From Dixie to Canada: Romances and Realities of the Underground RailroadJohnson, H. U. (Homer Uri)
History
From Dixie to Canada: Romances and Realities of the Underground Railroad
Johnson, H. U. (Homer Uri)
Fugitive slaves -- United States; Underground Railroad
Mounting the fleetest horse, Jake made his way rapidly to the river, and
plunging in soon found himself landed safely on the Ohio shore. Taking
to a highway soon found, he followed the lead of the north star, and
just at daybreak turned into a woodland ravine, and spent the quiet
autumnal Sabbath watching the grazing of the faithful horse upon such
herbage as he could find, and in meditating upon the wonderful
revelations and events of the past twenty-four hours.
Night clear and beautiful, came again, and Jake pursued his onward way,
and in the early morning turned his jaded beast loose in a retired
pasture lot not far from Salem; threw the saddle and bridle into a
ravine, on the principle that “dead men tell no tales,” and prospecting
about for some time, saw emerge from a farm house a broad-brimmed hat,
which he had learned was a sure sign of food and protection. Approaching
the Quaker farmer, Uncle Jake declared himself a fugitive, and applied
for food and shelter, which were freely granted.
Tuesday the stage coach brought into Salem a hand-bill giving a full
description of Uncle Jake, telling of the killing of the master, the
probable mortal wounding of the other, and offering a large reward for
his apprehension.
“Thee oughtest to have struck more carefully, friend,” said the Quaker,
when he had learned thus fully the measure of his protégé’s adventure,
“but then as it was in the dark, we may pardon thee thy error, but Salem
is not a safe place for such as thee. I shall take thee to my friend,
Dr. Benjamin Stanton, who will instruct thee as to what thee is to do.”
Accordingly, when nightfall made it safe, the Quaker took Jake to the
house of his friend, who was none other than a cousin of Lincoln’s great
War Secretary, where having exchanged his laborer’s garb for a suit of
army blue, richly trimmed with brass buttons, a style of dress much
admired by colored people in those old days of militia training, and a
high-crowned hat, he was immediately posted off to the care of one
Barnes, residing on the confines of Boardman, bearing to him the simple
admonition, “It is hot.”
Not appreciating the full merits of the case, Barnes took him in the
early morning and started for Warren by way of Youngstown. Here he was
espied by two questionable characters, who having seen the hand-bill
advertising Jake, and knowing the antecedents of Barnes, justly surmised
that the black gentleman in blue might be none other than the individual
for whom the reward was offered, and at once planned a pursuit, but not
until the eagle eye of the driver had detected their motions. Leaving
the main road, he struck across the Liberty hills. When near Loy’s
Corners he perceived they were pursued, and bade Jake alight and make
for some place of safety, while he would try and lead the pursuers off
the trail.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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