The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16
ON THE WAY TO FREEDOM
LEVI CoFFIN's STATION ON FAMOUS
"UNDERGROUND RAILROAD,
Wayne County VIII Try to Preserve
ugees, Including "Eiiza Harris

of Levi Coffin, I'm Fountain City. This old
building with its surroundings is closely
identified with many OF the important events
of the DAYS when there were no railroads
and when Richmond was but a village, and
a strong feeling has developed that they
should be preserved intact. The Wayne
County Historical Society has about COM
pssted a plan whereby the premises may be
purchased and paid for and the buildings
preserved as long as possible. This society
was permanently organized in 1Ss2 and Is
composed Of many Of the most substantial
citizens Of the county. Its object is TO col
1ect and preserve information touching the
history OF the county and TO secure facts
illustrative Of the settlement of Wayne
county, the habits. manners and mode Of
life of its inhabitants at various periods,
and its advancement In population, wealth
and culture. and to cultivate more intimate
social relations among its inhabitants" The
first president of the society was Joseph
M. Bulla; vice president. William c. Starr;
secretary, Joseph c.. Ratliff. and treasurer,
J. H. Norman. The society is in a -four
ishing condition and there is a general in
terest in it's affairs. When the society OBJ
tains possession of the house 1t will be. used
as a depository for old-time utensils and i'm
plements possessing a rare Or curious local
history. A room will be set apart for the
safe keeping Of documents and letters OF a
historical nature, and IL is expected that
many manuscripts and books will be
brought TO light and placed therein for pres
ervation- Special effort will be made to
procure a complete collection OF the imple-
ments used in slavery times, which will
illustrate the hardships and tortures in
dicted upon the slaves.
A FAMOUS STATION. q
This house was one Of the most important
stations on the underground railroad, of
which peculiar institution Levi Coffin was
IA reputed president. It's history is Of the
most interesting character. and many OF
the events that occurred within fits walls
comprehended affairs OF more than national
scope. Indeed, the ultimate effect of some
of the events upon affairsof government can
not be computed. The feeling engendered by
the actions OF anti-slayery people was so
violent at times that neighborhoods were
aroused, friends estranged and even relig-
ious denominations split into opposing fac
tions. The head center OF anti-slavery SEN
timent IN Indiana was this town called
Newport, since named Fountain City. and
the rendezvous of its supporters was Levi
Cofin's home. At this house were held
ulc6tlnSS Oh Iu6 ITlCnQS OF Slaves ana the
opponents OF slavery. n here doctrines
were enunciated which held that all men
were free and equal and Of right should be
so, and further that it was no sin to yio-
late the laws of the land when such laws
interfered with the laws of God. Indignation
at the wrongs OF the slave was expressed
In the quiet speech OF the Quaker, but If
the words lacked fiery utterance, they were
nona fha 1asa harEod hv 1ofarp,fraffoo ond
Irresistible wills. 1t was in this house that
the first opposition in Indiana to the use of
the products OF slavery took form and ut
terance and it was here that the doctrine
Of the Friends Church regarding slavery
was attacked by its own embers SO vio-
lently and forcefully that a division resulted
and the friends of free labor were expelled.
They Immediately formed another organiza-
tion, exactly like the parent church, except
as to its declarations regarding free labor.
This new organization assumed such impor-
tance that delegates from the main meet
ing In London journeyed all the day to Levi
Collins home to effect a reconciliation. This
Journey was In vain, however. for these
friends OF human liberty adhered the more
strongly to their belief when they saw the
attempt TO deprive even themselves Of the
right to think and act according to the
dictates of their own conscience. After sew
eral years the two factions reunited, but not
At the sacrifice of the doctrine which drove
the one from the parent church
ABOLITIoNIST RESORT.
Many OF the noted Abolitionists Of the time
came to this house to counsel with Mr.. Cof-
fin in regard TO the great cause OF anti
slavery. Frederick Douglass came here to
offer his personal acknowledgment to Levi
Coffin for the great work he was doing for
his race and to cheer the hearts of the off,
GERS OF the underground railroad with his
matchless eloquence. Eliza Harris, of
'sUncle Toms Cabin fame, was received
here In a fainting condition, yet carrying
her child In her arms, with which she had
traved the drifting ice in the swollen Ohio
river. She was kept here for several days
until completely restored, when she was for
warded along the main line into Canada.
She was afterwards joined by her husband
IN Canada, where they became well to do,
and where Levi Coffin and his wife, Aunt
Katy. visited them in their home.
The story OF Eliza so impressed Levi cof-
nm that he wrote a detailed description of
the event to Harriet Beecher Stowe, in
which he CAV a description Of her escape
and miraculous crossing Of the river on the
floating ice. He pointed out to Mrs. Stowe
the divine preservation of the poor slave
and her child through dangers and hard
ships, and begged her TO use her tremen-
dous power TO assist the cause to which he
himself had devoted his life. The response
20 Mr.. Collins appeal was "Uncle Toms
Cabin" In that book Levi Coffin and his
wife were taken for the originals OF ISL
mon" and Rachel Halliday" the inimitable
ruaLa- 1osrDla The sfary shat T-Ii-a raIot11
OF her escape and experiences are but little
changed In Uncle Toms Cabin, the real CIR
cumstances being sufficiently dramatic and
touching. When Eliza arrived at Mr.. Cof-
fn's home, she had no surname, as indeed
was the case with most slaves. After hear
Ing her story Aunt Katy gave her the name
Eliza Harris and asked her to always re-
tain IL, which she promised to do. When
her husband finally reached her in Canada
he also took the name bestowed upon his
wife and was known as George Harris ever
afterward. II is not now known what
ELIAS original name was, whether it was
really Eliza or something else, but the fact
that the full name given her by Aunt Katy
was the same as that used in Uncle Toms
Cabin. serves TO support Mr.. Collins claim
that the writer OF the book had no knowl-
edge OF the circumstances other than the
detailed account given her by Levi Coffin.
Nearly every fugitive received In this house
was given a full name by Aunt Katy. Some
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