Stealing A Slave To Freedom In Broad Daylight
Stealing a Slave to Freedom in Broad Daylight
'Practical Illustration of the Fugitive Slave Law' 1851 (Source: Library of Congress) |
This remarkable story about the rescue of a fugitive slave by a White citizen of Canada was recorded by the Canadian abolitionist Charles Stuart (1783-1865) in 1844.
Captain Charles Stuart at the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention in England (Source: UK National Portrait Gallery via Wikipedia Commons) |
An Adventure in Canada: An Illustration of Slavery in America
The following narrative relates, in his own words, with a few verbal alterations, the adventures of a young British officer, of the Upper Canadian Incorporated Militia, in 1837.
His name is Arthur Rankin, the same who is now in this country with a party of Ojibbeway Indians. He had obtained a short furlough from his station, New Windsor, in Upper Canada, for the purpose of visiting his mother, in Toronto. He was buoyant with the first maturity of early manhood; he detested the slave system of the United States, which he had explored. His character was deliberate and decided. His habitual temper was generous and mild.
On the 10th of August, 1837, at six o'clock in the evening, Arthur Rankin, a young officer, in the Incorporated Canadian Militia, embarked on board of the steamer James Munro, at Toledo, in the state of Ohio, bound for Buffalo.
Shortly after leaving the wharf, he observed a Black man standing on the upper deck with his hands tied behind his back, and apparently in the custody of two persons calling themselves constables.
On inquiring from one of them why the man was thus tied, he was informed that the Negro was a slave who had escaped from his master in Kentucky, and had taken refuge in Canada upwards of twelve months before, but as he was a smart young 'nigger,' and a good mechanic, his master had offered a large reward for his recovery.
'In view of this,' continued the informer, 'I and my friend have succeeded in tracing him to his place of residence, at Windsor, in Upper Canada, opposite Detroit, where we kidnapped him last night, and are now taking him back to Kentucky.' 'We intend,' added he, 'to land at Cleveland, and to proceed from thence to the south by the canal.'
Lieutenant Rankin was thoroughly disgusted with the ruffian's statement and manner (for he spoke in a tone of triumph), and remonstrated with him on his cruelty in keeping his prisoner's hands tied, when there was no longer a possibility of his escaping — the steamer being by this time in the open lake, and several miles from land; but he laughed the young officer to scorn, and guessed that he must be an Abolitionist, adding that it only served the nigger right, for he had no business to run away.
Rankin saw that remonstrance was vain, and leaving him, walked up and down the deck, in company with an American gentleman with whom he was slightly acquainted, and to whom he expressed his feelings very freely, telling him, that he was determined to attempt the rescue of the slave, even if it should cost him his life in doing so. The American kindly tried to dissuade him from his purpose, declaring that it would be perfect madness to think of such a thing: that when at Cleveland, he would be upwards of one hundred and twenty miles from the nearest part of Canada, surrounded by enemies, with nobody to assist him; and that he would certainly be murdered, as no one would dare to offer him shelter or protection. But he had made up his mind, and was not to be deterred, for he felt, that if he did lose his life, it would be in a good cause; and that it would be as easy for the Almighty to rescue by means of one man, as by a hundred; and that without his blessing it never could be done.
He retired to bed at a late hour, but not to sleep, for his mind was busy all night, in devising how to rescue the slave. He rose early in the morning, and when he went on deck, he heard with delight, that the boat had touched at a small village in the night, for the purpose of taking in wood, and that the slave had there effected his escape; but long and fruitless search was made, until at length a reward of about 2 l., offered by his kidnappers, tempted one of the crew to betray the poor fugitive, who, half-smothered, and shuddering, and aghast, was dragged out of his hiding-place, amidst the taunts and insults of almost every one on board, — and there must have been upwards of two hundred passengers beside the crew.
A more miserable object has probably never been seen; his face, which was naturally jet black, turned ashy pale, and he looked the picture of despair; indeed, his appearance had such an effect upon Lieutenant Rankin, that, losing all control of his feelings, he upbraided the persecutors of the slave in most unmeasured terms, and was supported in his censures by three other passengers; one of them an English gentleman, and the others two Americans.
At this time the party was standing near the bow of the boat on the upper deck, and, as one of the kidnapper constables was in the act of again tying the slave's hands, which it appeared had been loosened during the night, the young officer interfered, with the view of trying to prevent his doing so. While thus engaged, the other constable, a tall Kentuckian, drew a dirk and threatened to stab him to the heart if he persisted in interfering with them, in what he called the discharge of their duty; accompanying his threats with the most horrible oaths and abuse; but Rankin saw the description of man he had to deal with, and assured the Kentuckian, that if he did not immediately sheath his dirk, he would knock him overboard, beneath the wheels of the steamer. The ruffian was cowed, and immediately sheathed his weapon; so true is it, that the most unfeeling tyrants are generally the greatest cowards.
They were now within sight of Cleveland, and Rankin felt even more firmly resolved to attempt the rescue, although he had as yet formed no plan of procedure. However, he consulted with the Englishman and the two Americans before-mentioned, and they promised to assist him. He also ascertained, that the slave had been concealed the night before by two colored men belonging to the crew. He immediately went in search of them, and informed them of his intention; they at first seemed incredulous; but, on his assuring them that he was in earnest, and that his mind was made up, they seemed overcome with joy, — one of them actually shed tears; and they both said they would assist him to the utmost, even if they died for it.
Lieutenant Rankin then asked if either of them could furnish him with a pair of pistols, and found that they could not; but one of them told him that as soon as the boat touched the wharf, he could get a pair from a friend of his who kept a barber's shop near the landing-place.
The rescuing force, thus pledged, amounted to no less than six, viz., one Englishman, two White Americans, two Black Americans, and the young Canadian himself.
He was so much emboldened by this augmentation that, on returning to the deck, he could not forbear telling the Kentuckians that they were a couple of cowardly villains; and although they might think they had performed a great feat, by kidnapping an unfortunate helpless slave in the dead of night from Her Majesty's dominions, he was determined they should never enjoy the reward of their villainy; for he would take the slave back, in spite of them, and of the whole population of Cleveland.
Public Square 1852 Cleveland, Ohio (Source: Ohio History Connection) |
They were by this time within ten miles of Cleveland, and Rankin went down in the cabin and made a hearty breakfast, knowing it was quite uncertain how long it would be before he should get his next meal. On again coming on deck he found they were entering the harbor, and not more than half a mile from where they were to land: so he thought it time to collect his forces, which he had no difficulty in doing.
Their plan of attack was as follows.
Immediately on the boat touching the wharf, the Black hand was to spring on shore, and run to his friend's for the pistols, and get him also to come to aid. As soon as the boat was secured, the party was to land in a body, and directly the slave was brought on shore, Rankin was to cut the cord which bound his hands, and rush with him through the crowd; the others offering every impediment in their power to those who might be disposed to pursue.
Accordingly, as the steamer was coming alongside of a schooner, and before she had reached the wharf, the Black man jumped on board the schooner, and thus got on shore in time to have both his friend and the pistols on the wharf by the time the party landed, Rankin immediately seized the pistols and prepared for action, having first seen that they were properly primed and loaded.
They then quietly awaited the approach of the enemy, and it was not till the greater part of the passengers had landed that the slave and his captors made their appearance. As soon as they had landed, the Lieutenant, as previously arranged, advanced with a knife in his hand, for the purpose of cutting the cord which bound the slave's hands, but one of the constables seeing his object seized him by the arm, and drawing a small dagger from his bosom, threatened him with instant death if he dared to persist in his object; but Rankin was more than a match for him, and producing one of his pocket-pistols, cocked it, seizing him by the collar, presented it at his head, and declared he would blow his brains out, if he did not immediately drop his dirk; this he accordingly did without further hesitation, but at the same time called upon his friend to run to a magistrate for a warrant to arrest him. As his companion was in the act of doing so, Rankin gave him a blow under the chin which knocked him over, and as one of the party had in the meantime picked up the dirk, and cut the prisoner loose, while the others kept the crowd from pressing too closely upon them, Rankin saw there was no time to be lost, and, with a cocked pistol in each hand, rushed through the crowd, threatening to shoot any one who dared to interfere with them. They then proceeded, as hard as they could run, closely followed by their friends, and a motley crowd of men, women, and children some encouraging and others hooting, to an adjoining wharf, where a steamer, bound for Detroit, the Daniel Webster, was there, taking in wood; but the people on board, having seen all that had occurred, refused to allow the fugitives to come on board. They were afraid of consequences. Rankin was then compelled to take possession of a small boat, belonging; to a schooner lying at the same wharf, and jumping into it, followed by the Englishman, the slave, and their friend the barber, they pulled directly across the river, in the midst of the threats of the people on board of the schooner, to shoot them if they did not return.
Having hauled in Ohio city, a small town belonging to the United States, directly opposite to Cleveland, they made for the woods as fast as they could, their friend the Englishman going about a quarter of a mile, and then returned. The fugitives continued to run till they got clear of the town, when they slackened their pace, and consulted each other as to what was best to be done next; but as they all agreed that they had no time to lose, they again took to their heels, and made for the woods as fast as they could; nor did they again stop, until, having crossed a deep ravine and ascended the opposite bank, they obtained a full view of the road leading from Cleveland, without danger of being seen. There they sat down and rested; and, after a little consultation, it was agreed that they should remain where they were till the evening, when the barber, who had accompanied them thus far, and who now returned to Cleveland, should come to them with food, and advice as to the best course to be next adopted.
After he had left them, the Negro was posted in such a manner as gave him a full view of the road for some distance, and telling him to keep a bright look-out, and give notice the moment he saw anybody approaching, Rankin threw himself down under the shade of a tree, and then perceived, for the first time, that, in the scuffle at Cleveland, he had dislocated his right thumb, which was now very painful, and greatly swollen.
After having been here about twenty minutes, they observed a man dressed in black, walking at a very rapid rate towards them, but it did not give them much alarm, as he was quite alone, and apparently unarmed: however, as he drew near, they were surprised to see him strike off the road into the woods, and come straight towards them; but as there was nothing formidable in his looks, they quietly awaited his approach, and even advanced to meet him: he proved, as was hoped from his appearance, to be a friend, and had been directed to the spot where the fugitives were concealed by the barber, whom he had met at the entrance to the town. He came to offer them every assistance in his power, and very generously told Rankin that his purse was at their service; but he advised them strongly not to remain any longer where they were, but to plunge deeper into the forest, telling them that there was a small village about twenty miles further to the west, at a place called Black River, where they would be able to get on board of a steamer, and proceed to Detroit; he then shook them cordially by the hand, and, wishing them God speed, returned to the town, while they struck into the midst of the wilderness, and continued to march in what they supposed to be a westerly direction for several hours, when they suddenly came upon an opening in the woods, which proved to be a settlement: when within five hundred yards of one of the houses, they halted, and, after concealing the Negro in a thicket, Rankin walked up to the house — a small log building — for the purpose of making inquiries, and of obtaining useful information, if possible.
On entering, he found it occupied by an old man and two women. He asked one of them for a drink of water, which was given in a very surly manner; but he was not easily discouraged, and, after thanking them for the water, he very coolly took a chair, and sitting down without waiting for an invitation, attempted to enter into conversation with the old man; but he found it no easy matter to do so, as he gave very short answers, and began to put several questions which were rather embarrassing; so he wished them good morning, and took his departure: but, as he was turning the corner of the house (the windows being open), he heard the old man remark, 'I guess that ere chap ain't after no good — he ain't no better than he should be, I calculate — if it wasn't for my sore foot, I guess I would follow him, and see what he is about,' to which one of the women replied, she 'dare say he had some nigger hid in the bush.' This remark Rankin supposed was called forth by his having asked the old man whether he was an Abolitionist. He, however, got the drink of cold water, which refreshed him very much, ascertained that it was two o'clock, that the road beside which the house was built was the main road leading from Cleveland to Black River, and that it was more or less settled all the way.
On returning to the place where the Negro was concealed, he found him anxiously looking out for him; and not thinking it safe to remain so near the clearing, they again struck into the woods, and continued to walk for a couple of hours, as nearly as they could guess, in a westerly direction, taking care always to keep out of the range of the settlements, till they came to a deep ravine, with a beautiful little stream winding through it. They descended and refreshed themselves with a drink of delightfully cold water, after which they climbed up the opposite bank and lay down in the shade of the surrounding trees. They had several times, within the last hour, heard shots in different directions around them, but supposed them to proceed from sportsmen, and, as they were at a considerable distance, took very little notice of them, particularly as they had seen several flocks of pigeons during the day; but after having remained here about twenty minutes, they were alarmed at hearing the shots repeated much nearer and more frequently, as if closing upon them. Still Rankin would not have suspected anything, had it not been for the slave, who now seemed perfectly terrified, and declared he was convinced it was an armed party in pursuit of them: there was now but one course left, which was to proceed as fast as they could in the only direction where they had not heard shots; this they did, and, after walking about a couple of miles, came to a clearing.
Rankin ventured out first, and after looking carefully about him, and seeing nobody, he beckoned the slave to follow, and struck boldly through a field which led them to the high road; this they crossed, and after going through a field of Indian corn, which providentially was high enough to conceal them from view, they passed within three hundred yards of a brick house, and continued on a short distance further, till they again came to the woods; but after walking a short distance, they perceived by the clear appearance through the trees, that they were drawing near the lake, and in a few minutes they arrived at its banks, which were very high and steep, and, from where they stood, commanded a full view of the town of Cleveland, which, to their great mortification, did not appear to be more than four or five miles distant. From hence they proceeded slowly along the banks till they came to a deserted old mill, where they rested themselves a short time, and then continued on a short distance further, when they came upon a large corn field, in the midst of which was a log hut; and as they saw some Black children playing about the door, they thought they might venture to show themselves.
As they approached, they saw a Black man at work at a short distance from the house; they went up to him, and asked him if he could get them something to eat and drink, as they were by this time both very tired, and almost faint with hunger and thirst; but he was unable to supply them, as he said he was only a hired man, and his master (another colored man) was not at home, and the door was locked. Rankin then asked him if there were any Abolitionists in the neighborhood, and was told that there was a person of that character, who kept, a public-house on the main road, about two miles from where they were; and, on being promised a reward, he consented to guide them to this place after he had finished his day's work. It was now past six o'clock, and after waiting in the woods a short distance off for nearly an hour, their guide made his appearance, and said he was ready to show them the way.
On arriving within a short distance of the house, the young officer sent his guide forward to ask the landlord to come and meet him. After some hesitation the landlord very kindly did so, and they then walked forward, and were shown into a small room adjoining the bar, and separated from it only by a thin board partition, and without any means of fastening the door inside.
They had scarcely been there fifteen minutes, when a wagon drove up to the door, and two men with rifles in their hands alighted from it, and walked into the bar-room, and called for a glass of grog. Rankin now thought his race was run: the poor Negro, overcome with fatigue, had thrown himself on the floor, and was already sound asleep, with his head under the table. Almost the first question put by the landlord to these persons was, 'Well, have you seen or heard anything of them?' To which they replied in the negative; but said it would be impossible for them to escape, as they had been already at Black River, and had left a description of them at that place, as well as at all the public - houses along the road; and beside, there had been a party of riflemen in pursuit of them through the woods all day, and it was quite probable they would find them safe in jail at Cleveland.
One of them remarked, he cared very little about the nigger, but he would give a thousand dollars for a good shot at the Spaniard (meaning Rankin). This conversation, it may be supposed, intermingled as it was with the most frightful oaths, and as distinctly audible as if he had been in the same room, was not of the most agreeable nature to Rankin, particularly as he would have to contend with them alone, for he dared not arouse the Negro for fear of attracting their attention by making the least noise; however, he resolved to sell his life as dearly as possible, and pulling out both his pistols, determined to have the first shot if they should attack him, thinking that if he could only floor one of them, he would be a match for the other; but, after a good deal more swearing, and threats of what they would do, if they could only get hold of the fugitive, they again got into their wagon and drove off.
As soon as they had gone, the landlord came into the room, and congratulated them on their narrow escape, and told them the two men who had just gone had passed at ten o'clock that morning in pursuit of them; and that four other men, armed with rifles, had likewise been at his house during the day in search of them; but he assured them that they need be under no apprehension, as he would not betray them, and they would be perfectly safe in his house.
Supper, which had been previously ordered, was now brought in, and they made a most hearty meal, having eaten nothing from eight o'clock in the morning till then (nine at night). After having finished their supper, they were conducted by the host up stairs, into a garret, where beds had been prepared for them.
Rankin then asked him for his advice, as to what was to be done next, and what he thought would be the best means for their escape. The landlord was of opinion, that they had better remain concealed in his house for two or three days, till the pursuit would be in some measure abandoned; "But," said he, "at all events, I am going to Cleveland in the morning, and when I return I will be better able to advise you;" and, wishing them good night, he left them.
They now turned in, and in a few minutes were both sound asleep; nor did Rankin awake till he was called by his host in the morning to come down to breakfast, where he was introduced to the family.
The wife, who was an agreeable and kind old woman, asked the young officer a number of questions, such as, how old he was, whether he had a mother, &c.; and remarked, how miserable she would be if she knew how he was then situated.
After breakfast, the good man started for Cleveland (which was only seven miles distant), and assured them he would be back by four in the afternoon. In the meantime Rankin again returned to the garret, and throwing himself down on the bed, thus passed the day till the appointed hour for the host's return; but five, six, and seven o'clock passed without any sign of him, and it was not till shortly after seven that he arrived.
Rankin could not help feeling uneasy at his long stay, particularly as he could distinctly hear, upon his entering the house, that there were other people with him. He now began to fear that they had been betrayed, and casting his eyes about the room, he saw an old axe lying on the floor. With this he armed the slave, and posted him at the head of the stairs, with orders, should they be attacked, to strike backwards the first man who should attempt to force his way up stairs; and it was nearly half an hour afterwards before the host made his appearance at the foot of the stairs, with a candle in his hand, during which time their feelings can be better imagined than described. However, seeing he was alone, they did not other any resistance to his coming up. He told them he had been unavoidably detained longer than he expected; that he had heard a great deal of talk about them, and that printed descriptions of them, offering 500 dollars reward for their apprehension, were posted up all about the town, and concluded by proposing to them the following mode of escape.
He said he had a cousin, a near neighbor of his, who, for a certain sum, would undertake to drive them that night to a small village, called Fairport, thirty-five miles east of Cleveland, and that they would arrive there early in the morning, in time for a steamer which would leave that place at eight o'clock for Buffalo. This struck Rankin as being so good a plan, that he adopted it without hesitation (particularly as he thought it probable there would be no look-out for them in that direction, because they were known to have fled to the westward), and in another half-hour they were on the road, Rankin on a seat with the old farmer, and the slave in the bottom of the wagon, covered with straw. Providentially it was very dark, and rained steadily all night, and thus they passed through the town of Cleveland at eleven o'clock, without attracting any notice, their appearance being that of a couple of farmers jogging home from market.
They arrived safely at Fairport at seven in the morning, and embarked on board the steamer, General Porter, bound for Buffalo, where they arrived, without any accident, before sunrise on the following morning. They crossed the river at Black Rock in a small boat, and arrived at Fort Erie, in Canada, before anybody was up. Rankin left the slave there, and returned to Buffalo for his baggage; one of his friends on board of the James Munro, having promised to see it safely deposited there for him. He found it readily, and going into the hotel to breakfast, was recognized by some of his fellow-passengers to Cleveland. They congratulated him cordially on his safety; assured him he was under no danger from them, but they told him that a large reward was advertised for his apprehension, and urged him to proceed to Canada immediately.
He returned to Fort Erie for the fugitive, re-crossed the river to Black Rock with him, proceeded by the railroad to Lewistown, and, taking the Canadian steamer, was safe in his mother's arms in the evening in Toronto."
Travelling through the northern part of Ohio, in 1841, I seized the opportunity of visiting the scene of the above adventure. The name of Arthur Rankin's generous host is Kidney. I purposely lodged a night at his house, and heard from his own lips his share of the adventure. He showed me the rooms which Arthur Rankin and the poor fugitive had occupied. His wife appeared to be a feeling Christian woman, and his family serious and well-ordered. He himself was above disguise, and gave me full leave to record his name. Arthur Rankin is my eldest sister's youngest son. I have known him from his infancy; his character is well depicted by the above adventure — generous, daring, and determined — deliberate, yet unshrinking — an ardent lover of truth, of justice, and of lawful liberty — utterly detesting falsehood and oppression, yet, when not fired by wrong to resist or correct it, dutiful, affectionate, and mild.
C. STUART.
Bathwick Hill, Bath, March 25, 1844
I think what strikes me most about this story is that this White activist and his friend understood that they could not have accomplished their purpose in freeing a fellow man without the assistance of other Black people. While Rankin had the ambition to take the initiative on this dangerous quest, his success at virtually every step - from attack to evasion to consultation to defense - was guided by a number of Black men, among whom was the same man he had originally intended to rescue.
This story is a testament, not only to the role that White abolitionists played in the liberation of American slaves, but also to the very important part that Black Americans had in the process.
- Omri C.
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