File:The underground rail road - a record of facts, authentic narratives, letters, &c., narrating the hardships, hair-breadth escapes, and death struggles of the slaves in their efforts for freedom, as (14760890375).jpg

Identifier: undergroundrailr1872stil (find matches)
Title: The underground rail road : a record of facts, authentic narratives, letters, &c., narrating the hardships, hair-breadth escapes, and death struggles of the slaves in their efforts for freedom, as related by themselves and others or witnessed by the author : together with sketches of some of the largest stockholders and most liberal aiders and advisers of the road
Year: 1872 (1870s)
Authors: Still, William, 1821-1902 Smith, Louise A., former owner Eaton, J.W., former owner Cornish, E., former owner
Subjects: Underground railroad Fugitive slaves Antislavery movements
Publisher: Philadelphia : Porter & Coates
Contributing Library: Boston Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Public Library

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
After a full consultation with her mother and also her intended upon
the matter, she decided that she must be free in order to fill the station
of a wife and mother. For a time dangers and difficulties in the way of
escape seemed utterly to set at defiance all hope of success. Whilst every
pulse was beating strong for liberty, only one chance seemed to be left, the
trial of which required as much courage as it would to endure the cutting
off the right arm or plucking out the right eye. An old chest of substan-
tial make, such as sailors commonly use, was procured. A quilt, a pillow,
and a few articles of raiment, with a small quantity of food and a bottle
of water were put in it, and Lear placed therein; strong ropes were fast-
ened around the chest and she was safely stowed amongst the ordinary
freight on one of the Erricson line of steamers. Her intendeds mother,
who was a free woman, agreed to come as a passenger on the same boat.
How could she refuse? The prescribed rules of the Company assigned
colored passengers to the deck. In this instance it was exactly where this
guardian and mother desired to be—as near the chest as possible. Once
or twice, during the silent watches of the night, she was drawn irresisti-

ESCAPING IN A CHEST. 283

Text Appearing After Image:
bly to the chest, and could not refrain from venturing to untie the rope
and raise the lid a little, to see if the poor child still lived, and at thes
ame time to give her a breath of fresh air. Without uttering a whisper,
that frightful moment, this office was successfully performed. That the
silent prayers of this oppressed young woman, together with her faithful
protector's, were momentarily ascending to the ear of the good God above,
there can be no question. Nor is it to be doubted for a moment but that
some ministering angel aided the mother to unfasten the rope, and at the
same time nerved the heart of poor Lear to endure the trying ordeal of
her perilous situation. She declared that she had no fear.
After she had passed eighteen hours in the chest, the steamer arrived
at the wharf in Philadelphia, and in due time the living freight was brought
off the boat, and at first was delivered at a house in Barley street, occupied
by particular friends of the mother. Subsequently chest and freight were
removed to the residence of the writer, in whose family she remained several
days under the protection and care of the Vigilance committee.

Note About Images