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| 384 THE UNDESQROUJfD RAIL ROAD. offered no cause for unhappineae, but Charles felt differently in relation to the matter. Again, for reasons best known to' the owner, he talked of selling Charles. On this point Charles also felt quite nervous, BO he began to think that he had better make an attempt to get beyond the reach of buyers and sellers. He knew that many others similarly situated had got out of bondage simply by hard struggling, and he felt tbat he could do likewise. When he had thus determined the object was half accomplished. True, every step that he should take was liable to bring trouble upon himself, yet with the hope of freedom buoying him up he resolved to run the risk. Charles was about thirty years of age, likely-looking, well made, intelligent, and a mulatto. GEORGE was twenty-three years of age, quite dark, medium size, and bore the marks of a man of considerable pluck. He was the slave of Mrs. Jane Coultson. No special complaint of her is recorded on the book. She might have been a very good mistress, but George was not a very happy and contented piece of property, as was proved by his course in escaping. The cold North had many more charms for him than the sunny South. JOHN has been already described in the person of his brother George. He was not, however, the property of Mrs. Coultson, but was owned by Mis? Cox, near Little Georgetown, Berkeley Co., Va. These three individuals were held as slaves by that class of slave-holders, known in the South as the most kind-hearted and indulgent, yet they seemed just as much delighted with the prospects of freedom as any other passengers. The next day following the arrival of the party just noticed JAMES HENRY WATSON reached the Committee. He was in good condition, the spring •weather having beeu favorable, and the journey made without any serious difficulty. He was from Snowhill, Worcester county, Md., and had escaped from James Purnell, a farmer of whom he did not speak very favorably. Yet James admitted that his master was not as bard on his slave? as some others. For the benefit of James' kiusfolk, who may still perchance be making searches for him, not having yet learned whither he went or what became of him, we copy the following paragraph as entered on our book April llth, 1856: JAMES HEJTKY is twenty years of age, dark, well-made, modest, and geems fearful of apprehension ; was moved to escape in order to obtain, his freedom. He had heard of others who had run away and thus secured their freedom; he thought he could do the same. He left his father, mother, three brothers and five sisters owned by Purnell. His father's name was Ephraim, his mother's name Mahala. The names of his sisters and brothers woe as follows: Hetty, Betsy, Dinah, Catharine and Harriet; Homer, William and James. |