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ESCAPING WITH MASTER’S CARRIAGES AND HORSES.

HARRIET SHEPHARD, AND HER FIVE CHILDREN, WITH FIVE OTHER PASSENGERS.

One morning about the first of November, in 1855, the sleepy, slave-holding neighborhood of Chestertown, Maryland, was doubtless deeply excited on learning that eleven head of slaves, four head of horses, and two carriages were missing.  It is but reasonable to suppose that the first report must have produced a shock, scarcely less stunning than an earthquake.  Abolitionists, emissaries, and incendiaries were farther below par than ever.  It may be supposed that cursings and threatenings were breathed out by a deeply agitated community for days in succession.

Harriet Shephard, the mother of five children, for whom she felt of course a mother’s love, could not bear the thought of having her offspring compelled to wear the miserable yoke of Slavery, as she had been compelled to do.  By her own personal experience, Harriet could very well judge what their fate would be when reaching man and womanhood.  She declared that she had never received “kind treatment.”  It was not on this account, however, that she was prompted to escape.  She was actuated by a more disinterested motive than this.  She was chiefly induced to make the bold effort to save her children from having to drag the chains of Slavery as she herself had done.

Anna Maria, Edwin, Eliza Jane, Mary Ann, and John Henry were the names of the children for whom she was willing to make any sacrifice.  They were young; and unable to walk, and she was penniless, and unable to hire a conveyance, even if she had known any one who would have been willing to risk the law in taking them a night’s journey.  So there was no hope in these directions.  Her rude intellect being considered, she was entitled to a great deal of credit for seizing the horses and carriages belonging to her master, as she did it for the liberation of her children.

Knowing others at the same time, who were wanting to visit Canada, she consulted with five of this class, males and females, and they mutually decided to travel together.

It is not likely that they knew much about the roads, nevertheless they reached Wilmington, Delaware, pretty direct, and ventured up into the heart of the town in carriages, looking as innocent as if they were going to meeting to hear an old-fashioned Southern sermon—­“Servants, obey your masters.”  Of course, the distinguished travelers were immediately reported to the noted Thomas Garrett, who was accustomed to transact the affairs of the Underground Rail Road in a cool masterly way.  But, on this occasion, there was but little time for deliberation, but much need of haste to meet the emergency.  He at once decided, that they must immediately be separated from the horses and carriages, and got out of Wilmington as quickly as possible.  With the courage and