CINCINNATI, 5th Mo., 11th,
1851.
WM. STILL: — Dear
Friend — Thy letter of 1st inst., came duly to hand, but not being able to
give any further information concerning our friend, Concklin, I thought best to
wait a little before I wrote, still hoping to learn something more definite
concerning him.
We that became acquainted with Seth Concklin and his
hazardous enterprises (here at Cincinnati), who were very few, have felt
intense and inexpressible anxiety about them. And particularly about poor Seth,
since we heard of his falling into the hands of the tyrants. I fear that he has
fallen a victim to their inhuman thirst for blood.
I seriously doubt the rumor, that he had made his escape. I
fear that he was sacrificed.
Language would fail to express my feelings; the intense and
deep anxiety I felt about them for weeks before I heard of their capture in
Indiana, and then it seemed too much to bear. O! my heart almost bleeds when I
think of it. The hopes of the dear family all blasted by the wretched
blood-hounds in human shape. And poor Seth, after all his toil, and dangerous,
shrewd and wise management, and almost unheard of adventures, the many narrow
and almost miraculous escapes. Then to be given up to Indianians, to these
fiendish tyrants, to be sacrificed. O! Shame, Shame!!
My heart aches my eyes fill with tears, I cannot write more.
I cannot dwell longer on this painful subject now. If you get any intelligence,
please inform me. Friend N. R. Johnston, who took so much interest in them, and
saw them just before they were taken, has just returned to the city. He is a
minister of the Covenanter order. He is truly a lovely man, and his heart is
full of the milk of humanity; one of our best Anti-Slavery spirits. I spent
last evening with him. He related the whole story to me as he had it from
friend Concklin and the mother and children, and then the story of their
capture We wept together. He found thy letter when he got here.
He said he would write the whole history to thee in a few
days, as far as he could. He can tell it much better than I can.
Concklin left his carpet sack and clothes here with me,
except a shirt or two he took with him. What shall I do with them? For if we do
not hear from him soon, we must conclude that he is lost, and the report of his
escape all a hoax. . . . . . . . .
Truly thy friend,
LEVI COFFIN.
SOURCE: William Still, The Underground Railroad: A
Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters &c., p. 33-4
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