pt." Deliberately forming his plans to
go South, he resolved to take upon himself the entire responsibility of
all the risks to be encountered. Not a word did he reveal to a living
soul of what he was about to undertake. With "twenty-two dollars" in
cash and "three pistols" in his pockets, he started in the lightning
train from Toronto for Virginia. On reaching Columbia in this State, he
deemed it not safe to go any further by public conveyance, consequently
he commenced his long journey on foot, and as he neared the slave
territory he traveled by night altogether. For two weeks, night and day,
he avoided trusting himself in any house, consequently was compelled to
lodge in the woods. Nevertheless, during that space of time he succeeded
in delivering one of his sisters and her husband, and another friend in
the bargain. You can scarcely imagine the Committee's amazement on his
return, as they looked upon him and listened to his "noble deeds of
daring" and his triumph. A more brave and self-possessed man they had
never seen.

He knew what Slavery was and the dangers surrounding him on his mission,
but possessing true courage unlike most men, he pictured no alarming
difficulties in a distance of nearly one thousand miles by the mail
route, through the enemy's country, where he might have in truth said,
"I could not pass without running the gauntlet of mobs and assassins,
prisons and penitentiaries, bailiffs and constables, &c." If this hero
had dwelt upon and magnified the obstacles in his way he would most
assuredly have kept off the enemy's country, and his sister and friends
would have remained in chains.

The following were the persons delivered by Frank Wanzer. They were his
trophies, and this noble act of Frank's should ever be held as a
memorial and honor. The Committee's brief record made on their arrival
runs thus:

"August 18, 1856. Frank Wanzer, Robert Stewart, alias Gasberry Robison,
Vincent Smith, alias John Jackson, Betsey Smith, wife of Vincent Smith,
alias Fanny Jackson. They all came from Alder, Loudon county, Virginia."

Robert is about thirty years of age, medium size, dark chestnut color,
intelligent and resolute. He was held by the widow Hutchinson, who was
also the owner of about one hundred others. Robert regarded her as a
"very hard mistress" until the death of her husband, which took place
the Fall previous to his escape. That sad affliction, he thought, was
the cause of a considerable change