The Narrative of Lunsford Lane, Formerly of Raleigh, N.C.: Embracing an account of his early life, the redemption by purchase of himself and family from slavery, and his banishment from the place of his birth for the crime of wearing a colored skinLane, Lunsford
History
The Narrative of Lunsford Lane, Formerly of Raleigh, N.C.: Embracing an account of his early life, the redemption by purchase of himself and family from slavery, and his banishment from the place of his birth for the crime of wearing a colored skin
Lane, Lunsford
African Americans -- North Carolina -- Biography; Enslaved persons -- North Carolina -- Biography; Enslaved persons' writings, American; Freed persons -- United States -- Biography; Lane, Lunsford, 1803-; Raleigh (N.C.) -- History -- 19th century; Slavery -- North Carolina -- History -- 19th century
Mr. Loring then whispered to some of the leading men; after which he
remarked that he saw nothing in what I had done, according to my
statements, implicating me in a manner worthy of notice. He called upon
any present who might be in possession of information tending to disprove
what I had said, or to show any wrong on my part, to produce it, otherwise
I should be set at liberty. No person appeared against me; so I was
discharged.
I started to leave the house; but just before I got to the door I met Mr.
James Litchford, who touched me on the shoulder, and I followed him back.
He observed to me that if I went out of that room I should in less than
five minutes be a dead man; for there was a mob outside waiting to drink
my life. Mr. Loring then spoke to me again and said that notwithstanding I
had been found guilty of nothing, yet public opinion was law; and he
advised me to leave the place the next day, otherwise he was convinced I
should have to suffer death. I replied, "not to-morrow, but to-day." He
answered that I could not go that day, because I had not done my business.
I told him that I would leave my business in his hands and in those of
other such gentlemen as himself, who might settle it for me and send my
family to meet me at Philadelphia. This was concluded upon, and a guard
appointed to conduct me to the depot. I took my seat in the cars, when
the mob that had followed us surrounded me, and declared that the cars
should not go, if I were permitted to go in them. Mr. Loring inquired what
they wanted of me; he told them that there had been an examination, and
nothing had been found against me; that they were at the examination
invited to speak if they knew of aught to condemn me, but they had
remained silent, and that now it was but right I should be permitted to
leave in peace. They replied that they wanted a more thorough
investigation, that they wished to search my trunks (I had but one trunk)
and see if I was not in possession of abolition papers. It now became
evident that I should be unable to get off in the cars; and my friends
advised me to go the shortest way possible to jail, for my safety. They
said they were persuaded that what the rabble wanted was to get me into
their possession, and then to murder me. The mob looked dreadfully
enraged, and seemed to lap for blood. The whole city was in an uproar. But
the first men and the more wealthy were my friends: and they did
everything in their power to protect me. Mr. Boylan, whose name has
repeatedly occurred in this publication, was more than a father to me; and
Mr. Smith and Mr. Loring, and many other gentlemen, whose names it would
give me pleasure to mention, were exceedingly kind.
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