Underground railroad [microform]

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UNDERGROUND

RAILROAD

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Entered according te Act of Parliament
C^r ^"^ in the yearl898.

BV

B. F. DORSEY,

TORONTO, ONT.

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PREFACE.

UNDERGROUND RA.ILROA.D.— By this term we rleaignate the
many methods and system by which fugitive slaves from the
Southern States were aided in escaping to the North or Canada.

After slavery was abolished in the North slaves frequently ran away
from their masters and attempted to reach the free States of the North
or better still, Canada wh^re they were beyond the reach of their fort er
masters.

These socalled railroad'? were moat useful anxilariea in giving aid
to the negro. Fugitive slave laws gave masters the right to persue the
slaves into another state and bring them back. The men interested in
these railroads were men who felt they should fear God rather than
man, that the fugitive slave laws ware unjust «nd that thev should not
be obeyed. They were composed of a chain of good men who stretched
themselves across the land from the border of the slave states all the
way to Canada. ManyJ||g^tiue slaves were thu*? permitsed to escape.
They were carried by night to a place of safety and then turned over to
another conductor who very often would lovd up and >«Qn>ey^the fugi-
tives in a covered wagon to the next sta^.ion, th'is thay were CJlrrieri on
from one place to another.

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dram:a

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

. (

Mr. Simons enters
Simons — a conver-

Part IsT. A Planter and Slave Trader. - '
Mr. Simons and Mr. Shipley-
Mr. Shipley sits reading. • ' -

A knock at the door, Dinah is called to anHwev.
Good morning mister Shipley, Good morning Mr.
sation as to bupiness, &c. ensues.
Mr. Simons wants to buy two boys to make out his load, he is buying up
slaves to sell in a Richmond market. Mr. Shipley wants ^16.00,00 for
the two boys but is beat down to $12.00.00, The bargain is made and
the boys to be taken away in one week.

Before th? bargam is completed Mr. Simons wants to see the boys.
The bell is rung, Dinah enters, she ia told to bring in some wine and call
in the two boys. The boys enter Pete and Sam.

Mr. Shipley — Say, Sam I want you to take this gentleman'3 horse
and clean and feed him, and Pete i want yon to examine the horse and
see what you think of him, I am thinking of making a trade.

While the boys are standing the trader is looking at them, they
leave and the bargain is made. One Hundred Dollars is paid to bind
the bargain — Dinah is listening at the door.

At night the boys and parents are all having a good time in the
quarters — singing; playing and dancing, &c.

When Dinah comes in and tells them of the sale. She hid
herself behind the door and heard all about the transaction, when the
boys at once tnmbled to the actions of their master 4nd the stranger.

The following conversation took place.
Pete— Do you know what the Underground Railroad is Sing ?
Sing — Yes it's not a road underground it's a train of men that take vou
from one to the other un Jl you are safe in Canada — well Pete I think
we had better find it.

Pete — There is an old free man IWes way down creek, Old Uncle Jerry
Byers if we go to him he will take us through. I Have been looking
for this long ago and I found oat the way, I think we had better go
down to night and see him and make arrangements for leaving Saturday
night. After eleven o'clock at night they take two horses and start
down to see Uncle Jerry.

2nd. Boys' arr've at Uncle Jerry's knock at door. Is this Uncle Jerry ?
Uncle Jerry comes to doer with candle in hand enquires of their busi-
ness ; when they tell him they want to run away. Uncle Jerry asks
when they want to go, what their names are, who they belong to, how
much money they have, &c. arrftugemeuts are made to leave the Satur-
day coming twelve o'clock at night.

The boys leaving home Siturday night Mother, Father and Sisters
weeping and crying after them, the boys try to console them tells they
are sold and they will mn chances and try to get free. They leave sipg-
ia>» "goodbye mother Goodbye Father if I don't see yon any more.
I'll m?et yon iu the Heavens in that blessed kingdom if I don't see you
any more."

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They have all day Sunday to go unnoticed by their master.

Monday morning, master caHn for the boys, when aunt Dinah says
th^ boys aint here mas^a ihc»y done bin gone ever since Saturday night,
I spect they done gone run away.

The master gets in a great ra<*e calls for Jim to jret out his horse,
Dinah to get hia revolvers and starts off to Frederick City to get out
hand bills and advertise them.

While Mr. Shipley is on his way to the city Mrs. Shipley calls
Aunt Dinah and Jenny tries to pick them and make them tell what they
know about the boys, when they declare indeed, indeed, and double deed,
Missus, I don't know nufiiu 'tail about the boys.

There being an old colored conjurer in the neighborhood, she sends
for him while Mr, Shipley is away.

Old Uncle Mingo comes.

Mrs. Shipley — Uncle Mingo, can you do tricks ?

U. M. — Yes Missus.

Mrs. S. — Well, we have two boys run away and I wan'.) you to work
them back.

Uncle Mingo sets his bag down, calls for a howl of water, takes his
two sticks and chicken foot and chews his roots, asks for three pieces of
silver, starts to work shaking foot over bowl, &c. He tells her he has
them turned around and wants three more pieces of silver to make them
come back ; he leaves by telling her he has stopped them from crossing
the line.

By this time Mr. Shipley arrives at the printing office very much
excited.

Is this the Snn Printing Office ? Yes, sir. I want to get some bills
and advertising done. What do yuu want ?

Two runaways, five hundred dollars reward taken dead or alive,
five hundred D — five hundred D — dead or alive. The printer has a
hard time to get him straight. What is thel.- names, &o.

Pete is 22 years, 5 feet 6 inches.

Sam is 19 years, 5 feet 9 inches.

Both dark complexions, Pete a scar over the right eye, Ac.

The printer gets him straight and he pays the bill and leaves.

The boys are next seen at Uncle Jerry's travelling in the bush.
Uncle Jerry leaves them pointing out the way. They are told to go five
miles to the cross roads and they would oome to Uncle Johnny Miller's,
a Quaker, and he would take them to the next station.

They are next seen with Mr. Miller in the bush, when they run
against the slave -catchers on their tracks.

They meet Uncle Johnny returning from hiding the boys away
when they enquire of him ;

Have you seen any runaways ?

I seen them about two hours ago.

Where, where, where ?

Uncle Johnny takes his time, takes some snuff, picks his teeth and
tells them where he thinks they would be about that time — at the same
time he is turning the catchers another way altogether from the run-
aways.

Balding hani bMls, fivehnndred dollars reward, &c.

The catchers Ptart off as directed. Uncle Johnny takes the boys

another station further, where they are sent to Philadelphia.

Three more started from Kentucky — Anderson, Gibbs and Johnson.
In the ti»ht Johnson was shot, while Anderson and Oibbs got safe to
Canada.

*' It will be remembered that Anderson was betrayed and arrested in
Simcoe, Canada, in 1858, and taken t« Brantford, Canada.

" When Wm. Mathews, the Acting Magistrate, gave him up to the
South the colored people of Brantford secured the services of Mr. A. 8.
Hardy, who appealed againsf the decision, and was sent to Toronto and
given up again by Chief Justice Robertson. He was carried before a
bench of twelve judges, cleared nnd sent to England."

Anderson was a plasterer by trade and belonged to a man in Ken-
tucky by th i name of Diggs. A slave trader came along by the name of
Woodfork. He and Diggs have several games of cards, when the trader
gets all of Diggs' money. Anderson is then put up and is won by the
trader. Anderson finding out he was gambled off, makes up his mind to
run away that night. Before leaving he tells his wife of the circum-
stance and to get his things ready, when a heart-rending scene takes
place. He tries to console her by telling her he was sold and they w^uld
never meet again, but if he would run off and get to Canada he would
send for her. — Leaves singing

•• Grieve noc my wife, grieve not for me,

Oh, do not break my heart,

'Tis naught but cruel slavery would cause me to depart ;

If I should stay to quell your grief

Your grief I should augment,

For no one knows the day that we asunder would be rent, <fi;c."

He leaves that night and gets about ten miles away to a bush, where
he is followed by his master and two others, and a big fight takes place,
Anderson striking his master with a club, laying him out for dead.
While the othetd were trying to bring Digga to Anderson made good his
escape and got safely on the Underground Railroad. Anderson went to
Bantford, Canada, where his master came after him, but did not take
him back.

The last station on the Underground Railroad was in Philadelphia,
Penn. From thence they were put on the car3 and sent to Canada.
There being about five to be sent away, all seated around in the sitting
room having a good time, after having a good supper.

Mr. Hill walks in and congratulates them on their arrival safe In
Philadelphia, and tells them they have an hour and a half before the bus
would leave for the station and to have a good time. He enquires of
eaeh one v/here they are from, and how they got away — when each one
told his story of escape.

Mr. Hill enquires of No. 1 and No. 2 where are you from, your
names and your masters', and how you made your escape, Ac. My name
is Petec Diivi!?, mv name is Davis, we belong to a man by the name of
Tom ^lipley in Frederick County, Md.

Mr. Hill — Well give nsan old Maryland gig and song.
Mr. Hill — Well where are you from, ^'C.

I am from Riolimond, Vir., I belong to a man named Tom biator,
my name is VVm. Brown ; they put me in a box and just left room for
me to use my hand with a gimlet to muke holes to get my breath. They
marked the box right side up with (.-are, but sometimes I was standing
on my head, ana when I landei in Pliiladelphia they opened the box and
1 hopped out, and there was not a dry thread on me.

Mr. Hill — Go; d boy, well give us a Virginia song.

Where did you come from, etc. ? I cotne from Georgia.

Mr. Hill — How did you get here from Georgia?

The Captain put me down in the bottom of the boat and piled a lot
cotton bilos over me, but when I got to Philadelphia I was nearly
gone.

The next was Anderson from Kentucky ; he told the story as relat-
ed previously. After a few more songs, the bus comes and all march
around shaking hands and singing :

I am on my way to Cana- a that free and happy land,
The dire effeat of slavery 1 can't no longer stand.

THE SOUTH IN THE DAYS OF SLAVERY.

Mr. Hammond is a wealthy planter in Carol County, M.D.

Mr. Hammond's w'.fe was a daughter of a wealthy planter b/ the
name of Major Johnson. At his death he left her six slaves, the younger
ones to be free at the age ot 25 years and the older ones for her to take
care of until they died.

She was very good to her slaves. Uncle Jefif and Aunt Ceily being
on the old list. Nancy was housemaid and Alfred their carriage driver.
Uncle Jeff sp . nt the most of his time sitting in the corner smoking his
pipe.

Mr. Hammond had three children. Miss Polly, Miss Safrona and
Master Norman. Miss Safrona, a line looking young lady of 16 years,
was very wild and playful. She thought a great deal of Alfred and it
kept Aunt Ceily busy trying to keep her out of the kitchen. She often
had to take the broomstick to drive the young master out to keep him
from Nancy, while it kept Uncle Jeff busy jumping up with iiis staff
trying to keep order. Alfred conies in, speaks to the old man, wants to
know his age, &c., when the old man tells him the first time be was sold
he heard his master say he was born in 1790 ; it does the old man so
much good to give a history of his past life, what a good man he was and
what a fighter, &c.

By this time Miss Safrona comes skipping out, she makes for Alf
and in the tussel knocks the old man over, when Aunt Ceily threatens
to call her mother out and send her in the house.

Nancy comes runniug out screaming and her young master,
Norman, after her. In the scuffle the old man is tumbled over again.
The old lady and old man try to run them out again.

Miss Safrona wants to take a drive, comes out after Alf, when her
brother interferes, and tells her she shall not go out again without her
sister went with bdr. She got very ai.gry iinl goes into a madhystericril
fit, when her m jther runs out and remonstrates with her. Nancy goes
after the camphor, but Norman puts hartshorn to her no^e and she soon
revives.

The mistress orders the horse hitched up and she would go.

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years,

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often

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sold

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Mr. Hammond has not got much love for Alf, he thinks he is Hpoiled,
and thinks he is a little too fresh. He falls upon a plan ta sell him as he
did one before and make out that he had ran ofiF on the Undergroand
Kailroad. He writes to Mr. Woodfork, a slave trader, to come down.
Mi'. Wuo;lfork comes, Nancy is called to bring in some wine and she
listens to the conversation at the crack of the door. Mr. Woodfork
wanted to see him, but Mr. Haramond told him he was the carriage
driver and he knew who he was. The sale was made with the nuder-
standing that he (Woodfork) would sell him as far south as he could so
his folks could not see him or know where he was.

Nancy did not lose much time in running iu and telling her mistress.

Mrs. Hammond comes out and says is this Woodfork? Yes
madam. Have you bought my boy ? Yes, I bought one.

Mrs. Hammond makes things pretty lively around there for a while.
She also flnda out he bad sold the other one to him that she thought had
run off. She threatens Woodfork and her husband to make them suffer
for selling her property. She drives Woodfork out with a chair and
then goes for her husband and a general house*fight takes place, all the
children and slaves fighting for their mother and mistress, the old man
playing a prominent patt most of the time under their feet. Also Clnff,
a 10 year-old boy who is always in mischief and as troublesome as Peck's
Bad Boy.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson of West Virginia were going to take a trip to
Philadelphia to see her mother, &o. Mrs. Johnson sat reading. Mr.
Tohnscn comes in. Come Mol, it's tima you were getting ready. Mrs.
J.->Is it time to get ready ? Yes. Well, I don't feel much like going, I
feel like something's going to happen, Nonsense, nonsense, get ready,
what's the matter? Weil, I am afraid they might run away with the
house, but I guess we can trust them for a few dayti.

They got ready, Mrs. Johnson calling the housemaid, giving her a
lecture and instructions how to take care of the place, &o. They got
ready and left, bidding all good-bye.

They had told Betsy some time previous to their going the time they
intended to leave, so Betsy and the servants made arrangements to have
a big pirty oti that night. She sent out her invitations all around and
got ready for a big time.

Instead of going to Philadelphia, they changed their mind and only
wuuu cv ' '" as Petersburg and returned back that night. When they got
naar home tiiey ^eai'd fiddling and dancing. They watched them to
their satisfaction auci opened the door and walked in, and then the
trouble came — some jumping :nt of the window, turn stricken, running
in all directions, knocking Mr. and Mrs. Johnson down aud running over
them.

While they all are having a good time, before the arrival of their
master, Betsy would sing— "Joy yourselves, joy yourselves ladies and
gentlemen, marse gone to Philadelphia, left me all the keys."

AbDut this time t)ie master comes.

Ho ! the car of emancipation
Rides ma)«8tic through our nation.
Bearing on its train the story
Liberty a nation's glory.

CHORUS.

Boll it along, roll it along, roll it

along
Through the nation freedom car

emancipation.

All true friends of emancipation
Haste to freedom's railroad station,
Quick into the cars get seated
All is ready and completed.

SONGS.

CHOBUS.

i'uton the steam, pnt on the steam,

put on the steam,
They are all trying, liberty a nation's

crying.

Baihoad to emancipation
Can not rest on clay's foundation
And the road that Polk directs us
Leads to Slavery and to Texas.

CBOHUS.

Pull np the rails, pull up the rn-W",

pull up the rails.
They all are trying, liberty a nation

crying.

TM ON MY WAY TO CANADA.

May be sun^' to the tune Oh ! Susannah.

I'm on my way to Canada,

That free and happy land.
The dire effects of slavery

I can no longer stand ;
My soul is vexed within me so.

To think I am a slave,
I'm now resolved to strike the
blow

To freedom or the grave.

Cho — Ohl righteous Father
Wilt thou pity me
And aid me on to Canada,
Where colored men are
free.

I heard old master pray last
ni^ht,

I heard him pray for me.
That God weuld come with all
His might.

From Satan set me free.
If I from Satan would escape

And flee the wrath to come ;
If there's a fiend in human shape

Old master must be one.

Ofo— Oh ! Oh ! master,

While you piay for me,
- I'm doing all I can to reach
The land of liberty.

I heard that Queen Victoria said

If we would all forsake
Our native land of slavery,

And come across the lake.
That she was standing on the shore,

With arms extended wide.
To give us all a peaceful home

Beyond the rolling tide.

Cho— Farewell! old master.

That's enotigh for me,
I'm just in sight of Canada,
Where colored men are free.

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