Evening star., 1900-04-21

ana signed or lndorSed by Samuel Entwis-
sle.
Later in the evening another gentleman
made his appearance. This was Mr. Birney
of Philadelphia, a former abolition candi-
date for President Mr. Greeley briefly
stated to the other gentlemen nv proposi-
ton and called upon me to explain it. which
l did, recapitulating to them all the reader
knows, and fully explaining my views.
Inc proposition advanced by me and ac-
cepted by them was
For every negro man or woman delivered
TO the agent of the underground railroad at
any point In Indiana. Illinois, Ohio or any
other free state Where they could be best
delivered we We're to receive a sum of s30O
ana Tor all children less than six years of
age $50 (all over six years to count as man
OF women. A sum sufficient to cover all
expenses was to be paid by sight drafts.
Drawn by myself upon some financial agent
OF the Anti-Slavery Society at New York,
the report Of the agent who received the
fugitiVes being deemed sufficient voucher
that our part was fulfilled
ne Antl-SIaVery Society was also to nav
Ior such material and outfits as / then
wanted to enable US to begin onarations
Whlch would amount to about 81 800 Some
hesitancy being shown on their part reea I'd
ing TINS item, L cut it short by agreeing to
lurflsh the money myself, leaving them the
recepted bills and drawing for the amo,nt
II We We're successful in our first venture
VIZ li'ended 10 use two avenues for
transportation one by vessel or steamer
river. the other across the country via tba
tributaries of the Red and Arkansas rivers
following the different bayous, to us we'll
Mios;., .1io"n. anu coming out on the bank of the
MISSISSIPPI at my wood yard. Here we
could Keep party of 100 if necessary for
months, as the country alIund was sWamn
ana wilderness. and no person ever landed
there from the river, excent the dackbands
of steamers calling for wood, and thev sell
piled. "oo" "aS
i explained this to them as well as my de-
scriptive powers would allow, returned to
the motel and wrote to George Wesner to
day. e'. - o1i 'hae
Of a young man whom he said would assist
me IN getting material together and take
me to the different localities. as was a
atns;ef s.aangef IN the city. and I must procure
something for every possible emergency
CHAPTER W.
What we most needed wastta conn,a of
boats or canoes capable of carrying ten
men each and built so as to be folded and
put into box or trunk, for TRANSPORTATION.
already had plan for their construc-
ton and had the drawings of an ideal boat.
put whether these would develbp into any,
thng practical or useful when criticised by
d hechanic or on actual trial was yet to be
demonstrated taI-.ri
ihe next day I called upon Mr.. Wilson
ana told him my plans. Together we went
to blacksmith's shop, where / showed the
smith my drawings. but he was thick-head-
ed and totally devoid Of mechanical ideas.
inanufacturer of small machinery one
MaetheW inaen1eWs Coison an Irishman, and very
as soon as explained the drawing I made
bargain with him to construct two canoes.
lhese were marvel of simplicity strength
carrying capacity and lightness, One was
twenty 1eet long, six feet wide at the center,
about two feet deep and would carry twelve
men 1--WE have had fifteen in iD; the other
was. was about eighteen feet long. four feet
wide. eighteen inches deep and was to be
nsen more Tor exploring and working
When the boats Were completed we carried
the box containing them to the river bank.
opened 1t. and In just twenty-eght minutes
l stepped into the canoe. ready for use and
noating upon the bosom of the Hudson, un-
deniably a perfect success.
A crowd of boys and men lined the river
bank. gazing and watching our movements.
and making comments. l. called two mr.
three to step in and try the new boat. Three