Escape Of A Mother And Two Daughters From Slavery: For The S...

Ihere are few persons whose hearla are so obtuse, as w% to be intorested in the reading of the simple narrative, which records the trnnsition of an immortal being, from a state of object bondage, to that ai] perfect freeciom. lf such a record were made it would be likely to convince those who think that abylitioniste are doing noUiinjj fór the liberation of the slave?, of their mistake. It might aleo have a tendency to induce a greater nutnber, lo eive their house of bondage, under the same guidance of the polar star, in the hope of reachinga land of safety, where libert}', svveet liberty is eecured to all, of every hueand condition. í propose to give you a brief account of -the escape of b molher and two daughiers, one aged IS and the other about 5. The facts are mostly derived from the oldest girl, who acted the part of director throughout the journey - the mother beinff entirely deaf, almost blind and hardly possessirig the power of speech. Altho! but S6 yeacs oíd, her gait and figure eeemed more becoming a woman of 6C, so riecripid and teebledid ehe apppar.The fací tbat she had always been workeJ in the. field, as was the daughter, partij accounts for this deforrniry. The unprotected trio !eft their owner (l) about 9 weeks since. Their home was in Virginia on ihe Üliio river. It oppeared that the woman had been severely beaten, and ,vas anxious to get away. A proposal was made by a friend to meet them on the Ohio side of the river, which was crrsed in the moster'i boat, it being rowed over by the girl. That night they were instrucled in thescience oí astronoiuy, as they vvere taken along, and by morning had reached near]y SO miles. Here they took a wrong track and wnm'ered aboiit without following the leadings of their lofty goide, whose position theyjiad endeavored lo !earn. Fiiends and helpers were fonnd, who kept them secrcted by dny and in motion nt niglu. At one time their pursuers, consisting of a party of nine horsenien, actiially put up at the sume house where they were. The slaves were hid in the hay stack close by the bnrn, where the horees were fed. At another time they were saved fróni being overtaken by a fork in the road, the master and Jiis company taking the wrong turn So eager w;ts the owner to overtake his prey, that he rode one norse to death. Alone place vvhere the compony hahed, a men was suspected of rendon ng aid, and on leavng hitn they made a buüet hole in one of h; hands, causetl by the firing -of a pistol. The slaves were fofwarded to us by fiiends a Centreville, on Thursday. and were sent oft by us the next morning. Tfiey vcry narrowly escaped being overtnken even at the ver} last. Some two or three men were purfcuiiig up to Friday, and when only about 8 milos from here the friends persuaded them that to continue tbe chase would be useless, as the slaves had gone vdong the day befo re, and would be on their way to Detroit in the cars, before they could reach JacksoTi. Most rcluctanüy did they about after so a chase, and afler bei:2g so nearJy succeesful. We trust the weary wauderers are now breatbinur the free air of Canadn, and not unmindfnl of the providenlial deliveranee wbich they had,by the menns of thnt Arm of defence which ehieided and protected tliein in iheir long and toiïsome journey. Pcrmit me to conchide by subtnitting Iwo questions for your consideración, and Uiat oí' the friends of the op)ressed. 1. Is it best, uil ihings considered, to send the fugfitives to Canada, or keep and protect them in our State' 2. Wlmt can be done to improve the condition of the colored population oí" Ganada, and make it agreeabïe and comfortabie, for thpse now there, and that may be Ihere in future? Union City, Feb. 12, 1844.