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The Underground Railroad: A Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters, &c., Narrating the Hardships, Hair-Breadth Escapes and Death Struggles of the Slaves in Their Efforts for Freedom, As Related by Themselves and Others, or Witnessed by the Author. — John Shaqi

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The Underground Railroad: A Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters, &c., Narrating the Hardships, Hair-Breadth Escapes and Death Struggles of the Slaves in Their Efforts for Freedom, As Related by Themselves and Others, or Witnessed by the Author.

Name: The Underground Railroad: A Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters, &c., Narrating the Hardships, Hair-Breadth Escapes and Death Struggles of the Slaves in Their Efforts for Freedom, As Related by Themselves and Others, or Witnessed by the Author.
Author: Still, William

Still, William

Abolitionists -- United States -- Biography; Antislavery movements -- United States -- History -- 19th century; Fugitive slaves -- United States -- Biography; Fugitive slaves -- United States -- History -- 19th century; Underground Railroad

Concklin left his carpet sack and clothes here with me, except a
    shirt or two he took with him. What shall I do with them? For if
    we do not hear from him soon, we must conclude that he is lost,
    and the report of his escape all a hoax.

    Truly thy friend,

    LEVI COFFIN.


Stunning and discouraging as this horrible ending was to all concerned,
and serious as the matter looked in the eyes of Peter's friends with
regard to Peter's family, he could not for a moment abandon the idea of
rescuing them from the jaws of the destroyer. But most formidable
difficulties stood in the way of opening correspondence with reliable
persons in Alabama. Indeed it seemed impossible to find a merchant,
lawyer, doctor, planter or minister, who was not too completely
interlinked with slavery to be relied upon to manage a negotiation of
this nature. Whilst waiting and hoping for something favorable to turn
up, the subjoined letter from the owner of Peter's family was received
and is here inserted precisely as it was written, spelled and
punctuated--



McKIERNON'S LETTER.



    SOUTH FLORENCE ALA 6 Augest 1851

    Mr WILLIAM STILL _No 31 North Fifth street Philadelphia_

    Sir a few days sinc mr Lewis Tharenton of Tuscumbia Ala shewed
    me a letter dated 6 June 51 from Cincinnati signd samuel Lewis
    in behalf of a Negro man by the name of peter Gist who informed
    the writer of the Letter that you ware his brother and wished an
    answer to be directed to you as he peter would be in
    philadelphi. the object of the letter was to purchis from me 4
    Negros that is peters wife & 3 children 2 sons & 1 Girl the Name
    of said Negres are the woman Viney the (mother) Eldest son peter
    21 or 2 years old second son Leven 19 or 20 years 1 Girl about
    13 or 14 years old. the Husband & Father of these people once
    Belonged to a relation of mine by the name of Gist now Decest &
    some few years since he peter was sold to a man by the Name of
    Freedman who removed to cincinnati ohio & Tuck peter with him of
    course peter became free by the volentary act of the master some
    time last march a white man by the name of Miller apperd in the
    nabourhood & abducted the bove negroes was caut at vincanes Indi
    with said negroes & was thare convicted of steling & remanded
    back to Ala to Abide the penalty of the law & on his return met
    his Just reward by Getting drownded at the mouth of cumberland
    River on the ohio in attempting to make his escape I recovered &
    Braught Back said 4 negroes or as You would say coulard people
    under the Belief that peter the Husband was accessory to the
    offence thareby putting me to much Expense & Truble to the amt
    $1000 which if he gets them he or his Friends must refund these
    4 negroes are worth in the market about 4000 for thea are
    Extraordinary fine & likely & but for the fact of Elopement I
    would not take 8000 Dollars for them but as the thing now stands

The Underground Railroad: A Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters, &c., Narrating the Hardships, Hair-Breadth Escapes and Death Struggles of the Slaves in Their Efforts for Freedom, As Related by Themselves and Others, or Witnessed by the Author.

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