The Underground Railroad: A RECORD OF FACTS, AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE, LETTERS, &C., Narrating the Hardships, Hair-breadth Escapes and Death Struggles of the Slaves in their efforts of Freedom, as Related by Themselves and, Others, or Witnessed by the Author – William Still (PDF ebook) – Today’s resource is this huge (800+ pages) collection of eyewitness accounts and stories of the “Underground Railroad” by which many slaves in pre-Civil War years escaped from their owners in the south and journeyed to the northern states. The compiler, William Still, was the son of escaped slaves and was connected with the Anti-Slavery Office in Philidelphia, and Chairman of the Acting Vigilent Committee of the Philadelphia Branch of the Underground Rail Road.
These are amazing, vivid “living history” stories told by the people who were there. Some are quite stark and brutal, as befits the subject – so parents may want to preview any individual accounts before reading these to young listeners. Many, many outstanding stories in here!
Excerpt from the introduction:
“Like millions of my race, my mother and father were born slaves, but were not contented to live and die so. My father purchased himself in early manhood by hard toil. Mother saw no way for herself and children to escape the horrors of bondage but by flight. Bravely, with her four little ones, with firm faith in God and an ardent desire to be free, she forsook the prison-house, and succeeded, through the aid of my father, to reach a free State. Here life had to be begun anew. The old familiar slave names had to be changed, and others, for prudential reasons, had to be found. This was not hard work. However, hardly months had passed ere the keen scent of the slave-hunters had trailed them to where they had fancied themselves secure….”
Click here for today’s resource
