Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1906-05-11
Underground Railway
(Continued from First page)

!
across the border There were three
men in the family and in the summer
time they worked at farming on one
of the islands in the river aboye Per-
rysburg. Quite frequently they
would fail to appear for work at the
usual hour in the morning, and when
they did come they gave evidence OF
great fatigue, and to their employer,
who knew their habits, they would
state that they had been "coon hunt
ing" the night before, and the good
hearted employer, whose soul revolt
ed at slavery, needed no further in
formation knew a black man had
been given boost toward Canada.
And if slave hunter failed to find
his way back to his plantation in the
south, it may haye been because he
had encountered the Williams boys
while "hunting coon,' and those who
knew about it said nothing, while
those who wished TO know dared not
inquire.
"oLp JOE" LANGFoRD.
In little cabin located on the alley
Just back from Front street on Null
berry street, liyed "Old Joe" Lang
ford, another free black man.
"Old Joe" worked in the ship yards
in Perrysburg. by day time, but his
eyes saw many strange sights at
night. He knew where the North
star pointed and many black man
was guided by him to the much Gov
eted shores of Canada.
1t was in the summer of 1915, when
the propeller Superior" was being
built in the Perrysburg yards, when
a poor black man who had reached
Perrysburg had been overtaken by
slave traders. At that time Squire
Huntington was Justice of the
Peace and held his court in a building
which stood OH the site now occupied
by the Citizens Bank. Shibneh Sphinx,
who was then practicing law, defend
ed the negro, and hated slavery rs did
the good Squire Huntington, before
whom the trial was held, but both of
these gentleman knew there was no
chance for the poor slave, but the trial
was delayed because of supposed er-
.ror in the slave dealers papers. "Old
Joe" went down to the ship yards and
told the ship carpenters the situation
and asked their help to get the slaye
out of the court room and mount him
on his pony which he would have
standing in front of the door. This
pony was very fleet of foot and had
made many trip TO the Canadian
shore and would return home rs soon
as released. About 40 men went into
the court room and during the heated
argument being made by Mr.. Sphinx
they crowded between the slave and
his captors and at signal from "Old
Joe" the negro rushed for the oper
door followed by the citizens who
NiohuSu ihNO iitlIoN uOpl way II
such manner that the traders could
not get out, As the negro passed out
of the building he mounted the wait
ing pony, and "Old Joe" slapping the
animal on his flank shouted. "a free
niggah or ah dead hoss," and the
frightened slave galloped up Front
street to the old wooden toll bridge
across the river and was soon out OF
sight. AS soon as the officers could
get out of the building they secured
their horses aud started in pursuit
but when they sought to pass over the
bridge the gates were closed and lock
ed. and Joshua Chapel, the gate
keeper, had much difficulty in under
standing the great haste of the gentle
men who sought to pass the gates, ant
was very slow In unlocking and per
mitting them to pass.
The third day after the escape, thu
pony came back to "Old Joe'' and i
was learned that the officers returned
to the south without their slave.
The cellar under the JOURNAL oflic,
was one of the underground station.
and many n woolev haad hac fnunf