* * * * *

ARRIVAL FROM MARYLAND, 1859.

JAMES BROWN.

A more giant-like looking passenger than the above named individual had rarely ever passed over the road.  He was six feet three inches high, and in every respect, a man of bone, sinew and muscle.  For one who had enjoyed only a field hand’s privileges for improvement, he was not to be despised.

Jim owed service to Henry Jones; at least he admitted that said Jones claimed him, and had hired him out to himself for seven dollars per month.  While this amount seemed light, it was much heavier than Jim felt willing to meet solely for his master’s benefit.  After giving some heed to the voice of freedom within, he considered that it behooved him to try and make his way to some place where men were not guilty of wronging their neighbors out of their just hire.  Having heard of the Underground Rail Road running to Canada, he concluded to take a trip and see the country, for himself; so he arranged his affairs with this end in view, and left Henry Jones with one less to work for him for nothing.  The place that he fled from was called North Point, Baltimore county.  The number of fellow-slaves left in the hands of his old master, was fifteen.

* * * * *

ARRIVAL FROM DELAWARE, 1859.

EDWARD, JOHN, AND CHARLES HALL.

The above named individuals were brothers from Delaware.  They were young; the eldest being about twenty, the youngest not far from seventeen years of age.

Edward was serving on a farm, under a man named Booth.  Perceiving that Booth was “running through his property” very fast by hard drinking, Edward’s better judgment admonished him that his so-called master would one day have need of more rum money, and that he might not be too good to offer him in the market for what he would bring.  Charles resolved that when his brothers crossed the line dividing Delaware and Pennsylvania, he would not be far behind.

The mother of these boys was freed at the age of twenty-eight, and lived in Wilmington, Delaware.  It was owing to the fact that their mother had been freed that they entertained the vague notion that they too might be freed; but it was a well established fact that thousands lived and died in such a hope without ever realizing their expectations.  The boys, more shrewd and wide awake than many others, did not hearken to such “stuff.”  The two younger heard the views of the elder brother, and expressed a willingness to follow him.  Edward, becoming satisfied that what they meant to do must be done quickly, took the lead, and off they started for a free State.

John was owned by one James B. Rodgers, a farmer, and “a most every kind of man,” as John expressed himself; in fact John thought that his owner was such a strange, wicked, and cross character that he couldn’t tell himself what he was.  Seeing that slaves were treated no better than dogs and hogs, John thought that he was none too young to be taking steps to get away.