that his boat was suspected of having slaves secreted thereon.  They talked with the Captain and mate separately for a considerable while, and more closely did they examine the boy, but gained no information except that “the yellow-fever had been raging very bad in Norfolk.”  At this fever-news the officers were not a little alarmed, and they now lost no time in attending to their official errand.  They searched the cabin where the two fat women were first secreted, and other parts of the boat pretty thoroughly.  They then commenced taking up the hatchways, but the place seemed so shockingly perfumed with foul air that the men started back and declared that nobody could live in such a place, and swore that it smelt like the yellow-fever; the Captain laughed at them, and signified that they were perfectly welcome to search to their hearts’ content.  The officers concluded that there were no slaves on that boat, that nobody could live there, etc., etc., asked for their charges ($3), and discharged the Captain.  The children had been put under the influence of liquor to keep them still, so they made no noise; the others endured their hour of agony patiently until the lock was safely passed, and the river reached.  Fresh air was then allowed them, and the great danger was considered overcome.  The Captain, however, far from deeming it advisable to land his live cargo at the wharves of Philadelphia, delivered them at League Island.  The passengers testified that Captain B. was very kind.  They were noticed thus: 

Isaac, was about fifty years of age, dark, tall, well-made, intelligent, and was owned by George Brown, who resided at Deep Creek.  Isaac testified that said Brown had invariably treated him cruelly.  For thirty years Isaac had hired his time, found himself in food, clothing, and everything, yet as he advanced in years, neither his task, nor his hire was diminished, but on the contrary his hire of late years had been increased.  He winced under the pressure, and gave himself up to the study of the Underground Rail Road.  While arrangements for fleeing were pending, he broke the secret to his wife, Polly, in whom he trusted; she being true to freedom, although sorrowing to part with him, threw no obstacle in his way.  Besides his wife, he had also two daughters, Amanda A. and Mary Jane, both slaves.  Nevertheless, having made up his mind not to die a slave, he resolved to escape at all hazards.

Henderson belonged to the estate of A. Briggs, which was about to be settled, and knowing that he was accounted on the inventory as personal property, he saw that he too would be sold with the rest of the movables, if he was not found among the missing.

He began to consider what he had endured as a slave, and came to the conclusion that he had had a “rugged road to hoe all the way along” and that he might have it much worse if he waited to be sold.  The voice of reason admonished him to escape for his life.  In obeying this call he suffered the loss of his wife, Julia, and two children, who were fortunately free.  Henderson was about thirty-one years of age, stout, and of healthy appearance, worth in cash perhaps $1200.