Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-16
How Slaves Were Helped on
the Underground Railway

Clinton. Ia. Jan. 1.-The little peak
i rooted building that forms a part
what i known "a the Piping Mar
set property. and stands facing
ixth avenue. at the rear of the main
.uilding Of the meat market has "a
:reat an interesting history as any
ither building in the city of Clinton.
In the dark days 'befo' de war
when the fugitive slaves were fleeing
Iorthward i'm their sometimes vain
pursuit of freedom. the places where
I was known that help and assistance
-oHld be found were looked upon as
irritable haVenS for the little bands
f refugees. II was known to many
IF the people Of the small city in 1857,
that Clinton was one Of the harbors
ana stations of the underground
'ailwaN." 50 called because there
we're no outward traces of the trail
which surely but OBVIOUSLY led from
he canebrake~ and cotton fields Of
the. south to the freedom amid the cold
md snow Of Canada.
But there were Jealous men in Gin
ION at that time who kept alive the
Door wanderers. stanched their
wounds. ~ucccrcd them in the hour
# peril and need. and helped them on
:heir onward road. One of these
men i now Il prominent business man
+ Clinton. who rightfulIy claims the
honor Of having been Il Clinton coun-
~ business man longer than any other
man in the city or county.
1t was in March. 1891. when Andrew
Rather. a youth of l.. came TO Gin
ton. beggining that same spring in
his work of scedman and later of flor
i-t: two years passing by before he
was joined by his brother John Il.
Iiathcr and hi mother. Before COM
ing TO Clinton Andrew Bather was
acquainted with one Mr.. Campbell.
formerly congregational minister.
but who had become >keptic with
'5it. however. losing brotherly love
.ward the unfortunate. Mr.. Camp
bell lived On Second avenue. but later
II the small building on Sixth avenue.
EASILY distinguished 10y the very
peaked roof. and which stands just
east OF Second street. Here he con-
inucd hi WORK Of assisting fugitive
slaves. and soon enlisted the sympathy
pr Andrew Bather early in 1851. and
later john Il. Bather and Hugh Les
lie. The undertaking was exceedingly
p-Ccariuu~. a. there was u bounty Of
fcrcI for the apprehension. of assist
ants in this work. the amount being
$500. Mr.. Bathcr believes that Il
United States mar hal was located i'm
light Of the BIther house on the hill
just across the railroad. Mr.. Bathcr
Iui -" others were engaged in this
/, "rk for four years. until the second
year of the war.
in conversation with the gentleman.
{ was learned that participation i'll
his work was limited. and not allowed
until the parties were tested i'm their
slavery ideas. II was am expense, Il
danger and by many social ostracism
Ia he helping slaves. The pro-slavcry
feeling here was rampant, but most of
he clergy believed in lettin" the Gues-
ton alone. but Or. Brindell. the NJ. T.
pastor. was Interested i'm the following
way:
One Saturday evening two slaves
anne 10 the Campbell home. and they
we're 80 much superior 10 the many
refugees. that Mr.. Bathcr went at al
ate hour 10 the home of Mr.. Brin-
Tell. who lived i'm Il small cottage on
he site of the present Commercial
Motel. hoping To interest him. I'm an
,vcr to the knock. the dominic APP
pearcd at the door. saving: What
AN ! DO for YOU Andrew" The reply
Vas to simply come with the mesSen-
ger. and without knowing the why
~ where tbp minister went tp the
lCmc OF MIR. Campbell. where he met
beautiful. and seemingly white wo-
nan. finely educated and an excellent
musician. In answer To the query IA
Ia why he was asked To this simple
meeting he was introduced To the
iarker hu> band, heard the eloquent