bitches. He was persuaded,
however, to proceed with the others in
the railroad cars but deep melancholy
possessed his spirit. He was afraid.
AS the train approached the Suspension
Bridge, the negroes, who occupied a
car in which all the other passengers
sympathized with them, began to sing.
Harriet probably furnished the words :;
the rest ioined-all but Joe. He sat
moodily silent, while the song rang
out:
Oh, heard Queen Victoria say,
That If we would forsake
Our native land of slavery,
And come across de lake; ......
Dat she was standing on de shore,
Wild arms extended wide
Ioglve us peaceful home, .-.7.
Beyond de rolling tide.
When the train came to the centre Of
the bridge, Harriet, knowing that
the danger limo was passed, bounded
across the car and nearly pushed Joe
out Of his seat, crying in wild exulta
ton: Joe, you've shook the lions
paw. lie did not understand her, and
so she had to explain more quietly:
You're in Queen Victoria's do.
minions! You're free man. Then
doe stood UP and, lifting his head like
man, found voice to sing:
Glory to God and Jesus too
One more soul got safe
Oh, 60, and carry the news
pne more soul got safe
When at last his feet we're firmly
planted on Canadian soil, and all the
| people from the car crowded rejoicing,
about him, he wiped the tears from
his face and said: Thank de Lord,
dere's only one more journey for me
now, and dat's to lleaben. "
Harriet persuaded three of her
brothers to fly with hcr, after she had
demonstrated the fact that such efforts
could be successful. They decided To
take advantage Of the Christmas huli.
days TO make the attempt; and all one
Christmas day they lay hidden in the
fodder house" waiting for niphtfall.
Harriet was with them. Their mothers S
cabin was close by their place OF con
cealment and their mother was expect.
ing them home for festival dinner.
Harriet had not spoken with her
mother for six years; but she dared
not reveal herself to her now, and the
boys were also afraid to go to her, lest
she should suspect theiIsplans and in
her terror and grief make an QUERY
which would betray them. So all dAv
long the brothers and sister pceued
through the chlnks Of the fodder house
wall, and watched their disappointed
mother come to her door and looly
anXiously up and down the road to see
her sons, who did not come. Ono Of
the men had left wife and new born
baby. The wife had sohbed and cried .
but he had not dared to stay with hcr
because ho had heard that he was ia
be sold 70 the South. All he could do
to comfort her was TO promise that II
he escaped he would send "Moses'
back for her sometime.
Hunger forced Harriet to LET he,
father "old Bon, know where hit
children were. He brought them food
several times; hut he would not lon,
at them when he did so. After it was
dark, the men went with their sister
near the cabin and, unseen by the old
woman, gazed silently through tht
window at their mother. Old Ber
came out to them, with his eyes band
aged. A son took MIN by one arm and
his daughter by the other, and thus
they LED him between them little