Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-11-02
THE EX-SLAVE'S STORY
AS TOLD BY HIS son, NOW ONE
OF DEER ISLES CITIZENS.
ESCAPED TO THE NORTH AND LIVED
TO BE 10 YEARS oLD-CHEATED
OUT OF HARD EARNED
PROPERTY.
From the Lewiston Journal


on Deer Isle, is seventy eight years old,
poor and alone. For more than forty
years he has lived here where he and his
wife reared the family of boys and girls
that are now scattered and gone. His
wife, Abigeld Russell, was the daughter OF
a fugitive slave, Peter Russell, who made
his escape from the plantation in the
South, came here and cleared the little
farm and built house where he could be
forever free.
Ine Russell family were held in the
highest respect by the people ON the
island, and many of the hardy sea cap
tai nsNho have grown to manhood and
sailed the deep, can recall with pleasure
the lessons in navigation given by the
poor old colored man in the days gone
by. Russell and the old man Van
Meter, divers father, were close friends,
presumably on account of the odd way
i'll which they were first thrown toget her
both were fIgitives ana both became
well known i'll the towns they adopted
They are all dead and gone now with the
exception OF Oliver, who has become
feeble and scarcely able to care for him
self. His two sons have not been heard
from for years.
Mr.. Van Meter holds the same claim on
the young peoples hearts as did the old
man Russell, but divers lessons are
mostly Bible talks and wholesome stories,
he being frst-class Bible scholar and
an active member OF the Congregational
church. Scarcely an evening passes hat
has not its little congregation of young
folks and its story or sermon from the
poor old man, for they gather around to
hear him, land all love and respect and
listen attentively to his discourse. 1t
was raining heavily the evening when
your reporter called, but he found seven
boys and girls listening to the old mans
story. 1t was not Of himself, Mr. Van
Meter was talking, but Of his father and
the wonderful escape he had. He did not
for so much as half minute stop in the
progress Of his story to the children, but
after asking the strangers to be seated,
continued:
"My father had good master once
when he WAS young boy, and he prom
isedshim and his brother their liberty as
soon as they reached the age OF eighteen
He was then only fourteen, and in few
months after the promise was made, the
master died and new man fell heir to he
estate. The master made no will, so as
part OF the property the two boys were
held as slaves. The new master was very
cruel; he was young new-married up
start of man, and used to whip the bows
inst to show his authority.
Zone time there was young LAWYER
out hunting and he got his boat tipped
over in the stream, and father he diyed
into the stream, and after some time got
the man on the shore. II was some time
before the young man came to, and when
be did. he found the colored man looking
after him. Nothing was ever said about
the accident, and it WAS some time be-
fore they met again. One day fat her vas
sent on an errand to place where he
would be obliged to pass the office where
the young man was studying law. He
took a liking to father, and called him
into the office, nobody around.
Now said he, Wan, want to pay YOU
for saving my life. You are good to keep
a secret, so | have plan, il you think it
right we will act on it, Then he made
out paper and forged the name
OF the dead man. Now, said he,
Henry, take these papers, don't lose
them; place them carefully in your
breast. Let no man know of your plan,
not'even your brother, but watch by day
and by night till good opportunity pre-
sents itself. Then you go-foliow the
north star-travel by night and hide
yourself by day. At night go as fast as
you can; in the day sleep in the woods.
Don't even show the papers till you are
put to the severest test, for on that test
my life as well as your own depends.
Put your trust in the God OF justice and
remem Der that by your success two lives
depend as it did in the lake when you
saved my life. IL you are overtaken by
the bloodhounds, make haste to destroy
the papers. Take them,' and when the
young man passed the papers to father,
the tears were rolling down his cheeks.
Father dropped upon his knees and
asked God to help him, then kissed and
bid his friend good-b and with strong
determination in his breast he swore he
would never be taken back to slavery
alive He performed his errand and re-
turned to his work at the plantation, his
part being the care of the cattle and