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

verlys negroes had abated and was almost
forgotten by the time George got back
home. 1t was rarely spoken of; people gen.
orally came to the conclusion that the run
Always had persisted in the swamps No
man suspected. as We moved among our
neghbors, that their companions and friends
were two paid and accredited agents of the
underground railroad
Lucy was free and George was happy; he
was silent man, seldom mentioning her
name. and l asked questions regarding
her; l knew he wrote her long letters under
cover of some person in Philadelphia; she
never wrote to him in reply.
Business was good with us; we had the
confidence of the surrounding population
and dealt heavily in cotton; sugar we sell
dom meddled with.
1t was my turn to take the next lot to the
north; George had arranged with Mason to
be at the rendezvous the 3lst of August,
and had written Moore to start Obed along
We grew holder as time passed and we
remained unsupported. Night after night
when business was over we discussed ways
and means. Another expedition by the wa
terwayS back of the leVees was impractical
BILE; the water was too low. In fact, many
of the little cutoffs and streams we had
used We're now dry.
1t was our intention to take large num-
Der and try a different route. Like most
SPECTATORS, we grew holder with success
Brashier City is situated at the mouth of
the Atchafalaya river, and was the western
terminus of the New Orleans and Oppe-
lousas railroad. This road connected with
a line of steamers for Galveston and west
ern Texas. The president of the road had
been north during the summer, and pur-
chased lot of iron and other railroad ma
terial. / do not remember the quantity, but
the cargo was to be discharged at Brashear
City. An extension of this road was in pro-
cess of construction along the west bank of
the Teche toward Oppelousas. The infor-
nation with regard to this case We obtained
from some Maine men who had charge of
the grading. This cargo was awaiting ship
. >
engaged in the New York and West India
trade brig called the Willard Fillmore,
hailing from the island of Santa Cruz. The
captain l had known in the days of Aud
Lang Syne," but of this fact Wesner was
ignorant. / had met him at Barracoon, on
the African coast, and had seen him on the
deck of a SLAYER. l wrote to Mr.. Entwissle
about the brig. BY curious coincidence'
slavery Society in New YORK owned an IN
terest in this vessel
Mr. Entwissle having thorough under
standing with the captain, Immediately
chartered her promising a return cargo of
cotton and sugar. l received the following
letter from him:
New York, August H. 1855.
Messrs. Bradley & Wesner:
Yours received. 1 have chartered the brig
Willard Fillmore for Berwicks bay and re-
turn. The captain is fully informed in re-
gard to the voyage, and l have left all
preparations with him. She will sail about
days for the voyage.
Yours respectfully. S. Entwissle.
We immedia tely made arrangements for
our return cargo of cotton and sugar; this
was easily done. Next for the live stock;
that was q more serious matter, and far
from easy. The Fillmore was to receive
her return cargo at Franklin, thirty miles
from Brashear. Plantations lined the banks
of the bayou Teche from Franklin to New
Iberia, and the ctream was spanned by a
number of bridges. Upon the east side, OPP
posite. and a short distance below where
the brig would lay, We formed a shelter
suitable for our purpose should We be
obliged to keep many people for day or
two.
We supposed the brig would be searched;
that search must be made after the slaves
were missed, but before they were on board
the Fillmore: therefore they must be con-
cealed while it was going on.
This undertaking was very dangerous, but
our love of adventure was aroused, and
| there were Large gains in prospect.
Before any move was made We must Sc
lect some place for n rendezvous not so far
from the brig but that the distance could be
the next morning: 1t ought not to be more
than fifteen miles distant.
The movement fully decided upon there
was no procraStinat ton. First we visited
our rendezvous. Everything was as George
had left 1t.
The month of August is usually hot IN
the Attakapa3 country. This year was no
exception. In the swamp the vegetation
fairly steamed with miasma. No person,
except 1t were negro. could live there for
a week, and We were really afraid 1t would
affect them. Each morning a thick heavy
fog crept over the treetops, wrapping them
in a blanket Of chilly dampness. One could