The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1897-08-31
Anti-Bellum "reminiscences.
BY j. b. Lang.


BY j. B. Lang.
Soon after the passage of the fu-
gitiye slave act a great change came
over the spirit of the people of the
north, and especially in the states of
Ohio and Indiana, which territorv
was the great thoroughfare for run
away slaves. Said act was designed
as compromise, but the people of
the north could not see it in that
hight and instead of becoming slave
hunters and negro chasers, they be-
came abolitionists and body guards
OF the painting fugitives. The people
OF huntington caught the infection
and determined to organize for the
purpose of aiding the poor fellows
on their road towards the north star
and aiding them after they got there.
A meeting of those friendly to the
object was agreed upon and announc-
ed in the several churches to meet at
the house of S. d. Bradner. and in re-
sponse came a large number of the
best and most influential people of
the town,
The exercises were opened by a
prayer by Father Sprague; and such
prayer seldom falls from the lips
of man. His voice was clear and
strong, and the house fairly trembled
as the invocation went on. An organ.
ization was effected under the name
OF THE Fugitive Aid Society,"" and
all went bravely at work without
fearing the threatened penalty prom
ised by the aforesaid act. Glorious
old Huntington, we are proud to re
call these acts of generosity; of mercy
and of humanity; that grew out Of
this organization.
And now comes some of the work
OF this society: Quite an amount o.
clothing accumulated. Such as dress
es, aprons and other clothing for wo
men,. Shirts, overalls, socks, etc.
for the men. Learning that the writ
er was going to Detroit on business
they beset him to take a trunk o.
these goods and distribute then
where he found they were needed il
the town of Windsor, just across the
river from Detroit, the trunk must bt
disposed of before my own business
could be attended to. So. shouler
ing it, carried it to the ferry anC
thence across the river to hotel ant
put it down in the hall, seating my
self in the office. In a short time 6
brass-buttoned officer came in and in
quired if man had just came in with
trunk. The landlord pointed to mt
as the man. He said he must eX
anime the trunk to see that there wa.
nothing contraband in it. l felt l.;
little "streaked" but opened the trunl
for him, "Ah ha," said he, full O
contraband goods!" L explained, bu
it done no good. / must go with hin
to the custom house. The officer il
charge said there was no law govern
ing the case and they would be oblig
ed to hold the trunk. Here was di
lena. l plead my case as best
could and finally after swearing Il
several blue ribon, red sealed paper
and paying three shillings" L wa
suffered to depart.
That evening there was a meeting
at the school house composed mostl
OF colored people. At the close ask
ed the privilege of saying a wore
| told them | had a trunk of goods a
the hotel that l was directed to Civ
to the needy fugitives, and if ther
was any such there, if they woul
meet me at 5 o'clock next morning
would distribute them.
Suffice it to say that 1 had as larg
crowd as was at the meeting aid
had no difficulty in disposing of tn
contents of the trunk Many circun
stances in connection / might tell, bu
will reserve them for another article
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