Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-02-04


with a wife and four children,
also slaves. The love of liberty |
burned irrepressiby in his bosom
and he determined to escape and |
free his wife and children at all
hazards. He had heard of Canada
as a place where the laws made
every man free and protected him
in his freedom. But of its situation
or the road thither, or the geogra-
ply of the intermediate country, he
knew nothing. A Quaker who re-
sided near him, being privy to his
design, resolved to aid him in its
accomplishment, and accordingly
carried the slave and his family
thirty miles in wagon by night.
In the day time they lay concealed
in the woods, and on the second
night the same man carried them
thirty miles further. At the end of
the second night he told the black
man that he could do no more for
him, having already endangered
both his life and property. He told
the slave that he must not travel on
the highway nor attempt to cross a
ferry, but taking him by the hand,
he committed him to God and the
North Star. This star he was to
take as his guide, and it would lead
him at length to the land of British
freedom. The poor slave babe adieu
to his benefactor, and after skulk,
ing in the day and travelling by
night, he at length came to an un-
expected obstacle. 1t was broad
river (the Savannah,) of whose ex-
istence he had not the least know
ledge. But as nothing remained
but to cross it, he tied his two
young children on his back, and be-
tween swimming where it was deep
and wading where it was shallow
his two elder sons swimming by his
side, he at length made out to reach
the opposite bank; then returning,
he brought over his wife in the
same manner. In this way he passed
undiscovered through the states of
South and North Carolina and Vir-
ginia, crossed Pennsylvania without
even knowing that it was the land
of Quakers; and finally after six
week of toll and hardship, he
reached Buffalo.
Here he placed his wife and chill
dren in the custody of a tribe of
Indians in the neighborhood, for the
poor man will be the poor mans
friend, and the oppressed will stand
by the oppressed. The man pro-
ceeded to town, and as he was pass
ing through the street he attracted
the notice of a colored barber, also
man of great bodily power. The
barber stepped up to him and put
ting his hand on his shoulder said,
4 know you are a runaway slave;
but never fear, | an your friend. "
The man confessed he was from
Georgia, when the barber said,
Your master inquired about you
today in my shop, but do not fear;
| have friend who keeps livery
stable and will give us a carriage as
soon as night comes, to carry your
family beyond the reach of a mas
ter" As the ferry boat does not
run across the Niagara in the night,
by day break they we're at the ferry
house and rallied the ferryman tc
carry them to the Canada shore
They fastened to the boat and just
as they were to let go, the master
was seen on his foaming horse, with
pistol in hand, calling out to the
, ferryman to stop and set those peo
pie ashore or he would blow his
, brains out. The stout barber, quick
as thought said to the ferryman
''If you don't put off this instant
, I'll be the death of you" The fer
, ryman thus threatened on both side:
lifted up his hands and cried, The
Lord have mercy on me! 1t seems
: am to be killed anyhow; but if dc
die, will die doing right" and cut
! the rope. The powerful current Of