The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-07-15
DEATH OF A NOTED
COlORBD ABOLI4I0bIST
William Still Was Respected
Citizen of Philadelphia.
Preceding the Civil War He Was an
Officer IN Pennsylvania Anti
Slavery Society.

PHILADELPHIA. July 15--Wiiliam
Still, L colored man, who won celebrity
as a Jerk in the Office Of the Pennsyl-
vania AIti-SIavery Society il the years
Immediately preceding the civil war
and. as such, vas active in the opera
tioD I the underground railroad. - that
is. the system Of secret transportation
OF fugitive slaves from the South tc
Canada, died yesterday in his eighty
first yea at 726 South Nineteenth Street.
His death v;s caused by heart trouble.
due TO Bright's disease. which set in
about six years ago.
Mr. Still was born in Chemung. near
Medford. Burlington county, y. J. He
was the youngest Of eighteen children.
Both his father and mother had been
- fes, but the former bought his free
d3s and the latter escaped from her
So masters. They were married
in sI4<gg, and had four children be-
fore the father became free. IN Ter
first flight. Mrs Still brought away her
four children reaching in safety her
husband, who hal q cabin at Greenwich,
II the Jersey pines. A. few months
or freedom she was discovered. ii IN.
with the children. from the husband. \
third attempt was successful, but she
was forced, in order TO escape, 10 leave
both her boys, Peter and Levin. in the
hands Of the shareholders.
IN 1918 William Still came to PhiIa-
delphia. He was sturdy Young man
nut his early experiences in this city
demanded all his strength After work
Ing II a brIckyard, as a hotel waiter
and at several other occupations. he be-
came household servant. In 1917 he
was engaged as clerk in the auti-sIaverv
Office. ard remained in that enpIovment
until 1861
Williams duties, besides looking after
the ctjice- mailing letters, papers. etc.
were 10 rake q record of such inforna-
tlon Of Themselves as fugitive slaves gave.
These slaves called at the Office were
ed for and then assisted on the way
TO Canada One day coIOred man
about forty years old was brought in
oy white associate Of the society. and
was turned over to William in order
that the usual record might be mad
7 am looking for my father ana
mother" said the man. They are in
the North. ! and my brother were Kid
MAPPED Ia my childhood, and am
anxious TO find them"
The clerk asked the usual questions
ana found that the man was mis- own
brother.
The five OF SIX years Immediately pre-
ceding the :4Gr were years Of excite
ment. sometimes OF terror, for the clerk
OF the &-tt-Si2very Society. Several
tlncs he was engaged in the rescue Of
saves IN suc7 q manner as 20 endanger
MS own welfare He was cognizant of
John Browns plans before the raid on
Harper's Ferry; his name was on ma
peTs connected with the raid. and he
aarbored sluIe Of the fleeing partfci-
pants in il notably John Brown. II.
ana James EaIpath. However, he evad-
"a discovery and arrest during his wears
Of service
After he left the Office he became post
suffer at William Penn Camp where he
served curing the war
At the close Of the war ne engaged In !
The coal business and remained in il
until iu-health compelled his retirement /
SIX years ago. Up to that time he had
never been South After his retire .
nent, accompanied by his daughter DR.
caroline Anderson, he made a Southern
rip. on which he visited in North Caro-
INA some Of the schools for colored /
children maintained out Of a fund Of the |
7ennsylvania Anti-SlaveTy Society.
he was secretary OF the Pennsylvania /
Abolition Society. president for twenty |
I've years Of the board Of managers Of /
ne Home for aged and Indrm CoIored /
'cople, a member OF the board OF man
-gers Of the Home for ColoTed Children /
md president Of the Bereau BUILDING
md Loan Association.
Ills widow and three children, two
aughters-Dr- Anderson and Miss Fran
es z Sull-and a son-WilIiam Wilber-
orce Stlll-survive.