The Underground Railroad

Conductors

Defying the law, there were many people who helped slaves find freedom. They were known as “conductors.” They’d hide slaves in wagons and boats, and transport them to the next stop. Some conductors led on foot. Some provided clothing, food, or medicine. Some conductors were white, some were black. Some men, and some women. Although some were paid by free family members of slaves to help, others were doing it because they felt it was the right thing to do.

The conductors who worked in the South had particularly dangerous jobs. They risked punishment if it was discovered they were helping slaves escape. Jonathan Walker was a white sea captain who was caught helping slaves escape by boat in Pensacola, Florida. His punishment was being branded with the letters “SS” into his palm, which stood for “Slave Stealer.”

John Fairfield’s family owned slaves in Virginia, and one of John’s best friends was a slave boy named Sam. When the boys were older, they snuck North. John pretended Sam was his personal slave, until they reached Canada where Sam could finally be free. John knew his job wasn’t done. He continued to help other slaves escape, and he became one of the most daring conductors on the Underground Railroad. Sometimes he’d pretend to be a slave buyer, sometimes a slave owner, or a slave catcher. But no matter who he was pretending to be, he’d always carry a gun, and sometimes even give slaves rifles so they could fight for themselves. He helped hundreds of slaves to freedom. Sometimes he was caught and sent to jail, but John broke out of jail several times in order to continue working as a conductor.

John P. Parker was born into slavery in Norfolk, Virginia. By 1845, he lived as a free man in Ripley, Ohio. Although Ohio was a Northern state, Ripley itself was mostly pro-slavery, and there were many slave catchers around. One day John heard about a group of slaves hiding in the Kentucky woods. John volunteered to go on a rescue mission, and he found the group of ten slaves huddled together in the woods. John led them through the woods, always fearing they’d be caught. Although John begged him not to, one of the men went off on his own searching for water. He was caught down by two white men. The man did not reveal the whereabouts of the rest of the group.

John continued to lead the group to a stream where he had arranged a boat. But the boat wasn’t there yet. John led the group further down until they found a boat, but it wouldn’t fit all of them. The group would have to leave two men behind. Two unmarried men selflessly gave up their spots for the women and families. As the boat rowed, they heard shouting on the shore—the men on the shore had been caught. But John’s fugitives in the boat were safe.

Harriet Tubman was the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad. She was born into slavery in Maryland in 1820 as Minty. She was forced to sleep on the floor with no mattress or blanket, and was whipped if the baby she was supposed to watch cried. In 1849, she was now known as Harriet, and she married a free black man named John Tubman. Harriet’s master died around this time, and fearing she’d be sold, she urged her husband to escape North with her. He refused, so Harriet set out to escape by herself. Once in Philadelphia, she saved up her money, and returned to the South to rescue her family members and other slaves, too. She continued to return to the South again and again, about nineteen times total.

Not all slaves had conductors to lead them, and it was harder and scarier if a slave was on their own. They could easily get lost, hurt, captured, or die. But most slaves would take any chance they had to find freedom, even if it meant going alone. One resourceful woman in Mississippi left with just a bundle of food and clothing. She made her way through dense swamps and vine-covered thickets. She knew there were alligators and snakes, but facing those was less frightening than facing her master’s whip. She knew bloodhounds were chasing her scent. She’d walk in streams to evade them. But at last, she had nowhere to go. As the dogs came closer and closer, she reached into her pocket and pulled out the last crumbs of her food. She let the dogs sniff her hands. They licked the crumbs and left. The woman continued on her journey, which lasted for several more months. She was helped along the way by conductors until she finally reached freedom in Canada.

Journey to Freedom

Addy and Momma don’t have anyone to guide them on their way—they’re alone. But they face each danger together. Now, they come across a river, the water rolling fast. It looks angry. Sam taught Addy how to swim, but Momma doesn’t know how. She’s frightened. Addy is frightened, too, not from the water, but because Momma is frightened. Still, they have no choice but to cross the river.

Addy and Momma grip each other tightly and begin to wade across the river. Addy steps on the slippery rocks on the bottom. When they’re about halfway across, the water gets really fast. It picks up Addy and Momma, and drags them sideways. Momma starts to go down, gagging and spitting water from her mouth and nose. A big gush of water hits them and pushes them under, pulling them away from each other.

Addy takes a huge gulp of air and dives under the water. She can’t see anything. She rises to the surface and calls for Momma, but she doesn’t answer. Addy takes another deep breath and dives below again. When she kicks, she feels something soft—Momma. Momma is stuck under some tree branches. Addy pushes her feet until the branch moves and Momma can get free. They make it back to the surface, and cough their way to the over side of the river. They’re shaking, wet, cold, and tired, but they’re together. And they go on.