Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-11-12

Methodist preacher. lie was radical
abolitionist. His attitude on slavery
was largely Influenced, he said. by an
incident which occurred when lie was
. boy. He went with bis father aud
quarterly meeting. and with them was
assigned to the good. clean house OF q
pair Of escaped slaves. One night after
service he sat on the hearthstone be-
fore the fire and listened to the freed
woman's story Of sorrow. 1t covered
thirty years. She had been sold from
home, separated from husband and
family. and oil ties Of affection were
broken. Fairbanks young heart wepr,
his anger was kindlcd. and antagon!sm
10 slavery was fixed upon him. Faith.
err" he said. on going to his room.
when I get bigger they shall not do
that" Aud that resolution he put into
action whenever he had an opportunity.
lie was utterly fearless. and often
rIsked his life where others would have
hcsitated. He not only never refused
TO heed the cry Of the slave himself, but
he sought opportunities to aid those
who had no thought OF the possibility
OF escape. Once he paid $l,4S5 for u
beautiful and accomplished girl who
was only onc.s!xty.fOurth African, and
who was being sold at public auction
with appeals to the basest passions OF
possible purchasers. The girls father,
who had educated her as one Of his own
family and sold her because Of his
financial embarrassments, gave Fair.
bank 500 toward her purchase.
Falrbank was first arrested In Octo-
her, 1914. for assisting colored family
named Hayden, Of Lexington, Ky, to
escape. lie was sentenced TO fifteen
years in the pententary. and served
nearly five years. when he was par
doned Aug. %, isI9, by Gov. John j.
Crittenden. In November 1851, after
assisting a slave woman named Lamar
to escape from Louisville to Indiana,
Mr.. FaIrbank was kidnapped and car.
ried TO Kentucky, where he was tried,
convicted. and In March, 1852, was sen.
fenced 10 fifteen years in the peniten.
tiary at hard labor. His fame became
widespread. lie was the best known
prisoner OF his day, and he was often
urged TO speak In public, even by his
keepers. He finally consented, and on
Feb. IA. 1858. addressed a gathering
composed OF the elite OF Kentucky, in,
Guiding the Governor State officers
members Of both houses Of the Leglsla
ture and eminent citizens. who packed
the Jail yard. He was introduced by
Mr.. Whltes!de, who said: "Your excel
lency, ladies' and gentlemen: This IL
our distinguished prisoner, Mr.. Fair
bank. You viii hear him."
Mr. Falrbank began his address
which held his audience for an hour
with these remarkable words: Gov
ernor. ladies and gentlemen. a war II
inevitable, and let IL come. ] repeat IT.
let 1t come, And Kentucky will be the
iheater; and you'll fight horse-brldlt
deep In blood, and slavery Will mel
away Ike a hoar frost; and out of II
VIII spring government Of all the PEG
pie, by all the people, for all the peo
PIE" Gov. Morehead congratulated Mr.
Fa!rbank on his speech. but said
"Falrbank, you are crazy. The Van,
KEGS won't fight" We'll. Governor
you'll see" replied Mr.. Falrbank. And
he did see. This speech, delivered three
years before the war. was reported iu
The papers and made dep Impression
~. tairbenk had . ten frieDds and