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388 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
and to which place he had been tracked. The departure of each train
was watched, and the kind friend (in need) at Avhose house he was
secreted conceived a plan for his escape which he effected, communicating
by Grape Vine telegraph the details to Sandusky friends. On a certain
train going north Avas placed in charge of the express agent a coffin containing
a poor man, but whose friends wanted his remains carried to Sandusky
for interment. The rough box had knotty holes aud plenty of
shavings had been put in around the "body." The train started, and
in about two hours the "remains" were taken in charge by S. R. Irvine
and others, taken to a friendly house and the "casket" opened. The
eyes were blood-shot, the mouth Avas foaming, the poor man nearly dead.
A doctor was quickly summoned, and soon the "corpse" Avas in a healthy
state. He Avas kept a few days and then in safety sent to Canada. In
the winter of 1858 a party of six Avomen and five men arrived. It was a
cold winter and the lake frozen across. This party had come on foot, in
wagons, on railroad, and again on foot, walking into Sandusky at night.
Some had shoes, or what had been, some had stockings, and some had only
old rags tied around their feet. The party at midnight of the second
day after their arrival was started off in a double sleigh. The moon Avas
full, and everything promised a nice journey and an early arrival in
Canada. All went well until they were nearly across, when a blinding
snow storm came up and they Avandered all night on the lake, and when
daylight came they found themselves back near Marblehead Light, almost
where they had started. The driver was determined to return to Sandusky
(he had been engaged to drive the negroes to Canada by their
Sandusky friends), but the blacks compelled him to turn around and drive
them to the queen's domain, Point an Pelee Island, where they were left
and remained during the winter.
Of the fugitives who had been brought to Sandusky since 1850 by the
underground road are the following: William Larkins, John Butler,
Simpson Young, Moses Granees, William Resby, R. Dooty, George Bartlett,
S. Bartlett and AVilliam Bartlett, Nancy Young, Martha Young,
Allen Smith, Claracy Gibson, one Gilkner, B. Howard, M. Coleman, B.
McKees, William Roberson, B. Franklin. T. Maddocks, L. Howard, J.
Freeman, H. Moss, R. Anderson, AVilliam Hamilton, I. Gleason, wife and
daughter, I. Moore, Sarah Moore, C. Boyd, R, Green, R. Taylor. D. Bell,
II. Washington, T. Roberson, F. Bush, Avife and son, E. Bell, I. Freemat,
H. Cole, IT. Johnson, J. W. Coleman, Palmer Pruitt, T. Burnett,
wife and three children, S. Falkner, D. Gatewood, I. D. Brant, II. Bartlett,
J. HanshaAV, Avife and two children, II. TIanshaw, P. Scott, I.
Howard, Virginia; G. Brown, Virginia; G. Brown, Kentucky: 1. Marshall,
Avife and four children, a very small portion of the whole number, but
no record Avas kept, of course, and in the lapse of time the names have
been forgotten.