EASTPORT, MISS., Feb.
3, 1851.
To WM. STILL: — Our friends in Cincinnati have failed
finding anybody to assist me on my return. Searching the country opposite
Paducah, I find that the whole country fifty miles round is inhabited only by
Christian wolves. It is customary, when a strange negro is seen, for any white
man to seize the negro and convey such negro through and out of the State of
Illinois to Paducah, Ky., and lodge such stranger in Paducah jail, and there
claim such reward as may be offered by the master.
There is no regularity by the steamboats on the Tennessee
River. I was four days getting to Florence from Paducah. Sometimes they are
four days starting, from the time appointed, which alone puts to rest the plan
for returning by steamboat. The distance from the mouth of the river to
Florence, is from between three hundred and five to three hundred and
forty-five miles by the river; by land, two hundred and fifty, or more.
I arrived at the shoe-shop on the plantation, one o'clock,
Tuesday, 28th. William and two boys were making shoes. I immediately gave the
first signal, anxiously waiting thirty minutes for an opportunity to give the
second and main signal, during which time I was very sociable. It was rainy and
muddy — my pants were rolled up to the knees. I was in the character of a man
seeking employment in this country. End of thirty minutes gave the second
signal.
William appeared unmoved; soon sent out the boys; instantly
sociable; Peter and Levin at the Island; one of the young masters with them;
not safe to undertake to see them till Saturday night, when they would be at
home; appointed a place to see Vina, in an open field, that night; they to
bring me something to eat; our interview only four minutes; I left; appeared by
night; dark and cloudy; at ten o'clock appeared William; exchanged signals; led
me a few rods to where stood Vina; gave her the signal sent by Peter; our
interview ten minutes; she did not call me “master,” nor did she say “sir,” by
which I knew she had confidence in me.
Our situation being dangerous, we decided that I meet Peter
and Levin on the bank of the river early dawn of day, Sunday, to establish the
laws. During our interview, William prostrated on his knees, and face to the
ground; arms sprawling; head cocked back, watching for wolves, by which position
a man can see better in the dark. No house to go to safely, traveled round till
morning, eating hoe cake which William had given me for supper; next day going
around to get employment. I thought of William, who is a Christian preacher,
and of the Christian preachers in Pennsylvania. One watching for wolves by
night, to rescue Vina and her three children from Christian licentiousness; the
other standing erect in open day, seeking the praise of men.
During the four days waiting for the important Sunday
morning, I thoroughly surveyed the rocks and shoals of the river from Florence
seven miles up, where will be my place of departure. General notice was taken
of me as being a stranger, lurking around. Fortunately there are several small
gristmills within ten miles around. No taverns here, as in the North; any
planter’s house entertains travelers occasionally.
One night I stayed at a medical gentleman’s, who is not a
large planter; another night at an ex-magistrate’s house in South Florence — a
Virginian by birth — one of the late census takers; told me that many more
persons cannot read and write than is reported; one fact, amongst many others,
that many persons who do not know the letters of the alphabet, have learned to
write their own names; such are generally reported readers and writers.
It being customary for a stranger not to leave the house
early in the morning where he has lodged, I was under the necessity of staying
out all night Saturday, to be able to meet Peter and Levin, which was accomplished
in due time. When we approached, I gave my signal first; immediately they gave
theirs. I talked freely. Levin’s voice, at first, evidently trembled. No
wonder, for my presence universally attracted attention by the lords of the
land. Our interview was less than one hour; the laws were written. I to go to
Cincinnati to get a rowing boat and provisions; a first class clipper boat to
go with speed. To depart from the place where the laws were written, on
Saturday night of the first of March. I to meet one of them at the same place
Thursday night, previous to the fourth Saturday from the night previous to the
Sunday when the laws were written. We to go down the Tennessee river to some
place up the Ohio, not yet decided on, in our row boat. Peter and Levin are
good oarsmen. So am I. Telegraph station at Tuscumbia, twelve miles from the
plantation, also at Paducah.
Came from Florence to here Sunday night by steamboat.
Eastport is in Mississippi. Waiting here for a steamboat to go down; paying one
dollar a day for board. Like other taverns here, the wretchedness is
indescribable; no pen, ink, paper or newspaper to be had; only one room for
everybody, except the gambling rooms. It is difficult for me to write. Vina
intends to get a pass for Catharine and herself for the first Sunday in March.
The bank of the river where I met Peter and Levin is two
miles from the plantation. I have avoided saying I am from Philadelphia. Also
avoided talking about negroes. I never talked so much about milling before. I
consider most of the trouble over, till I arrive in a free State with my crew,
the first week in March; then will I have to be wiser than Christian serpents,
and more cautious than doves. I do not consider it safe to keep this letter in
my possession, yet I dare not put it in the post-office here; there is so
little business in these post-offices that notice might be taken.
I am evidently watched; everybody knows me to be a miller. I
may write again when I get to Cincinnati, if I should have time. The ex-magistrate,
with Whom I stayed in South Florence, held three hours' talk with me, exclusive
of our morning talk. Is a man of good general information; he was exceedingly
inquisitive. “I am from Cincinnati, formerly from the State of New York.” I had
no opportunity to get anything to eat from seven o'clock Tuesday morning till
six o’clock Wednesday evening, except the hoe cake, and no sleep.
Florence is the head of navigation for small steamboats.
Seven miles, all the way up to my place of departure, is swift water, and
rocky. Eight hundred miles to Cincinnati. I found all things here as Peter told
me, except the distance of the river. South Florence contains twenty white
families, three warehouses of considerable business, a post-ofiice, but no
school. McKiernon is here waiting for a steamboat to go to New Orleans, so we
are in company.
SOURCE: William Still, The
Underground Railroad: A Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters &c.,
p. 27-8
