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29 - Underground Railroad, Part 1 by William Still · Underground Railroad, Part 1

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  Speaker 1: Section twenty eight of The Underground Railroad Part one. This
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  Speaker 1: is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the
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  Speaker 1: public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit
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  Speaker 1: LibriVox dot org. Recording by Lee Smalley. The Underground Railroad
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  Speaker 1: Part one by William Sill. Section twenty eight arrival of Jackson,
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  Speaker 1: Isaac and Edmondson Turner from Petersburg, touching scene on meeting
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  Speaker 1: their old blind father at the U g r R Depot,
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  Speaker 1: letters and warning to slaveholders about the latter part of
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  Speaker 1: December eighteen fifty seven, Isaac and Edmondson brothers succeeded in
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  Speaker 1: making their escape together from Petersburg, Virginia. They barely escaped
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  Speaker 1: the auction block, as their mistress, missus Ann Coley, a widow,
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  Speaker 1: had just completed arrangements for their sale on the coming
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  Speaker 1: first day of January. In this kind of property, however,
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  Speaker 1: Missus Coley had not largely invested in the days of
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  Speaker 1: her prosperity. While all was happy and contented, she could
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  Speaker 1: only boast of fore head these brothers, Jackson, Isaac and Edmondson,
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  Speaker 1: and one other. In May eighteen fifty seven, Jackson had
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  Speaker 1: fled and was received by the vigilance committee, who placed
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  Speaker 1: him upon their books briefly in the following light run
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  Speaker 1: away fifty dollars reward. Ran away some time in May
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  Speaker 1: last My servant man, who calls himself Jackson Turner. He
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  Speaker 1: is about twenty seven years of age and has one
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  Speaker 1: of his front teeth out. He is quite black, with
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  Speaker 1: thick lips, a little bow legged, and looks down when
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  Speaker 1: spoken to. I will give a reward of fifty dollars
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  Speaker 1: if taken out of the city, and twenty five dollars
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  Speaker 1: if taken within the city. I forewarn all masters of
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  Speaker 1: vessels from harboring or employing the said slave. All persons
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  Speaker 1: who disregard this notice will be punished as the law directs.
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  Speaker 1: And Coalie Petersburgh eighteen fifty seven. Jackson is quite dark,
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  Speaker 1: medium size, and well informed for one in his condition
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  Speaker 1: in slavery. He had been pressed hard his hire ten
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  Speaker 1: dollars per month. He was obliged to produce at the
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  Speaker 1: end of each month, no matter how much he had
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  Speaker 1: been called upon to expend for doctor bills, et cetera.
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  Speaker 1: The woman he called mistress went by the name of
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  Speaker 1: Anne Coley, a widow living near Petersburg. She was very quarrelsome,
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  Speaker 1: although a member of the Methodist church. Jackson, seeing that
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  Speaker 1: his mistress was yearly growing harder and harder, concluded to
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  Speaker 1: try and better his condition if possible. Having a free
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  Speaker 1: wife in the north who was in the habit of
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  Speaker 1: communicating with him, he was kept fully awake to the
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  Speaker 1: love of freedom. The underground railroad expense, the committee gladly bore.
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  Speaker 1: No further record of Jackson was made. Jackson found his
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  Speaker 1: poor old father here, where he had resided for a
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  Speaker 1: number of years, in a state of almost total blindness
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  Speaker 1: and of in much parental anxiety about his boys and chains.
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  Speaker 1: On the arrival of Jackson, his heart overflowed with joy
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  Speaker 1: and gratitude, not easily described as the old man had
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  Speaker 1: hardly been able to muster faith enough to believe that
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  Speaker 1: he should ever look with his dim eyes upon one
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  Speaker 1: of his sons in freedom. After a day or two's tarrying,
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  Speaker 1: Jackson took his departure for safer and more healthful localities
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  Speaker 1: her British Majesty's possessions. The old man remained only to
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  Speaker 1: feel more keenly than ever the pang of having sons
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  Speaker 1: still toiling in hopeless servitude. In less than seven months
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  Speaker 1: after Jackson had shaken off the yoke to the unspeakable
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  Speaker 1: joy of the father, Isaac and Edmondson succeeded in following
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  Speaker 1: their brother's example and were made happy partakers of the
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  Speaker 1: benefits and blessings of the Vigilance Committee of Philadelphia. On
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  Speaker 1: first meeting his two boys at the underground railroad depot,
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  Speaker 1: the old man took each one in his arms and
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  Speaker 1: is looking through a glass, darkly, straining every nerve of
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  Speaker 1: his almost lost sight, exclaiming whilst hugging them closer and
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  Speaker 1: closer to his bosom for some minutes, in tears of
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  Speaker 1: joy and wonder, my son, Isaac, is this you? My son, Isaac,
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  Speaker 1: is this you? Et cetera. The scene was calculated to
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  Speaker 1: awaken the deepest emotion and to bring tears to eyes
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  Speaker 1: not accustomed to weep. Little had the old man dreamed,
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  Speaker 1: in his days of sadness that he should share such
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  Speaker 1: a feast of joy over the deliverance of his sons.
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  Speaker 1: But it is in vain to attempt to picture the
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  Speaker 1: affecting scene at this reunion, for that would be impossible.
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  Speaker 1: Of their slave life, the records contained but a short
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  Speaker 1: notice simply as follows. Isaac is twenty eight years of age,
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  Speaker 1: hearty looking, well made, dark color and intelligent. He was
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  Speaker 1: owned by missus Anne Coley, a widow residing near Petersburg, Virginia.
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  Speaker 1: Isaac and Edmondson were to have been sold on New
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  Speaker 1: Year's Day, a few days Hence, how sad her disappointment
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  Speaker 1: must have been on finding them gone may be more
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  Speaker 1: easily imagined than described. Edmondson is about twenty five, a
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  Speaker 1: brother of Isaac, and a smart, good looking young man,
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  Speaker 1: was owned by missus Coley. Also, this is just the
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  Speaker 1: class of fugitives to make good subjects for John Bull thought.
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  Speaker 1: The committee, feeling pretty well assured that they would make
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  Speaker 1: good reports. After having enjoyed free air in Canada for
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  Speaker 1: a short time. Of course, the Committee enjoined upon them
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  Speaker 1: very earnestly not to forget their brethren left behind groaning
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  Speaker 1: in fetters, but to prove, by their industry uprightness, economy,
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  Speaker 1: sobriety and thrift, by the remembrance of their former days
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  Speaker 1: of oppression, and their obligations to their God, that they
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  Speaker 1: were worthy of the country to which they were going,
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  Speaker 1: and so to help break the bonds of the oppressors
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  Speaker 1: and undo the heavy burdens of the oppressed. Similar advice
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  Speaker 1: was impressed upon the minds of all travelers passing over
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  Speaker 1: this branch of the underground railroad. From hundreds thus admonished
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  Speaker 1: letters came, affording the most gratifying evidence that the Council
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  Speaker 1: of the Committee was not in vain. The appended letter
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  Speaker 1: from the youngest brother, written with his own hand, will
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  Speaker 1: indicate his feelings and views in Canada. Hamilton, Canada, West,
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  Speaker 1: March oneh eighteen fifty eight. Mister Still, dear sir, I
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  Speaker 1: have taken the opportunity to inform you your letter came
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  Speaker 1: to hand twenty seventh. I were glad to hear from
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  Speaker 1: you and your family. I hope this letter may find
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  Speaker 1: you and the family well. I am well myself my
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  Speaker 1: brother join me in love to you and all the friend.
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  Speaker 1: I were sorry to hear of the death of missus Freeman.
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  Speaker 1: We all must die soon or late. This a date
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  Speaker 1: we must all pay, We must prepare for the time.
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  Speaker 1: She wear a nice lady. Dear sir, the all is
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  Speaker 1: well and send their love to you. Emmerline have been sick,
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  Speaker 1: but is better at this time. I saw the hills
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  Speaker 1: the war well and send their love to you. I
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  Speaker 1: was sorry to hear that my brother war soul. I
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  Speaker 1: am glad that I did come away when I did.
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  Speaker 1: God works all the things for the best. He is young,
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  Speaker 1: he may get along in the wall. May God bless him.
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  Speaker 1: If you have any news from Petersburg, VA, plas write
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  Speaker 1: me a word when you answer this letter. And if
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  Speaker 1: any person came form home letter me know, please send
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  Speaker 1: me one of your paper that had the undergrands are rod.
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  Speaker 1: Give my love to mister Character and his family. I
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  Speaker 1: am sevying with a barber at this time. He have
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  Speaker 1: promised to give me the trade if I can lain
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  Speaker 1: it is much of a gentleman still, sir, I have
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  Speaker 1: writing a letter to mister Brown of Petersburg, VA. Please
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  Speaker 1: read it, and if you think it right, please send
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  Speaker 1: it by the mail or by hand. You will see
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  Speaker 1: how I have written it. The will know how send
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  Speaker 1: it by the way. This writing of the answer it
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  Speaker 1: you can send it to me. I have told them
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  Speaker 1: direct to your care for ed T. Smith, Philadelphia. I
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  Speaker 1: hope it may be right. I promosd to write to here.
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  Speaker 1: Please write to me soon and let me know if
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  Speaker 1: you do. Send it on you did with that ma
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  Speaker 1: Abbut the kabat Beije do not forget to write. Tell John,
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  Speaker 1: he might write to me, I am doing as well
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  Speaker 1: as I can at this time, but I get no
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  Speaker 1: wages but my board. But is satisfied at these hard time,
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  Speaker 1: and glad that I am here and in good health,
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  Speaker 1: norhingmore at this time, your truly Edmund Turner. The same
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  Speaker 1: writer sent to the corresponding secretary the following warning to slaveholders.
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  Speaker 1: At the time these documents were received, slaveholders were never
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  Speaker 1: more defiant. The right to trample on the weak in
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  Speaker 1: oppression was indisputable. Cinnamon and odors, and ointments and frankincense,
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  Speaker 1: and wine and oil and fine flour and wheat, and
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  Speaker 1: beasts and sheep and horses and chariots and slaves and
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  Speaker 1: souls of men slave holders believed, doubtless were theirs by
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  Speaker 1: divine right, little dreaming that in less than three short
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  Speaker 1: years therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death
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  Speaker 1: and mourning and famine. In view of the marvelous changes
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  Speaker 1: which have been wrought by the hand of the Almighty.
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  Speaker 1: This warning to slaveholders from one who felt the sting
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  Speaker 1: of slavery, as evincing a particular phase of simple faith
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  Speaker 1: and Christian charity is entitled to a place in these records.
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  Speaker 1: A warning to slaveholders. Well, may the southern slaveholders say
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  Speaker 1: that holding their fellow men in bondage is no sin,
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  Speaker 1: because it is their delight as the Egyptians, so do they.
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  Speaker 1: But nevertheless, God in his own good time will bring
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  Speaker 1: them out by a mighty hand, as it is recorded
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  Speaker 1: in the Sacred Oracles of Truth, that Ethiopia shall soon
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  Speaker 1: stretch out her hands to God speaking in the positive
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  Speaker 1: shall And my prayer is to you, o slaveholder, in
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  Speaker 1: the name of that God who in the beginning said,
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  Speaker 1: let there be light, and there was light, Let my
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  Speaker 1: people go, that they may serve me. Thereby good may
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  Speaker 1: come unto thee and to thy children's children. Slaveholder, have
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  Speaker 1: you seriously thought upon the condition yourselves, family and slaves?
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  Speaker 1: Have you read where Christ has enjoined upon all his
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  Speaker 1: creatures to read his word thereby that they may have
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  Speaker 1: no excuse when coming before his judgment seat. But you
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  Speaker 1: say he shall not read his word, Consequently his sin
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  Speaker 1: will be upon your head. I think every man has
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  Speaker 1: as much as he can do to answer for his
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  Speaker 1: own sins. And now, my dear slaveholder, who with you
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  Speaker 1: are bound and fast hastening to judgment. As one that
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  Speaker 1: loves your soul. Repent ye therefore and be converted, that
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  Speaker 1: your sins may be blotted out when the time of
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  Speaker 1: refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. In
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  Speaker 1: the language of the poet, Stop, poor sinner, stop and
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  Speaker 1: think before you further go, Think upon the brink of death,
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  Speaker 1: of everlasting woe. Say, have you an arm like God
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  Speaker 1: that you his will oppose? Fear you not that iron
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  Speaker 1: rod with which he breaks his foes. Is the prayer
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  Speaker 1: of one that loves your souls. Edmund Turner, n b.
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  Speaker 1: The signature bears the name of one who knows and
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  Speaker 1: felt the sting of slavery. But now, thanks be to God,
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  Speaker 1: I am now where the poison and his breath taints
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  Speaker 1: not our air. But every one is sitting under his
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  Speaker 1: own vine and fig tree, where none dare to make
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  Speaker 1: him ashamed or afraid. Edmund Turner, formerly of Petersburg via Hamilton,
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  Speaker 1: June twenty second, eighteen fifty eight c W To mister
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  Speaker 1: William Still, dear Sir. A favorable opportunity affords the pleasure
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  Speaker 1: of acknowledging the receipt of letters and papers. Certainly in
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  Speaker 1: this region they were highly appreciated, and I hope the
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  Speaker 1: time may come that your kindness will be reciprocated. We
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  Speaker 1: are all well at present, but times continue. Dull. I
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  Speaker 1: also deeply regret the excitement recently on the account of
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  Speaker 1: those slaves. You will favor me by keeping me posted
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  Speaker 1: upon the subject those words written to slaveholder is the
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  Speaker 1: thought of one who had suffered. And now I thought
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  Speaker 1: it a duty incumbent upon me to cry aloud and
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  Speaker 1: spare not et cetera. By sending these few lines where
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  Speaker 1: the slaveholder may hear, you will still further oblige your
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  Speaker 1: humble servant also to correct any inaccuracy. My respects to
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  Speaker 1: you and your family and all inquiring friends. Your friend
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  Speaker 1: and well wisher, Edmund Turner. The then impending judgments seen
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  Speaker 1: by an eye of faith, as set forth in this warning,
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  Speaker 1: soon fell with crushing weight upon the oppressor, and slavery died.
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  Speaker 1: But the old blind father of Jackson, Isaac and Edmondson
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  Speaker 1: still lives and may be seen daily on the streets
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  Speaker 1: of Philadelphia. And though halt and lame and blind and poor,
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  Speaker 1: doubtless resulting from his early oppression. He can thank God
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  Speaker 1: and rejoice that he has lived to see slavery abolished.
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  Speaker 1: End of Section twenty eight. Recording by Lee Smalley,