Oberlin College - Hi-O-Hi Yearbook (Oberlin, OH)

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24 ' OBERLINIANA. ' right. Yet this was a common experience in those days, and the faithfulness ofthe people is attested by the statement that of all the fugitives fleeing here, and afterward purloined by 'towners, not one was ever returned to slavery. 99 at 5? . An incident will first be related which formed a part of the un- written history of Oberlin for the year 1840. A company of eight fugitives, having passed North, were deliv- ered over to the keeping of Mr. Brown, at Brown's Landing on the lake. One of this company was a shrewd old man- of some sixty years. As was customary the party was being kept until word should be received from the anti-slavery organization here that a boat had been engaged in which the fugitives might be taken to- Oanada. Mr. R. E. Gillet was at that time leader of this organiza- tion. Accordingly word was brought one day that a boat was moored near the Landing,77 and soon a messenger appeared with a note. This note was signed R. E, Gillett, and stated that the boat was waiting, and that the party would be rowed to it in a skiff by the bearer. The company started, but had not proceeded far when the saga- cious old man, who had been walking along thoughtfully, came to a sudden halt. ' Tears to me, he said, like as though dis ain't all straight, chil- lunsf' 'tWhy, whatis the trouble?'7 inquired Brown. I dunno, replied the old man, uonly something tells me it ain't right? ' 'tOh yes, it must be, said the other, 'there is Gilletis own name, and he is never deceived. ' ' - Still the old man shook his head solemnly, and in order to assure him Brown willingly agreed to wait, and investigate the matter. Accordingly the company returned to a chamber in the house, and a young man was sent to spy around near the boat. Soon he returned in the greatest haste, and told them of a conver- sation he had overheard while concealed in some bushes, proving the forgery of the note. The colored party were hurried out' the back Way into the woods, and started post haste for Oberlin, the city of refuge. In a moment more Brown's house was surrounded by the horde of slave-holders who had been lurking in the vicinity, and had discovered the defeat ofltheir plan. . The slaves, with the exception of the old man, continued their iiight to Oberlin, pursued by their greedy masters. Arriving in the

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SLAVERY ANEGDOTES. 23 from the first a sort of junction or focus for the converging lines of the Underground Railwayw from the South. From the town fugi- tives were transferred secretly to Cleveland, Black River, Vermil- lion, Huron, and Sandusky, and put aboard boats bound for Canada. The writer was shown a large cave between here and Black River, where it is said that fugitive slaves were concealed, thus constituting literally an underground depot. For the truth of this assertion we can not vouch. -JE lk ik I To show the complete isolation of Oberlin sentiment, it is only necessary to say that there was not the least sympathy felt toward the place by any of the neighboring towns. The little colony was quite alone in the advocacy of anti-slavery. The towns in the vicinity were ready at any time to assist the slave-holders. Often they held indignation meetings, and discussed measures for putting Oberlin down. Anonymous communications were sent in threaten- ing to burn the town, and for years an armed patrol had to be kept to guard it. Students were egged, stoned, sometimes seriously hurt, for the sole crime of hailing from Oberlin. One eminent evangelist, a man noted for his Christian love, told the writer that the legs of his horse were once cut in to the bone, for the simple reason that the animal had the misfortune of belonging to an Oberlinite. Yet these persecutors who were themselves so intolerant were punishing a dumb brute because he chanced to belong to a community which they fancied to be oifensive because of intolerance. -M .S+ 9? Another instance is related of the way in which the early anti- slavery enthusiasts from Lane Seminary were treated. Rev. Amos Dresser, one of the 'trebelsf' now of Franklin, Nebraska, was selling Bibles in the streets of Nashville, Tennesee, when some one inquisi- tively peeped into his buggy, and found that the books were wrapped up in old copies of the Philanthropist. He was thereupon arrested, tried, sentenced in due form of law, and treated to twenty lashes upon his bare back in the Public Square in Nashville! Does not such an outrage make the blood boil at the mere recital to-day? , 64- 5 Z -XA The students of to-day can scarcelyimagine what it must have been to live in Oberlin in those days. What a tremendous sensa- tion it would'take now-a-days to rouse two or three hundred stu- dent sat midnight and start them off on foot in a pursuit of slave- holders for miles, a pursuit involving weariness, often danger, and offering only the compensation afforded by the triumph of moral

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SLAVERY ANEODOTES. 25 town they were concealed in a house just in time to discover the slaveholders at their heels. The house was surrounded by the human cormorants, and it seemed as if escape was impossible. However, the citizens and students discovered the nature of the trouble, and soon appeared upon the ground in alarming numbers. There was no pre-arranged plan, but every one understood the case, and all worked together harmoniously. People entered the house promiscuously, and certain articles of apparel were surreptitiously put into the possession of the slaves. Scarcely any one knew how, but soon, in some mysterious manner, every one of the fugitives had been transferred to other quarters. ' Bonneted, hooded, shawled and variously disguised, they effected their escape under the very eyes of their pursuers It wasvstill, however, too dangerous to attempt to send the slaves away, and they were kept in another part of the town. Meanwhile a reward of S700 had been offered for the apprehension of the fugi- tives. This was too tempting an offer for some of our sister villages to resist, and certain residents of Elyria decided to reap the emolu- ment of treachery. A certain lawyer B. set about the matter, and soon had a new blacksmith, in the employ of Isaac Penfield, in this village. The Oberlinites, however, were always on the alert for spies, and it was not long before this one was ferreted out. But the. question was, what should be done? A plan, suggested by the wife of 'Mr Horace Taylor, an instructor in the college, was finally adopted. This plan was carried out and worked to perfection. During the day it was whispered to this spy, that early that evening a covered wagon would leave town for' Cleveland, drawn by four horses. At the appointed time the wagon was made ready, and there were stowed away in it ,instead of the seven real slaves, seven colored students and citizens, under the leadership of Sabram COX. The horses were driven by two white persons, whose mission was to testify in court that the passengers were free Oberlin people fit was then in the time of the famous Ohio Black Lawsj The colored boys were variously disguised. Some were dressed as wo- men and had thick veils on, all were clad in rags. ' The party drove without molestation clear into Elyria Center, and began to fear that they had sold themselves. Well, they said, we'll go-down to Mis anyway, and have some refreshments. As they were passing the hotel, however, a voice was heard,- 't There they come! The driver cracked his whip and yelled at the horses. L' Hey! stop there l cried the crowd, and rushed out into the street.