The Underground Railroad eBook

William Still
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,446 pages of information about The Underground Railroad.

The Underground Railroad eBook

William Still
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,446 pages of information about The Underground Railroad.

    ST. CATHARINES, Canada West, 24th July, 1854.

DEAR FRIEND, WILLIAM STILL:—­Your encouraging letter, to John Smith, was duly received by him, and I am requested to write again on his behalf.  His colored friend in Baltimore county, who would favor his designs, is Thomas Cook, whom he wishes you to address, Baltimore post-office, care of Mr. Thomas Spicer.
He has received a letter from Thomas Cook, dated the 6th of June, but it was a long time reaching him.  He wishes you to say to Cook, that he got his letter, and that he would like to have him call on his wife and make known to her, that he is in good health, doing well here, and would like to have her come on as soon as she can.
As she is a free woman, there will, doubtless, be no difficulty in her coming right through.  He is working in the neighborhood of St. Catharines, but twelve miles from Niagara Falls.  You will please recollect to address Thomas Cook, in the care of Thomas Spicer, Baltimore Post-office.  Smith’s wife is at, or near the place he came from, and, doubtless, Thomas Cook knows all about her condition and circumstances.  Please write again to John Smith, in my care, if you please, and request Thomas Cook to do the same.

    Very respectfully yours in the cause of philanthropy.

    HIRAM WILSON.

* * * * *

TWO FEMALE PASSENGERS FEOM MARYLAND.

As the way of travel, via the Underground Rail Road, under the most favorable circumstances, even for the sterner sex, was hard enough to test the strongest nerves, and to try the faith of the bravest of the brave, every woman, who won her freedom, by this perilous undertaking, deserves commemoration.  It is, therefore, a pleasure to thus transfer from the old Record book the names of Ann Johnson and Lavina Woolfley, who fled from Maryland in 1857.  Their lives, however, had not been in any way very remarkable.  Ann was tall, and of a dark chestnut color, with an intelligent countenance, and about twenty-four years of age.  She had filled various situations as a Slave.  Sometimes she was required to serve in the kitchen, at other times she was required to toil in the field, with the plow, hoe, and the like.  Samuel Harrington, of Cambridge District, Maryland, was the name of the man for whose benefit Ann labored during her younger days.  She had no hesitation in saying, that he was a very “ill-natured man;” he however, was a member of the “old time Methodist Church.”  In Slave property he had invested only to the extent of some five or six head.  About three years previous to Ann’s escape, one of her brothers fled and went to Canada.  This circumstance so enraged the owner, that he declared he would “sell all” he owned.  Accordingly Ann was soon put on the auction block, and was bought by a man who went by the name of William Moore.  Moore was a married

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The Underground Railroad from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.