The Oskaloosa herald., 1908-05-14

shins of both legs so that he could not
walk for days. A slight resistance to
their high handed measures brought
death to many an unthtored fugitive.
Mr.. Williams and his companions
lost no time in reaching Quincy, where
they hoped to find more civil treat
ment, They had been on the move for
more than twenty four hours without
a mouthful to eat Reaching Quincy
they cautiously made inquiry for the
agent OF the underground railroad.
They were cited to hardware mer-
chant, Vandorn by name, and another
well-to-do citizen by the name of Sim
Clark. These good men proved to be
friends in need. Vandorn gave Will
liams a job and Clark gave him
temporary home. He began TO count
the time when he at one dollar and
ahalf day he should be able to bring
on his wife and three children whom
he left in Missouri. Troubles some
times seem to come In showers. At
the end Of the second week Williams
took the sure enough smallpox and
spent month in the pest house. Hav-
ing recovered he worked on a farm,
serving a Mrs. Powell. After several
months he determined 10 go after his
family. So one Saturday he went on
foot down to the plantation In Marion
county where she yet remained. As
was very frequently the case in slavery
days, his wife belonged to one master
and he to another. He reached the
end of his journey late Saturday night,
told, his wife of his plans and re-
treated to the brush before daylight
Sunday morning where he spent the
day. Had his presence become known
he would have been forced back into
servitude or been coolly murdered.
Sunday night as early as possible with
any degree of safety he went back to
the little negro cabin which had been
his home since his marriage. His wife
had everything in readiness. He
hitched up one of her masters teams
which he knew to be good traVeiers
and taking a wagon load of their
household effects with his family he
retraced as rapidly as possible the
route over which he had Travelled Sat
urday. He reached a point agreed up
ON south of Quincy about three O'clock
Monday morning and struck up fire I;
the fire was a signal to his friends,
Clark and Powell that he had success
fully run the gauntlet and was that far
back on his road to liberty and free
dom. Imagine his thrill of Joy and
relief when he Immediately heard the
padding of the oars on the other side
of the river. These two tried friends
of the oppressed race had been
anxiously awaiting his returns and
were now coming across the Missis
sippi to make 1t possible for Mr. vii
liams and his family to complete his
cherished aim. To cover up his
tracks as much as possible he turned
the team 'oose on the prairie. 1t was
daylight when they reached the east
shore of the river and they lost no
time in reaching the Powell home
which was some twelve miles in the
country on the Illinois side. He lad
been closely pursued. By nine O'Clock
the next morning the owner of the
team was at the place OF his crossing
the river and claimed the missing out
fit. Mr.. Williams had acted wisely
in abandoning the team and wagon
on the Missouri side. Had he taken
them across the river he would most
likely have been arrested for theft
and taken back to Marion county APP
parently for trial but most certainly
to malicious murder. Lincolns pro-
clamation had virtually set the ne
groes free and as he had escaped to a
more orderly commonwealth further
pursuit was abandoned i