at danger of burning the premises, was
scattered over the room; out of the window jumped two of the female
fugitives. Our hero Henry, seizing a heavy andiron, smashed out the
window entire, through which the others leaped a distance of twelve
feet. The railing or wall around the jail, though at first it looked
forbidding, was soon surmounted by a desperate effort.
At this stage of the proceedings, Henry found himself without the walls,
and also lost sight of his comrades at the same time. The last enemy he
spied was the sheriff in his stockings without his shoes. He snapped his
pistol at him, but it did not go off. Six of the others, however,
marvellously got off safely together; where the eighth went, or how he
got off, was not known.
* * * * *
DANIEL HUGHES.
Daniel fled from Buckstown, Dorchester Co., also. His owner's name was
Richard Meredith, a farmer. Daniel is one of the eight alluded to above.
In features he is well made, dark chestnut color, and intelligent,
possessing an ardent thirst for liberty. The cause of his escape was:
"Worked hard in all sorts of weather--in rain and snow," so he thought
he would "go where colored men are free." His master was considered the
hardest man around. His mistress was "eighty-three years of age," "drank
hard," was "very stormy," and a "member of the Methodist Church" (Airy's
meeting-house). He left brothers and sisters, and uncles and aunts
behind. In the combat at the prison he played his part manfully.
* * * * *
THOMAS ELLIOTT.
Thomas is also one of the brave eight who broke out of Dover Jail. He
was about twenty-three years of age, well made, wide awake, and of a
superb black complexion. He too had been owned by Richard Meredith.
Against the betrayer, who was a black man, he had vengeance in store if
the opportunity should ever offer. Thomas left only one brother living;
his "father and mother were dead."
The excitement over the escape spread very rapidly next morning, and
desperate efforts were made to recapture the fugitives, but a few
friends there were who had sympathy and immediately rendered them the
needed assistance.
The appended note from the faithful Garrett to Samuel Rhoads, may throw
light upon the occurrence to some extent.
WILMINGTON, 3d mo. 13th, 1857.
DEAR COUSIN, SAMUEL RHOADS:--I have a letter this day from an
agent of the Underground R
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