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

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26 OBERLUNIANA. L' See here! What do you mean by stopping honest travelers in this way? demanded the driver. 'L O, welll let you iind out, rest assured, remarked the sarcastic voice of lawyer B. . E The driver again tried to force his way through the crowd, but the lead-horses were seized and taken to the stable Lawyer B. mounted the stage triumphantly, and began pulling at the curtains. 'L O, boys, cried Cox, in a subdued voice, 4' we're in an awful SC1'i1.1JG ll' , HI guess you are for once, chuckled lawyer B., still tugging spitefully at the curtains. . UHol-d 'em down, hold 'em down! came in mnffled accents from within. After more resistance an entrance was forced, and the slaves cowered trembling before their captors. But the odor of the S5700 reward was becoming delightfully fragrant now, and made the slave- takers exceedingly good-natured. 'tHelp the ladies out first. said lawyer B., gallantly. And with the most obsequious politeness he proceeded to help out the snifiiing maidens. ' ' See how modest they are in the presence of so many men, cried one gaily, as he pointed to the thick veils if Well, boys, said Cox, in a low voice, '4 we're in for it. We have got into a bad muss, but keep up courage. The gang took their prisoners up into the bar-room, and began exultantly to congratulate themselves on the big haul they had made. Their success elated them so that they were inclined to be very gracious, even to their prisoners. Meanwhile the feelings of the supposed slaves may be imagined. The mock deference with which they were treated by their exultant captors was of course irresistibly comical to them, and many were the purposely ambig- uous remarks made by one and another of them to the merriment of the captors, and of course themselves most of all. Afterwards it wa.s only necessary to say to the lawyer in question, with grea.t gallantry, Let the ladies out first, let the ladies out first! in order to raise a laugh that would force him to retire pre- cipitately from the room. In jest and story the hour was prolonged till late into the night, the prisoners using every device to gain time. They were still in the bar-room gathered about a big iire in the long fireplace. Cox was sitting next to the ire, well muffled with rags, so as to conceal his identity. At length. however, the tire became so warm that he was forced to remove some of the wraps about his neck. As he

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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.

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SLAVERY ANECDOTES. 21 did so he was suddenly recognized by a former fellow student in college. i 4' By heavens P7 exclaimed the latter, 'tif there ain't Cox, of Ober- lin!', Amid general consternation the facts of the deception 'became known. And now was the turn of the prisoners. Turning to the constable present, who had performed the arrest, Cox made some remarks to him which were certainly not ambiguous in their nature, for they made such an impression upon hini that the same night he tt folded his tent and silently stole away 7' from the town. The affair had gone so far, however, that a hearing before the Justice ofthe Peace was unavoidable. Accordingly the matter was brought up in legal form, and after a ridiculous trial the seven negroes. were acquitted, being identified by the white drivers. All this took time, however, and this time was most diligently used by the real fugitives. In the morning it was learned that the wagon of genuine slaves had passed through the edge of Elyria during the same night and already reached Cleveland. ' ee At one time a party of slaves arrived in town just in advance of the pursuers. They'found warm friends here, and were concealed so as to elude discovery on the part of the slave-holders, for some time. But the latter still remained in the neighborhood, and it was unsafe to send the slaves away and dangerous to keep them any longer. In this emergency a happy plan was hit upon. The students were emphatic in their sympathy for the oppressed slaves, and always ready to attempt any scheme for assisting them. There was at that time a young man named Cooley in the institu- tion. Learning the facts in question he gathered together some of his companions and made this proposition: Let's disguise ourselves to-night and leave town rather con- spicuously, in the role of escaped fugitives. Fun for us, you know, and then we will save time for the real fugitives, so that they may escape from town. Good, said another, named Whittlesey. And so it was arranged. About dusk that evening the slave- holders were observed near the large elm by the hay scales, ,opposite the present Park House. A'moment later and a rather deep, mys- terious-looking wagon, with its contents covered, was driven by in the direction of the lake. Whittlesey was in front, driving. The slave-holders took in the case at ri glance, and were imme- diately mounted in pursuit. W hittlesey observed them and began -driving very rapidly.