THREE ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE FROM
SLAVERY
"John Taylor and Monroe Evans, both natives of the State of Virginia, were sold at public auction in Richmond, in the same State, in 1852. They were sold in this old-established mart of human flesh to a planter in the State of Alabama. They lived upon the same plantation and worked in the same cotton-fields for several years, but at last the master gave up his plantation and hired out his slaves. However, Taylor and Evans still kept together, although upon another plantation, and it was while there, that the idea of freedom took possession of their souls.
The man to whom they were hired was severe. They were flogged several times, and locked up in a yard every night for several weeks. One day the overseer left them working in the field, and they took advantage of his absence to start for the forest and for freedom.
As soon as they were missed by the overseer, the dogs which were trained for the purpose, were put upon their track. They heard the bay of the hounds, and were convinced they were being pursued. They exerted themselves to the utmost to clude the dogs; going into the water, for instance; but all was a failure. At last they were obliged to climb a tree to save themselves from being torn in pieces. The overseer and others of his company came up and ordered them to come down, which order they obeyed.
They were tied by their pursuers and taken to the plantation. They were scourged until their backs were made to bleed, and were then washed in salt and water. The punishment endured it was thought had subdued them, for they were very submissive; but in four months they started again, were pursued, caught, and brought back. But this time they had reached the State of Tennessee.
The master now determined to break them (as he said) of all idea for freedom. Again they were flogged severely, and were put to work on a railway. Their master had them questioned as to whether they wished to be free; and both answered affirmatively. For this answer they were again flogged, and again questioned. Their answer was, "Yes, we want to be free, and will be free at any risk." At this plainness of speech upon the part of Taylor, the master took a large-sized stick and felled him. He then asked him whether he would ever attempt to run away again. He replied, "Yes, I will run away, if I go to h--ll for it." They were both so severely whipped now, that the master thought it useless to punish them any more, and the overseer was ordered to have a set of iron collars made to fit their necks, with three iron prongs running high above their heads; and at the end of each of these prongs a bell was fastened. The men were put to work on the railway, with this new iron appendage, and were closely watched. They were driven home each night by the overseer, and locked up in a pen made especially for the safer keeping of unruly slaves. Each night they were handcuffed. For two months they worked on in this way; but one day when one of the men was sent to the tool chest for something, he found a file, which he carefully put in his pocket, and returned to his work. The one who had the file communicated the circumstance to his comrade, and at night, after being safely handcuffed and locked in, they began operations. There was one difficulty which was very annoying. It was that the least motion would cause the bells to ring. The first business then would be to stop that ringing. And they could do that only by stuffing the bells. And one could stuff the other's bells only as he lay prostrate. Evans lay down first, and Taylor commenced the stuffing. The material for stuffing was their blanket, which they tore with their teeth. Taylor, in turn, had his bells muffled by Evans. Taylor had the file in his pocket, but being handcuffed, could not reach it. So Evans worked the file out of Taylor's pocket, while Taylor was lying on the floor. Evans then took the file between his fingers, and commenced cutting off Taylor's handcuffs. He soon freed his friend, and, in turn, was similarly, but in shorter time, released by Taylor. They were now ready to take off the bells and collars, so breaking off the points holding the bells, they filed off the collars, and scaling the walls, were the third time on the way to liberty.
They met a white man with whom they conversed, and found out that he was very poor. They told him they would give him all the money they had--thirty dollars--if he would become their guide to the Ohio river. He readily agreed; but they informed him that they would not pay him until he had taken them in sight of the river. He consented to this also. In two weeks they were on the banks of the Ohio. They paid their guide as agreed, and told him if he would get them across the river, and conduct them to some free State, they would secure him ten dollars more. Their guide told them he would take them as far as the town of Madison, in Indiana, and that then he must leave them to manage for themselves. They remained near the river until night, and crossed over into the State of Indiana. They were then on the main turnpike leading to the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. They were not walking in company with their guide, but so near as to know his movements. They had now come to a town called Jeffersonville. They passed through unmolested; they passed through another smaller town, and apparently attracted great attention. When about a mile away from this latter place, they saw a company of men on horses following them at full speed. Taylor and Evans immediately turned into the forest, leaving their guide in the road. These men with horses rode through a portion of the forest, but Taylor and Evans managed to elude them. Failing in finding them, the men returned, pursued the guide, and took him prisoner.
They were now left alone, and they concluded to wait until night before pursuing their journey. They then went back to the road from which they had turned to enter the forest. They soon came in sight of a large covered bridge across a creek, and fearing that some of their pursuers might be ready there to pounce upon them, they concluded not to cross the bridge at all. They therefore again went into the forest, and found a place where they thought they might safely cross the stream. After crossing they started back in the direction of the road they had left the second time. Having travelled the distance of ten miles, they found themselves near a railway station. The moon was shining brightly when they came near, and they could hear men talking. Going into a long wood shed there, Taylor told Evans to stand still, and he would go a little nearer. He crept along in the shadow of the shed until he was near enough to hear the conversation of the persons talking. He heard one say, "They'll certainly come through that bridge, and we have stationed men at both ends of it, so I believe they will be caught at that point; but we thought we would come up thus far in order to let the people know about it. But I'm sure they'll be caught at the bridge." Taylor was startled by this conversation, and he crept back slowly to Evans, and told him what he had heard. They left those parts as soon as possible. They determined to shun that station and village adjoining. About the break of day they found their way into the road, which in a short time led them into Madison. Soon after this they inquired for the coach, as though they desired to go by it to Cincinnati, and in the answer they were informed of a better way by boat. They took advantage of this suggestion, and fortunately found a steamer; they went on board among the cotton bales, and soon fell asleep. When they awoke, they were already at the Cincinnati wharf. No person had noticed them, and they quietly walked off and went up into the city. In the part of the city whither they had gone they entered a shop to purchase a pair of shoes. The shopkeeper suspected that they were escaped slaves, and told them they could have the shoes at cost, for he sympathised with them. "You need not," he continued, "tell me your situation, but go to a friend of mine, who is a person of colour, and in this business, and you may safely tell him all about your circumstances." This friend sent his son with Taylor and Evans to me, and I made speedy arrangements to enable them to start for Canada. I have had the pleasure of seeing them often since I have been living in Windsor. And, I may add, these men can yet show the mark of the cowhide and the impression of the handcuffs. This all speaks for itself as a part of the terrible system from which they at last escaped.
"Slavery! thou art a bitter draught."
© Hair-breadth Escapes from Slavery to Freedom: Electronic Edition
This work is the property of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It may be used freely by individuals for research, teaching and personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the text.
The man to whom they were hired was severe. They were flogged several times, and locked up in a yard every night for several weeks. One day the overseer left them working in the field, and they took advantage of his absence to start for the forest and for freedom.
As soon as they were missed by the overseer, the dogs which were trained for the purpose, were put upon their track. They heard the bay of the hounds, and were convinced they were being pursued. They exerted themselves to the utmost to clude the dogs; going into the water, for instance; but all was a failure. At last they were obliged to climb a tree to save themselves from being torn in pieces. The overseer and others of his company came up and ordered them to come down, which order they obeyed.
They were tied by their pursuers and taken to the plantation. They were scourged until their backs were made to bleed, and were then washed in salt and water. The punishment endured it was thought had subdued them, for they were very submissive; but in four months they started again, were pursued, caught, and brought back. But this time they had reached the State of Tennessee.
The master now determined to break them (as he said) of all idea for freedom. Again they were flogged severely, and were put to work on a railway. Their master had them questioned as to whether they wished to be free; and both answered affirmatively. For this answer they were again flogged, and again questioned. Their answer was, "Yes, we want to be free, and will be free at any risk." At this plainness of speech upon the part of Taylor, the master took a large-sized stick and felled him. He then asked him whether he would ever attempt to run away again. He replied, "Yes, I will run away, if I go to h--ll for it." They were both so severely whipped now, that the master thought it useless to punish them any more, and the overseer was ordered to have a set of iron collars made to fit their necks, with three iron prongs running high above their heads; and at the end of each of these prongs a bell was fastened. The men were put to work on the railway, with this new iron appendage, and were closely watched. They were driven home each night by the overseer, and locked up in a pen made especially for the safer keeping of unruly slaves. Each night they were handcuffed. For two months they worked on in this way; but one day when one of the men was sent to the tool chest for something, he found a file, which he carefully put in his pocket, and returned to his work. The one who had the file communicated the circumstance to his comrade, and at night, after being safely handcuffed and locked in, they began operations. There was one difficulty which was very annoying. It was that the least motion would cause the bells to ring. The first business then would be to stop that ringing. And they could do that only by stuffing the bells. And one could stuff the other's bells only as he lay prostrate. Evans lay down first, and Taylor commenced the stuffing. The material for stuffing was their blanket, which they tore with their teeth. Taylor, in turn, had his bells muffled by Evans. Taylor had the file in his pocket, but being handcuffed, could not reach it. So Evans worked the file out of Taylor's pocket, while Taylor was lying on the floor. Evans then took the file between his fingers, and commenced cutting off Taylor's handcuffs. He soon freed his friend, and, in turn, was similarly, but in shorter time, released by Taylor. They were now ready to take off the bells and collars, so breaking off the points holding the bells, they filed off the collars, and scaling the walls, were the third time on the way to liberty.
They met a white man with whom they conversed, and found out that he was very poor. They told him they would give him all the money they had--thirty dollars--if he would become their guide to the Ohio river. He readily agreed; but they informed him that they would not pay him until he had taken them in sight of the river. He consented to this also. In two weeks they were on the banks of the Ohio. They paid their guide as agreed, and told him if he would get them across the river, and conduct them to some free State, they would secure him ten dollars more. Their guide told them he would take them as far as the town of Madison, in Indiana, and that then he must leave them to manage for themselves. They remained near the river until night, and crossed over into the State of Indiana. They were then on the main turnpike leading to the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. They were not walking in company with their guide, but so near as to know his movements. They had now come to a town called Jeffersonville. They passed through unmolested; they passed through another smaller town, and apparently attracted great attention. When about a mile away from this latter place, they saw a company of men on horses following them at full speed. Taylor and Evans immediately turned into the forest, leaving their guide in the road. These men with horses rode through a portion of the forest, but Taylor and Evans managed to elude them. Failing in finding them, the men returned, pursued the guide, and took him prisoner.
They were now left alone, and they concluded to wait until night before pursuing their journey. They then went back to the road from which they had turned to enter the forest. They soon came in sight of a large covered bridge across a creek, and fearing that some of their pursuers might be ready there to pounce upon them, they concluded not to cross the bridge at all. They therefore again went into the forest, and found a place where they thought they might safely cross the stream. After crossing they started back in the direction of the road they had left the second time. Having travelled the distance of ten miles, they found themselves near a railway station. The moon was shining brightly when they came near, and they could hear men talking. Going into a long wood shed there, Taylor told Evans to stand still, and he would go a little nearer. He crept along in the shadow of the shed until he was near enough to hear the conversation of the persons talking. He heard one say, "They'll certainly come through that bridge, and we have stationed men at both ends of it, so I believe they will be caught at that point; but we thought we would come up thus far in order to let the people know about it. But I'm sure they'll be caught at the bridge." Taylor was startled by this conversation, and he crept back slowly to Evans, and told him what he had heard. They left those parts as soon as possible. They determined to shun that station and village adjoining. About the break of day they found their way into the road, which in a short time led them into Madison. Soon after this they inquired for the coach, as though they desired to go by it to Cincinnati, and in the answer they were informed of a better way by boat. They took advantage of this suggestion, and fortunately found a steamer; they went on board among the cotton bales, and soon fell asleep. When they awoke, they were already at the Cincinnati wharf. No person had noticed them, and they quietly walked off and went up into the city. In the part of the city whither they had gone they entered a shop to purchase a pair of shoes. The shopkeeper suspected that they were escaped slaves, and told them they could have the shoes at cost, for he sympathised with them. "You need not," he continued, "tell me your situation, but go to a friend of mine, who is a person of colour, and in this business, and you may safely tell him all about your circumstances." This friend sent his son with Taylor and Evans to me, and I made speedy arrangements to enable them to start for Canada. I have had the pleasure of seeing them often since I have been living in Windsor. And, I may add, these men can yet show the mark of the cowhide and the impression of the handcuffs. This all speaks for itself as a part of the terrible system from which they at last escaped.
"Slavery! thou art a bitter draught."
© Hair-breadth Escapes from Slavery to Freedom: Electronic Edition
This work is the property of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It may be used freely by individuals for research, teaching and personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the text.