The Saint Paul Globe from Saint Paul, Minnesota • Page 26

26 wra st. "PAUL WAS AN UNDERGROUND STATION DN the early fifties, when the slavery question was agitating the country, there was formed what became famous as the "underground" railroad for the aid of fugitive slaves to escape bondage, and St. Paul was its most northern outpost. There are only a few of those colored people in this city who remember back to those days, and the last of these will soon be gone. St.

Paul could scarcely be called more than a "whistling station" for the "underground," so small was its business, but It did much work in a small way. In the first place there was only one method of reaching St. Paul open to fugitives from the southern states. This was the Mississippi river, and it was so closely watched by the officers that it was not able to do a heavy traffic. But with all the restrictions there was a small coterie of colored people who had come here from the eastern states who gave much comfort and aid to the runaways.

The white people of the city were not as friendly to the scheme as they were in Milwaukee and other places. There were not so many runaway slaves sent from here to Canada as there might have been had the city itself been less of a haven. St. Paul was so far north in those days of primitive transportation that many considered this state nearly as safe as Canada. St.

Paul was not on what the railroads of today would call a "short line" by any means. The fugitives were compelled to make a detour, doubling back to Galena, 111., and being sent from there to Canada by way of Chicago and other lake towns. Fugitives could not go across the country from Galena themselves, but had to wait for aid from other sources. It was here that the "underground railroad" from St. Paul did some effective work.

Helped By Easterners The active members of the sympathizers in this city were but few, comprised of William Taylor, a barber; James Highwarden, David Edwards, Joseph Fair and Eugene Berry, a steward on the steamboat Nominee, which plied the river. The most of these, in fact all of them, were from the east, and the work they did to aid runaway slaves was prompted by sentiment which they had imbibed in the east before coming here. Some of them were steamboat men who got as far as St. Louis by coming down the Ohio river, and, impelled by an. adventurous spirit, had started to work on Mississippi river boats, and finally landed in St.

Paul. Of this coterie who ran the "under-ground," William. Taylor is said to have been the leader. Joseph Farr, who now lives at 59 East Eleventh street, is his nephew, and was a participant in many of the rescues effected. Mr.

Farr was a boy in those days and helped in the barber shop of Taylor. This shop, which stood at Third and St. Peter street, was the place where all of the rescues were planned. It was admirably situated for the work. Just across the street stood the house of Taylor.

A wigwag system could be kept up if necessary. There were two places of secretion which the officials of the "underground" depended on. One of these was the First Presbyterian church at Third and St. Peter streets. Here in the belfry of this church a number of fugitives were concealed while the officers were searching around for them.

It seems that this hiding place was never discovered, being considered so unlikely. The sexton of the church was In the circle, and aided In the work. Fugitives were concealed here for weeks at a time. At night the sexton would rescue the unfortunates from the cramped quarters, take them for a walk around the dark part of the city, and return them and carry food and drink. Hidden in Livery Stable Willoughby's livery stable at Fourth and Robert streets was the other place where runaway slaves were hidden.

Here in the capacious hayloft the negroes were safe until the search had ceased. The belfry or the livery stable was used, as the occasion seemed to present the least likelihood of discov- cry. The "underground" people had an ally in an old Frenchman who lived some eighteen miles from St. Paul, near Stillwater. He had an abhorrence for the slavery system, and agreed to help in the work.

Slaves whose masters were chasing closely were sometimes sent to the Frenchman's farm, and no case was ever An electric light In every berth on the Burlington's Chicago Limited, leaving St. Paul Union Station at 8:40 every evening. The finest dining cars, serving the best meals you ever ate on a train. A buffet-library car with the usual accessories. Compartment and Standard sleeping cars.

And Burlington service. 7 Try it once and you will use it again. itrrrmiTtii'Wrtfl th9mas Cl 0C Age.it, Both Phones 1266. tected. Although the number that were sent to Canada from here were comparatively few, there were many who found a haven here, and it was in these three places that they were hidden until the search had ceased, and it was safe for them to come out and live among friends.

The most successful. rescue which Joseph Farr remembers was that of a young mulatto girl who escaped from her master at Galena, and was secreted on the boat coming this way, by Eugene Berry, the friendly steward, and brought St. Paul. The girl was a handsome, robust creature, and her features were almost masculine. She adopted the familiar disguise of a man, and arrived in St.

Paul clad in a suit of the finest broadcloth. She was light enough to pass for a white person, and had no difficulty on the boat. Looked Like a Man "The girl walked into our shop," says Mr. Farr, "and had her hair trimmed. I confess that I never saw a more complete disguise.

In a way that was known to the friendly, it was communicated to my uncle who she was, and she was taken to his house just across the street. It. was only the next day that her master arrived, searching for her. I remember that he was a tall, powerful man, and a mean looking one at that. He summoned my uncle, William Taylor, and told him that a slave girl had escaped from him at Galena.

"My uncle told him that of course It would not be hard to find her here with so few colored people, and volunteered to help him. The man offered Taylor $50 if she were found. Uncle said that he never took any money for such ices, but he had often been able to help people recover their property. "I happened to look out the front window of the shop at the time, and I saw the girl sitting at our front window, just across the street. Uncle had seen her, too.

He told one of the men in the shop to care for the gentleman from the south, and to shave him. He himself went out the back way and to our house. Rewards Were Unavailing "Well, he got the girl away from the house quickly and sent her to the Wllloughby stable. Then he came back and took the man over to the house, and made him feel welcome, in order to avoid suspicion. That night the girl was taken out to the Frenchman's house Stillwater, and kept for two weeks, while the whole country was being searched for her.

All the surrounding towns were gone over with a fine tooth comb, but no trace of her was found. The master was unlimited in his money, and made every effort to locate the girl. He offered large rewards, but none were sufficient to disclose her hiding place. "After the search had ceased, the girl was brought out and put on the steamboat Nominee, in charge of Eugene Berry, and taken to Galena. From there she went to Canada by way of Chicago.

We got a letter from her afterward saying she had arrived safely in Canada, and thanking my uncle and the other people for what they had done for her." Another fugitive whose rescue was not successful, was a young man who had escaped at St. Louis and made his way to St. Paul by boat. He had heard that friends here would assist those who were making for Canada in their flight from bondage. Of course it was always a matter of general interest when a boat came in, and many people were there to see.

Taylor always made It a point to be on the wharf when a boat touched, to.be on the lookout for any fugitive slave. When the boat came in this time he was there. A young man, evidently a runaway slave, left the boat. Taylor soon sought him out, and let him know that he would aid him in any way. The slave was taken to the old bell tower until the chase should subside.

The next day his master arrived and called on the officials. Search was in vain. Bribed the Steward Deputy Sheriff Brackett was one of the relentless foes of the "underground" railroaders. He camped on their trail constantly. It was his keen eye that found the fugitive.

About a week after he landed here, his friends took him out, supplied him with money and started hi mdown tfie river on a boat. With the aid of a bribe the deputy sheriff learned from a colored steward on the boat that the slave had been secreted there, and where he was going. Going to Prescott, a boat was secured, the trip made down the St. Croix river to the mouth, where it empties into the Mississippi, and the slave was captured. Another attempted rescue was that of a young slave girl whose master, Steve Long, owned the International hotel.

By treating her to Ice cream and other dainties the conspirators got her to say that she wanted to fly to Canada. But just as she was about ready to start, she broke down and refused to go. -yt "But I can't remember many of the cases," said Mr. Farr. "I was young then, and it has been a great while ago." One of the things that made it hard for the "underground" people to operate their system was the constant opposition from the south.

Minnesota was, even then, a great place for tourists in the summer time. They came to the lakes and to St. Paul on the boats up the river to spend the summer months. They brought their servants with them. According to a ruling about that time, a slave who had been taken into a free state, such as Minnesota was, had a good claim to his freedom, especially in the last years of the war.

People from the south came to this state and tried to get laws passed so that they would be safe in bringing their servants here. Though they did not succeed in this, they created such a strong impression that people were generally against protecting slaves. Dred Scott Decision The famous "Dred Scott decision" is said to have grown out of this state of affairs. His master was a surgeon in the United States army, whose home was at St. Louis.

He was on duty at various places in the north, Fort Snelling being one of them. After they returned to St. Louis. Scott claimed his freedom, because he had been taken into a state where slavery was not legal. His master had him arrested and placed in jail.

Friends of the slave took up the matter, and it was fought through the courts. The lower court decided in favor of the and the master went to the state supreme court. Here it was again decided for the slave, and the case went to the United States supreme court. At this highest tribunal in the land the decision went against the friends of the slave. It was decided that people who owned negroes might take them into any state in the union, whether free or slave states, without losing authority over them.

This was one of the strongest blows against the friends of the slaves. The colored people in the Twin Cities in the early days were composed of two distinct classes: one element came from the eastern cities, and were free people. These were the people who had learned of the "underground" THE ST. PAUL GLOBE, SUNDAY, APRIL 16, 1905 system in Philadelphia, where lt had headquarters; the other class were those from Missouri and other southern states. They were either escaped slaves, who found refuge here, or who came north during the last days of the war after the emancipation proclamation.

Big-jest Delegation The largest delegation that ever came -up the river, perhaps, was in 1863, when a boat loaded with 300 colored people came from St. Louis, under protection pf the federal government. They had been gathered up at Jefferson City, and held until sent north by the union generals. They were what Gen. Butler called "contraband of war." In this boat load were many who afterward became well known in the history of St.

Paul. Among them were Robert Hickman, the Combes family, the Moffits and John Trotter. Robert Hickman early became active in church work, and established the Pilgrim Baptist church at Third and Market streets in 1863. Around this church grew up the whole social life of those who had come here to make their In the "underground" system operated here, there was no exact organization. William Taylor was the leader, because he took the most interest in the matter, and had the most suitably located place for headquarters.

These eastern colored people had the spirit of sympathy for the fugitive slaves and the branch of the "underground" here grew out of this sympathy and the natural surroundings. The number it aided to escape to Canada was small, but those who found homes in the Twin Cities and in the surrounding states through its efforts were legion. PESTER MRS. GOULD WITH LAWSUITS Milliners, Dressmakers, and Buffalo Bill Are Among the Plaintiffs NEW Howard Gould, one of the wealthiest women In the United States, who, previous to her marriage to one of the richest men In the country was Katherine Clemmons, is prominently In the public eye Just now. She is obliged, despite her immense wealth, to answer ln court to a larger number of lawsuits, counted by the score, than probably any woman living of her means within the bounds of Uncle Sam's territory.

Hot and fast these lawsuits come, one on top of the other, but not one bit daunted. Mrs. Gould defies them all. "Because I happen to be the wife of a rich man," she says, "I do not propose to let trades people impose upon me. They shall not collect amounts of money that I deem excessive, simply because they know I have a rich The lawsuits continually pouring in upon Mrs.

Gould have subjected her to all sorts of annoyances, and in addition, unpleasant revelations. Some of them have made Mrs. Gould wince, but Mrs. Gould is invincible. "Not One Cent for Tribute" "Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute or compromise," Is her motto.

The latest claimant for some of Howard Gould's wealth is Col. Cody, better known as "Buffalo Bill," who declare that he can satisfy the "Prince of Gold" that he should pay him $125,000 on account of losses sustained in theatrical ventures in which he was interested with Mis. Gould before her marriage. As Katherine Clemmons she starred in England in 1892, in three plays, and in America in the season of 1893-91. Mr.

Cody says he has a contract under which, as backer, he agreed to "stand to lose" $10,000 and no more. If any further losses were Incurred. Miss Clemmons was to make good. The venture resulted in the loss of $00,000. Col.

Cody now claims $125,000, apparently having added twelve years' Interest to the original sum. Mrs. Gould now defies the "Colonel" and refuses to meet his demands. "Buffalo Bill" Must Sue Col. Cody, like all other claimants against Mrs.

Howard Gould, must go to court to prove his claims. Her husband stands by her enthusiastically in her resolve not to be imposed upon because she is rich. Suits of all kinds Mrs. Gould has had, but trifles of this nature don't seem to bother this notable woman who is blessed with great wealth. There was the valet, F.

D. Mowbray of New York, who was employed on the yacht Hildegarde. Mowbray lost an eye through a fireworks accident, and alleged that Mr. Gould had promised him a life job. but had discharged him because Mrs.

Gould, then Miss Clemmons, had raid that a shampoo he had given her had turned her hair darker. A verdict of $5,000 in Mowbray's favor was reversed on appeal. Clifford Leigh, an aclor employed In Miss Clemmons' unluekv venture, sued Mrs. Gould In 1900 for $1,600 for alleged breach of contract. He lost.

Cairn, Cross Co. of New York sued Mrs. Gould for the price of a wagonette. They won. Milliners Sue Her Several dressmakers and milliners have tried conclusions in court with Mrs.

Gould. Mme. Mirabella failed to recover the price of a waist that the millionaire's wife had rejected. Mrs. Mary F.

Smith and Mrs. Margaretta Dillon sued for $1,935, and settled for $1,000. Mmes. Brand and Le Rover have pending against Mrs. Gould a suit f0r.53,760 for sixteen gowns.

Mrs. Gould contests, alleging the prices were too high. Intending to surprise her husband last Christmas with a full length oil painting of herself. Mrs. Gould engaged the services of Henry Jones Thaddeus, the well known artist.

Mrs. Gould told him to keep the.matter a secret. Alleging that the artist had violated her confidence, and that the news of the painting of the portrait reached Mr. Gould's ears. Mra.

Gould refused to continue the sittings. Thaddeus completed the painting, but Mrs. Gould would neither accept It nor pay the contract price of $5,000. Through his attorney, the artist has sued her for that amount. Secret Suit by Artist The bringing of the suit has been kept secret up to this time, but when Mr.

Thaddeus heard of Mrs. Gould's troubles with her dressmaker, by whom she has been sued for $3,760, he determined to give publicity to his. own case. When it comes to trial some interesting letters written by Mrs. Gould will be produced.

Mr. Thaddeus says that when Mrs. Gould first engaged him, she told him "to paint- as good a picture of her as he could." He says the picture fits the specifications. Castlegould, the residence of the Howard Goulds at Sands Point, L. 1., has its history in the courts.

Mr. Gould sued Abner J. Haywood for (30.000 for delay in supplying the plans. Last summer Gould discharged all the workmen. Six mechanics' liens, amounting to almost $80,000, were filed against the property.

Mr. Gould has settled them. Arthur E.Hendle, a builder, sued Mr. Gould for $33,000 for work done on the castle. The Goulds are now living there, and the house is all paid for.

Last month Mr. Gould had to draw his check for $126 to cover a grocery bill of $116 disputed by his wife, but proved. Nothing daunted. Mrs. Gould has even brought suits on her own when she sued a well known publication for $100,000 for reports concerning "Buffalo Bill." And again 'when she caused the arrest of her bUtler, Eric Hamilton, for disturbing the peace of her household ThlS is tllC time tllG that thousands of people in this beautiful city of ours are Winning to think of cleaning house, while countless others are preparing to BHffftMlYVl Gnter matrimony.

Some are moving to new homes that have been in (Z? 'vAyJ'Ji Collrse of erection the and some are going to the lakes. To all of these li we wish to say we are Home Furnishers, and no "home too humble or no home WsSgrSSr 2) J' too grand for us to furnish. No matter whether you have money or not, we stand eTliis is the time extend to you our generous credit, so this may get all the home are beginning to think of cleaning house, while countless others are preparing to VM- I course of erection the past winter and some aye going to the lakes. To all of these we wish to say we are Home Furnishers, and no home too humble or no home "i too grand for us to furnish. No matter whether you have money or not, we stand ready and willing to extend to you our generous credit, so you may get all the home IYft furnishings you want right away, and we will gladly wait for the money.

A-WBmm To the young couple just starting housekeeping, we wish to say a word to you. Don't try to get a couple of rooms and put in a lot of shoddy furniture, be- cause you feel you have not, the ready money to furnish up in nice shape. Just come to us and ye will let you have all the goods you need, and all we ask is a small payment down and the balance can be paid in small weekly or monthly pay- Come in and let us show you the largest and most up-to-date home furnishing i ym so The Store That Trusts the People Is the Store the People Trust Consisting of one Settee, two Ladies' Reception Chairs, one Gentlemen's Reception Chair and one Gentlemen's Rocker Frames are beautiful in design, handsomely finished in mahoganized birch; seats and backs are upholstered in an artistic design velour. Has best Bessemer steel springs, and will last a lifetime. S3.OO DOWN, $1.00 A WEEK.

This Iron Bed, inches This Brass Bed. made of hlghy reproduced from the best turned tubing, over II- ILIIM JtmTTnk French made of heavy a steel, has three coats best Itt tubing, enameled in beauti- fcfWrtr -French lacquer, fitted with colors, is 4 feet 6 inches massive, easy running cas- DOWN AND 30c A WEEK $1 00 DOWN ANDSI.OO A WEEK Ch ChUP" ---MM ThiS Daven has lar 8e massive frame, is leather, has deep tufts and SI in pretty pattern velour, seat is rolling head. Costs biscuit tufted and iitted with Bessemer steel Mr £fY. pnngs 7 $1 Down and $1 a Week V. $1.00 DOWN AND $1.00 A WEEK.

WHEN YOU BUY CARPETS Best five frame body Brussels in Whitall's, 1 1 Inlaid Linoleum, best grade imported iii Lowell and John H. Pray's 1 OC Ingrain Carpet tile and hard wood floor ef- tf 1 l-X private patterns, at per yard- I A beautiful pattern, per feet, per square yard 1-3 Smith's Axminsters, in last season's Brussels Carpet Fast ti and Japanese Matpatterns includes Orientals QOr and Oriental design, per ting in fine and coarse fl and floral designs, from Wup weave, per LU UJL SMITH (Sb FARWELL CO. HOME FURNISHERS Sixth and Minnesota Streets TWO WOMEN STARVE AND ONE DIES Child and Cats Fight for Food When Rescuer Conies BANGOR. off three famished and a dog that a starving child might not -be deprived of bread, Arthur L. Lewis 7of Brewer learned two weeks ago of a case of destitution, which has since aroused the town of Orrington, and Sheriff Gilman of this city sent Deputy Sheriff Sprout to the Cliff Lodge clubhouse to investigate the case, Since Mr.

Lewis made the grewsome discovery, Mrs. Catherine Davis, 70 years old, has died and exposure. The Cliff' clubhouse is located on the shore of Himes pond, sometimes known as Brewer; pond, in the town of Orrington. It is owned by Judge Harry A. Chapman of the municipal court of this city.

The club went out of existence two years ago. since which Judge Chapman has rented the house to different parties, who have conducted it on the line of a sporting camp. Last September he.leased it to Elsie Davis, who for years lived with one Ike Chase, a cripple, -on- an island ln Eddington pond, in the town of Holden. The woman is an amazon, weighing 225 pounds, while the man weighs close to 7 77. They went to the clubhouse and opened it up as a sporting camp.

Soon it came to be known that it was not an inviting place to frequent. Finds Child Starving Recently the woman applied to Lewis for a loan, and he deemed it prudent to go to the place and investigate. Having heard that the family was in a famished condition, he took some bread along. He found at the clubhouse the woman, Elsie Davis; the cripple, Chase, and the little girl. The cripple and the child appeared, to be starving, while the Davis woman seemed to have all the food she required.

There were also three cats and a dog. Lewis placed the food on the table and 'Chase clutched a loaf of bread and began gnawing at it. The child also rushed to the table and caught up a second loaf and started to bite into it. Before she could set her teeth into the bread the animals, their eyes ablaze, made a rush at her. One cat, a big gray animal, flew up into her place and set Its teeth into the loaf and tried to drag lt from the little one.

Lewis says that it seemed to him that before he could fight them away the little one's eyes would be scratched from her head, so. fiercely did the pack assail her. At the opposite side of the table the cripple was devouring his loaf as though he had not tasted food for a month, while a little way off the Elsie Davis, sat, well fed to all appearances, a cynical smile upon her face. When the two had eaten Mr. Lewis asked who lived upstairs.

The woman said no one was there. But he went upstairs, and on a bunk like bed, covered only with tattered bedding, he found an emaciated old woman, Mrs. Catherine Davis. She told him she was ill. cold and starving.

"How long since you have had anything to eat?" he asked. "A week ago last Monday." she said. He brought her food but it came too late to save her life. Lewis next discovered in a dark corner of the room a twenty-five years of age, a living skeleton, who said In a broken voice that she had not eaten for eight days. She, too, was fed.

It was learned that this woman had been kept in seclusion by Elsie Dayls.y--tißri.rtLllilwl I The Davis woman -has fled' to her former home in Holden. -7 vZy 7 AGED MAN IS ONLY LESSEE OF RAILROAD "Old Jim" Collins Now Lies at the Point of Death in Chicago CHICAGO the only private cottage standing on the thousands of miles included in the Illinois Central railroad company's right of way. "Old Jim" Collins of Decatur, for fifty years a section boss and watchman, now lies at the point of death. For his fellow townspeople the story of his life has lit up the dull prose of railroading with something akin to poetry. And they give the credit for part of it to the "soulless" railroad company.

Section Foreman Long Ago Fifty years ago. when the railroad first poked its way into Decatur. Jim Collins, not yet of age, was appointed section man with sole charge of a long stretch of track. Heavy rails and seasoned ties were then unknown and accidents were frequent. But somehow, by dint of everlastingly keeping at it, Collins patrolled his section month in and month out with scarcely a single mishap on the superintendent's books against him.

One summer he laid to get married." he told the division superintendentand on his return discovered that the latter, after a brief consultation with his superiors in Chicago, had built a small cottage on the company's right of way near the "Wood street crossing, the lease of which was turned over to Collins as the company's -wedding present. "In consideration of faithful service" the rental was fixed at "$1 a year during the life of the lessee." It Is said to be the first and only lease of the sort that the company's lawyers have ever drawn. Neat Home by Tracks That was years ago. Since then thousands of passengers on the Illinois Central have noticed the little home and wondered bow It to be there. It waa always scrupulously neat in appearance, an.l in summer the morning glories and southern honeysuckles converted It into a bower of beauty that no amount of smoke and i-i---ders seemed to injure.

Whito curtains were at the windows and three or four children were always playing in the yard. Collins remained in charge of the Decatur division tracks until about five years ago, when his advancing years led him to retire. Last month be took to his bed and his friends and neighbors believe that his end is near. His children, who are now grown up and live in or near Decatur, have returned to the unique little home of their childhood to be with him at the last. INDIANA AIMS LAW AT "GRETNA GREEN" Holds Residents Must Be Married In Their Own State LA PORTE.

the new marriage law of this state, which will becomo operative in a few days, Chicago. Milwaukee and St. Joseph, will cease to be favorite meccas for Indiana eloping couples. The new law. which Gov.

declares shall be rigidly enforced, provides that when marriage is contracted by couples in another state, it will be declared null and void upon the return of tho couple. A bona fide residence to the state where the marriage Is performed must be "proved to establish its validity. The Reporter's Glossary The young reporter should always remember that waves run mountains high. That an Industry progresses by leaps and bounds. That two drinks and a disorderly constitute a carnival of crime.

That a burned barn falls-a victim to. the devouring element. That a politician views every act of the opposition with alarm. That he points to the proceedings of his own party with pride. That every utterance of a preacher ia a note of warning.

That a boat transporting lady passengers carries a precious freight. That a ball always lasts until the wee. sma' hours. That a hayseed poet is always equipped with a quaint smile. That anything to eat at a social gathering ls a bountiful repast.

That an offhand speaker makes, a fen well chosen remarks..