Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-12
CHAPTER XII.

SHAP1EH ALL
Two weeks later we arrived at Bradley's
yard 1t was night when reached the
house. Before us, shimmering in the moon
light, rolled the broad Mississippi. My
dusky travellers shouted with joy at the
sight of the great waters, for the darkest
portion of their journey had ended. l in
tended to take the first Louisville freight
boat, on which would be few passengers ex-
cept ourselves.
Monday morning 1 went below to Bax-
ters landing, arranging with Moore to sig
nal to him if all was right. 1 waited a day
or two at the landing for the steamer.
Finally Louisville steamer Ghe James
Tucker came along She was about what l
wanted, so | stepped on board. When we
arrived at the woodward Moore was at the
landing with the negroes; he delivered
them, OStentatiouSly taking my receipts.
and We We're off. 1t was seldom that par
ty of negroes We're carried north, and ] eX-
pected some questions would be asked; but
there Were none, so kept quiet, volunteer
ing no information L had arranged with
Moore that he should take the next pas
senger steamer that came along. land at
Cairo and there make arrangements to Sc
until We could deliver them to the agent.
His directions were to telegraph to MIR.
Entwissle at New York.
THE next day the magnificent steamer
L IlCItf SdHl passed. us oHc was Il ST Louis
boat. but touched at Cairo. Moore sat on
deck, smoking serenely. AS the boat passed
1 saw him take out his handkerchief and
wipe his face. As about all the passengers
hailed us with some badinage, he cried out
All right, old fellow, III meet You at Cairo
mo questions were asked me on board
the steamer. There were few to ask them.
as we We're the only passengers. l smoked
and read most of the time until we arrived
at Cairo. 1t was 3 O'Clock in the morning
when We made fast alongside the whar
boat. / quietly mustered my party, walked
ashore, chatted with the captain a while,
and told him that l should take q St Louis
steamer from there.
Moore was waiting with covered wag-
on. Into this he hurried the whole party
Jumped on the seat, and. taking the reins,
urged the horse at a rafting rate through
the black mud Of the prairie road At 6
o'clock we brought up at George Gillott's
tEntwfssles agent, to whom Moore was or
dered to report We here found the most
perfect arrangements. one hundred per-
sons could have been secreted so closely
that the keenest detectives would search for
them in. vain.
1.-The house is built at the foot of long
swell that rises SO gradually from the
smooth level as to be unnoticed by the
casual observer This swell is covered by a
growth of oak. chestnut and walnut trees
that elliott had set out on taking possession
of the claim.
THE hill is excavated and in 1t a room
~ by GO. and at least eight feet high, is
CONSTRUCTED, ventilated by an ingenious ar
rangement of logs bored and so cut as to
represent hollow stumps. a very wise decep-
ton In case the woods were scrutinized too
closely. a pipe running under the ground
communicates with his kitchen chimney and
the smoke from the chimney can attract no
attention. The entrance to this room Is
| through the kitchen wall, carefully hidden
from observation. There is mode of
egress never used except in cases of emer-
gency, and known only to elliott, whereby
the occupants could escape at the rear of
the cave This room was constructed at the
expense of the Anti-Slavery Society, who
sent workmen from New York. Three
months We're spent in its construction, the
earth from the excavation being evenly dis
tributed along the road running past the
house. elliott informed me that he had at
one time a party of negroes concealed for
three weeks in that room.
The house has been watched by the sher-
ins-in fact, elliott Is always under suspi-
cion.
EAT one time a negro was seen to enter
the house. Two days later the place was
searched by the sheriffs from Cairo, aided
| by the owner Of the negroes. Finding no.
thing, they left; but their presence had
taught elliott to be careful, and he also
watched. Two of their number dropped out
and concealed themselves in the woods
about the house
These two were never lost sight of, either
elliott or his men always shadowing them
until the last negro had been smuggled
| away. Everything went on about the farm
as usual: the slaves were taken care of
! elliott has been searched a number Of times,