The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-05
BY UNDERGROUND ROAD
HOW FUGITIVE SLAVES WERE
HELPED THROUGH INDIANA.
An Exciting Episode in Decatur
County Recalled by an Old Legal
DOcument-The Last of Its Kind.

A recent search among the early papers
of Decatur county in the courthouse at
Greensburg brought to light old doeu-
ment Endorsed as follows:
George Rays Affidavit to Arrest Slaves.
Clerk.
Andrew Dawson, Prosecuting Attorney"
George Ray was a slave owner whose
home was in Trimble county, Kentucky,
Mr.. Talbot was the first clerk of Decatur
county, elected when the county was or
ganized in 1922, and serving continuously
thirty-eight years. Mr.. Davidson was a
prominent attorney, and became well known
as one of the judges of the Indiana Su-
preme Court. But the interest of this old
document is to be found in its relation to
Mr.. Ray, and his subsequent actions found
ed on the affidavit contained therein, and
which reads as follows:
Indiana Decatur county, set
BE it remembered that on this day per-
sOnally appeared before me, the under-
signed, clerk of the Decatur Circuit Court,
George Ray, of Trimble county and State
OF Kentucky. who being by me duly sworn,
on oath says that he has just claim to GER
tain slaves or colored persons, of the names
and description following, to wit: Caroline,
a negro woman of the age of about thirty
years; Frances mulatto girl OF the age
of about twelve years. John, mulatto boy
of the age of about six years; Mandy
mulatto girl of the age. of about four years,
and Henry, a colored boy of about twenty
months old. That this deponent is the own
er of said above named persons or slaves,
and that he is lawfully entitled to their
service and labor as his slaves under ana
by virtue of the la VS. of the said State OF
Kentucky. That said slaves deserted ana
escaped from his service and labor, and be-
came fugitives from such service and labor
in the county of Trimble and State of Ken
lucky aforesaid, on the 3Oth day OF October'
1S47, and are now fugitiVes from such serV-
ice and labor. And that said slaves are all
at this time, as deponent verify beleVes, IN
and within the county OF Decatur ana state
of Indiana. And this deponent as the own
err of said slaves is DESTROYS of arrestlng
said slaves and conveying them back to
said m county bgt according e RA9 Yn'
'Sworn to before me- the undersigned
clerk of the Decatur Circuit Court, this Sd
day of November, 1S47.
HENRY H. TALBOT, Clerk"
RAPID TRANSIT.
The rapidity with which the passengers Of
the underground railroad were transported
may be estimated by recalling the facts that
this woman and her four children, the
youngest less than two years old, had left
their home in Kentucky on Oct. 81, and were
four days later in the extreme northern
part of Decatur county; seventy-two hours
later they were safe in Canada The es-
cape, capture rescue and final escape of
this coored woman lack no element of thrill
ing adventure; while the trial and conV1c-
ton of the parties assisting her to freedom,
from their high standing in social and re-
liefous circles was one of the most interest
ing and exciting ever witnessed in south
eastern Indiana
ON THE WAY NORTH.
Leaving the home of Mr. Ray, a few
miles from Bedford, KY, Caroline and ner
children crossed the Ohio river near Madi-
son, Ind and were placed in care of
Mr.. Waggoner who carried them to De-
catur county and placed them in the hands
of Mr.. Douglas Mccoy, then young man
living at McCoy's Station and now high
ly respected citizen of Greensburg.
For many years there had been colored
settlement near Clarksburg, in Decatur
county, and near this settlement lived Mr.
Luther A 'Donnel. man of wealth and
a friend of the oppressed. Mr.. Mccoy re-
ceived the fugitives about o'clock in the
morning, and Immediately started for the
colored settlement some twelve miles dis
tant stopping. however, at the home of his
friend Mr.. William Nj. Hamilton to inform
him of his errand and secure his assistance
But it soon became evident that daylight
would overtake them before they could
reach their station, and prompt measures
Near them was a cabin in which a colored
man named Pernell was living. In his care
the fugitives were placed Mr. Mccoy re-
turned home, while Mr.. Hamilton went to
the home of Luther A. Donnell for advice
and aid. Mr.. Donnell proposed going him
self to the colored settlement and sending
some Of the colored people after the flu
gitives. This he proceeded to do, and Mr..
Hamilton started to his own home.
Perneu, the colored man in whose care the
fugitives had been placed, having once been
a slave himself, was lacking in the bravery
necessary to jeopardiZe his own interests
for the sake of his race Consequently,
fearing some calamity might befall him If
the fugitives were found on his premises,
he put them on horses and in broad day
hight started for the colored settlement.
They were met by Mr.. Hamilton, who at
once compreihended the danger He advised
that they be hurriedly taken to the home
of a colored widow near by who was known
to be always willing to incur any risk in
assisting her people. This was done, and
Jane Speed received them kindly concealed
them in an old house and sent food to them
by her boy during the day, which latter
kindness caused no end of trouble. The old
house was at some distance from her dwell
ing and nearer to the residence or one
Woodson Clark, a man who had the reputa-
ton of being slave hunter.
A SLAVE HUNTER.
Clark saw Jane Speeds boy enter and
leave the old hut. His suspicious were
aroused. He began a search and found
the fugitives secreted in the hay. He
assured them they were in i'm
minent danger. and proposed con-
Quoting them Immediately to the colored
settlement. He led them to his own home,
secreted them in the out-buildings of his
son, just across the road, and insisted that
he would send for the colored people to
come and convey her northward immediate
ly. The woman was suspicious of treachery.
She knew that she was near people of her
own race, and as it was now night, she
left her children and began search for
friends. Being a stranger in strangers
land, she soon became bewldered, panic
stricken and an aimless wanderer on a
pitch-dark night. As soon as it was dark
the colored people of the neighborhood as
sembled at the old hut of Jane Speed, dis
covered that the fugitives were gone, but
by the aid of a lantern succeeded in finding
tracks which led to the premises of Wood
son Clark. The place was surrounded,