In 1841, he was offered a traveling musician's job and went to Washington, D.C. (where slavery was legal); there he was drugged, kidnapped, and sold as a slave.
Pada 1841, ia ditawari pekerjaan musisi keliling dan datang ke Washington, D.C. (dimana perbudakan disahkan); disana ia dibuat pingsan, diculik, dan dijual sebagai budak.