The story of Matilda must be very brief, although it is full of thrilling interest.  She was twenty-one years of age in 1854, when she escaped and came to Philadelphia, a handsome young woman, of a light complexion, quite refined in her manners, and in short, possessing great personal attractions.  But her situation as a slave was critical, as will be seen.

Her claimant was Wm. Rigard, of Frederick, Md., who hired her to a Mr. Reese, in Baltimore; in this situation her duties were general housework and nursing.  With these labors, she was not, however, so much dissatisfied as she was with other circumstances of a more alarming nature:  her old master was tottering on the verge of the grave, and his son, a trader in New Orleans.  These facts kept Matilda in extreme anxiety.  For two years prior to her escape, the young trader had been trying to influence his father to let him have her for the Southern market; but the old man had not consented.  Of course the trader knew quite well, that an “article” of her appearance would command readily a very high price in the New Orleans market.  But Matilda’s attractions had won the heart of a young man in the North, one who had known her in Baltimore in earlier days, and this lover was willing to make desperate efforts to rescue her from her perilous situation.  Whether or not he had nerve enough to venture down to Baltimore to accompany his intended away on the Underground Rail Road, his presence would not have aided in the case.  He had, however, a friend who consented to go to Baltimore on this desperate mission.  The friend was James Jefferson, of Providence, R.I.  With the strategy of a skilled soldier, Mr. Jefferson hurried to the Monumental City, and almost under the eyes of the slave-holders, and slave-catchers, despite of pro slavery breastworks, seized his prize and speeded her away on the Underground Railway, before her owner was made acquainted with the fact of her intended escape.  On Matilda’s arrival at the station in Philadelphia, several other passengers from different points, happened to come to hand just at that time, and gave great solicitude and anxiety to the Committee.  Among these were a man and his wife and their four children, (noticed elsewhere), from Maryland.  Likewise an interesting and intelligent young girl who had been almost miraculously rescued from the prison-house at Norfolk, and in addition to these, the brother of J.W.  Pennington, D.D., with his two sons.

While it was a great gratification to have travelers coming along so fast, and especially to observe in every countenance, determination, rare manly and womanly bearing, with remarkable intelligence, it must be admitted, that the acting committee felt at the same time, a very lively dread of the slave-hunters, and were on their guard.  Arrangements were made to send the fugitives on by different trains, and in various directions.  Matilda and all the others with the exception of the father and two sons (relatives of