Evening star., 1937-03-21
OLD HOUSE BARES
SLAVE FLIGHT AID
"FaIse Fireplace" Is Found
In Ohio, "Underground
Railroad" Relic.
BY PAUL X. LEE.

newed credence today to countless
stories of days before the Civil War,
when thousands of Negro slaves es-
capped into Canada over the under
ground railroad"
The ~. c." as it often was called,
was neither underground nor rail-
road, but it did have "depots,' such
as the cubicle behind the fireplace in
the ancient house near here.
Origin Of the underground is OBJ
scured in times mists, but of the tales
OF how 1t won its name, that related
by former enthusiast of many years
ago, Rush r. Sloane of Sandusky
Is perhaps as reliable as any.
Sloane said that in 1881 Negro
named Tice Davis ran away from
Kentucky but was closely pursued by
his master When he reached the
Ohio River opposite Ripley, Ohio, he
plunged in to swim to the northern
shore. The master followed in a
skiff. keeping the fugitive in sight
until the bank was reached.
Disappeared as il by Magic.
There the Negro disappeared as II
by magic. After long, fruitleSs
search, the master observed:
He must have gone off on an under
ground railroad"
Sloane said the remark created such
amusement on both sides of the river
that the name stuck to all subsequent
actions in helping slaves to escape
The regular route for fleeing slaves
generally was through two of Ohio's
most rugged river counties, Brown
and Clermont, both of which offered
natural cover as well as the aid of SYM
pathizers once a fugitive reached
them Some slaves also escaped
through Hamilton County (CincinnatD
Ohio, and the Indiana border coun-
ties
Ohio historians say that first ru-
mors Of underground railroad activities
in Ohio on an organized scale followed
the removal to Ripley of an itinerant
minister, Rev. John Rankin, who
had left Bourbon County, KY, after
years Of denouncing slavery from
the pulpit.
Rankin established small college
in his new home and was well re-
ceived. Soon, however, rumor became
accepted fact that his college was a
front" for regular work in aiding
fugitive slaves from the South.
Rankin Home on Ohio Bank.
The Rankin home was situated on
the Ohio bank. overlooking the Ken
tucky side and its lighted windows
became beacon to the runaways
One of the minister's sons. who
served under Gen. Grant in the Civil
War, related after his fathers death
story of numerous attempts by slave
owners agents to search the Rankin
house, of frequent mob threats against
the minister, and other retaliatory
actions, most Of which proved futile.
"An my father did in the aid OF
fugitives was to furnish them food
and shelter" he said. The sons, of
whom there were nine, did the con-
veying away"
Byron Williams. who wrote his
tory OF Clermont County, said, Moth
ing was done to entiCe slaves from
Kentucky, and only as they came we're
they sped safely on their way. True
men never refused bread to the be-
seeching Negro, fleeing from chains
and with his face toward the North
star"
Despite his comment, there is evi-
dence that sometimes the anti-slavery
elements abducted Negroes from the
South and forced an unwanted free
dom upon them.
Branched Widely.
From the Ohio River, the under
ground railroads route branched in
many directions, always bearing to-
ward the North and the Canadian
border, its eventual goal.
Up through Hillsboro, the route is
traced to Wilmington Thence its
course frequently carried on to Xenia,
Yellow Springs, Springfield and on
to Lake Erie ports.
Some historians said that for a
score OF years before the war every
port on the lake, from Toledo to Con-
neaut, was a terminus Of the UNDER
ground.
Real railroad terminologv soon
became associated with the crusaders
efforts. Thus, a man who led the
negroes on part of their journey
was conductor" There were main
lines" branches" and way stations"
Some historians said aid for fugi-
eives began as early as 1915 in this
area, continuing to the time of Presi-
dent Lincoln's Emancipation Procla-
nation. However, it was not until
the passage of the national fugitive
slave act in 1850 that its work became
major activity.
nevertheless, some pro-Slavery COM
mentators OF the 184Os said there
were as many as 18 or 19 frequently
Travelled routes across Ohio from the
big river to the lake
Sometimes, in the later years,
escaping Negroes actually rode on a
railroad for parts of their Journey
usually hidden in the baggage coaches
by friendly trainmen, but in the main,
their flights were overland.
No Records Kept.
How many escaped, the exact
methods used and many other details
doubtless never will be fully known,
for the operators of the underground
kept no records, or promptly destroyed
those which they did make as soon
as they no longer were required.
As the fugitive passed from station"
to station" his route IVES altered,
30 that none who had aided him
could say truthfully that they knew
whence he came or where he had gone
Some estimates in the 1850s placed
the number of slaves transported by
the underground at SO 900 or more, but
reasoning observers declared this WAS
greatly exaggerated.
Most OF the work Of aiding the
slaves was voluntary. Contributors
rarely allowed themselves to become
known, and those taking more active
parts were careful to preserve their
anonymity, lest they, like Robert
Fee of Clermont County, be accused
Cf kidnaninp Negroes In addition