in acting as an
Underground Rail Road agent for a time. James was a young man, about
twenty-five years of age, well made, and of a yellow complexion.

Although none of this party experienced brutal treatment personally,
they had seen the "elephant" quite to their satisfaction in Norfolk and
vicinity.

* * * * *

ARRIVAL FROM ARLINGTON, MD. 1857.

JOHN ALEXANDER BUTLER, WILLIAM HENRY HIPKINS, JOHN HENRY MOORE AND
GEORGE HILL.

This party made, at first sight, a favorable impression; they
represented the bone and sinew of the slave class of Arlington, and upon
investigation the Committee felt assured that they would carry with them
to Canada industry and determination such as would tell well for the
race.

John Alexander Butler was about twenty-nine years of age, well made,
dark color, and intelligent. He assured the Committee that he had been
hampered by Slavery from his birth, and that in consequence thereof he
had suffered serious hardships. He said that a man by the name of Wm.
Ford, belonging to the Methodist Church at Arlington, had defrauded him
of his just rights, and had compelled him to work on his farm for
nothing; also had deprived him of an education, and had kept him in
poverty and ignorance all his life.

In going over the manner in which he had been treated, he added that not
only was his master a hard man, but that his wife and children partook
of the same evil spirit; "they were all hard." True, they had but three
slaves to oppress, but these they spared not.

John was a married man, and spoke affectionately of his wife and
children, whom he had to leave behind at Cross-Roads.

William Henry, who was heart and soul in earnest with regard to reaching
Canada, and was one of this party, was twenty-three years of age, and
was a stout, yellow man with a remarkably large head, and looked as if
he was capable of enjoying Canada and caring for himself.

In speaking of the fettered condition from which he had escaped, the
name of Ephraim Swart, "a gambler and spree'r" was mentioned as the
individual who had wronged him of his liberty most grievously.

Against Swart he expressed himself with much manly feeling, and judging
from his manner he appeared to be a dangerous customer for master Swart
to encounter north of Mason and Dixon's line.

William complained that Swart "would come home late at night drunk, and
if he did not find us awake he would not