The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1910-05-06
RUNAWAY
NEGRO SLAVES
Hartford Scene Of Story by
Col. Ion B. Nall.
Word Picture Of Days Before the
Great War Between North
and South.


Last Sundays Courier Journal con-
tanned the following Interesting story
the incidents mentioned originating In
Hartford. The old courthouse, upon
which the boys were perched, was
burned during the Civil War, but was
ON the same ground which is occupied
by the present building. The runaway
negroes were named "Griff" Nall, Wsf
Taylor, Levi Barrett and Had" Tay-
lor. The young physician was doctor
John e. Pendleton, who afterward be-
came a noted surgeon IN the Confed-
crate army. He was accompanied In
his race for the runaway slaves by
Mr.. Randall Taylor, son of the late
Harrison d. Taylor. We give the story
in full, with above information feel
ing that 1t Wa be of keen interest to
many Of our readers:
1t Is Sunday afternoon in August,
eighteen hundred and fifty-six-the
weather hot and dry. In a small town
In Western Kentucky two-well-grown
schoolboys climbed to the belfry OF
the old-styled courthouse and were
lying on the projecting base, geuhing
the benefit OF what breeze there was
to be had. They had gene over the
Greek verbs and the Latin pronouns
in their lessons for the morrow and
now silently contemplated the quiet,
peaceful scenes beneath.
The town hooked the picture OF re-
pose-few of the Inhabitants were
string. It had been a day Of rest,
seemingly given over to contentmen'.
Birds were not singing; dogs were not
barking; cattle we're not lowing;
children, even, had ceased their NOISY
games. A blue, thin smoke curled up
ward from many chimneys where the
evening meal was being made ready.
The big red and sinking sun was about
30 disk the hill range Two miles west
ward. The big silver sphere was al
ready above the eastern horizon.
Such a scene these boys were look
ing down upon. But hark! A dust
cloud arose in the north road! A
horseman came at speed; he seemed
excited; he had ridden fast and his
horses thanks were flecked with foam
He met a citizen and they conversed
a mpmenI.. The citizen flew up the
street, shouting aloud. Two or three
men gathered on the corner and to
them the horseman impaired his news.
They scattered and each one became
a Round Robin to spread the report.
Men, women and children old and
young, black and white. seemed to
spring up from the ground as N 1t
had been sown with the seeds of hui
mainly and the springtime had come.
The boys were soon lclambering down
the creaky ladder to- join the buzzing
tumuM-
Let us be calm! This Is not fiction.
but facts, as the writer recalls them.
Remember it was ait a time when a
war cloud might have been seen on
our horizon, had we not ALL mean
the older heads preferred to be blind.
They kept on yoting for extreme
measures on both sides. They applaud
cd demagogues and followed after hot
headed leadera "WiM there be war;"
4.Oh. no! The other side will back
DOWN." Thus were they deluded, thus
led into the vortex Of death and ruin.
They were sowing the wind. The "ir-
Conflict" was the grim
reaper to come when the harvest
should be ready.
But to resume. The news was that
s.ur black men-slaves owned in our
uuwn-,had been seen making their
way Notwithstanding away. All
that time nothing short of the fell
t6csin of war itself could have arous-
I'd tho people of a border down. Ere
darkness had fallen nearly the whole
had gathered at a central
with guns an pistols,
some on foot. some on horseback-all
eager to pursue and only awaiting
the word 49,; 'rAsa4
A few well-mounted and bold riders
were chosen and INSTRUCTED WHAT. TO
do. Handbills withrewards were drawn
and given to the fleetest- The run
sxays were on foot with about q days