Record Data
Transcription
The Underground Railroad
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
At the Salem (Mass.) Baptist church on the 5th last, Mr. Still, of Philadelphia, addressed an audience on the present condition and prospects of the underground railroad. He said that the road was liable to sad and frequent calamities, and that it had recently met with some obstructions, which might account for the few arrivals chronicled of late. Various instances were mentioned in which the road sustained serious damage. Among them was the account of the unfortunate Mr. Lee, who had aided five slaves in their escape over the underground railroad, for which he was tried, convicted and sentenced to twenty-five years in the Penitentiary. The speaker did not wish to impress on the minds of his bearers that the road was not doing a fair business, or that the Vigilance Committee had hung their harp on a willow. On the 4th of July last six fugitives from the southern shore of Maryland, with bitter haired for slavery and bright hopes for Canada, passed along the road with through tickets. One had recently arrived at Philadelphia in a box so short that he could not lie his length; and, worst of all, arrived on Sunday morning, and it was with great difficulty that the box could be obtained, as no freight was usually delivered on Sunday. When that box was opened, freedom was given to one of the most grateful persons that ever escaped that ever escaped from bondage on this earth. Two females had also escaped in a similar manner - one in a trunk and the other in a dry goods box. On another occasion twenty-eight persons, at one time, had left the land of slavery, and under the smiles of freedom had found refuge at the North. One of ex President Tyler's slaves, named James, had gone on his way North from Philadelphia rejoicing.
