n
every library.

While the grand little army of abolitionists was waging its untiring
warfare for freedom, prior to the rebellion, no agency encouraged them
like the heroism of fugitives. The pulse of the four millions of slaves
and their desire for freedom, were better felt through "The Underground
Railroad," than through any other channel.

Frederick Douglass, Henry Bibb, Wm. Wells Brown, Rev. J.W. Logan, and
others, gave unmistakable evidence that the race had no more eloquent
advocates than its own self-emancipated champions.

Every step they took to rid themselves of their fetters, or to gain
education, or in pleading the cause of their fellow-bondmen in the
lecture-room, or with their pens, met with applause on every hand, and
the very argument needed was thus furnished in large measure. In those
dark days previous to emancipation, such testimony was indispensable.

The free colored men are as imperatively required now to furnish the
same manly testimony in support of the ability of the race to surmount
the remaining obstacles growing out of oppression, ignorance, and
poverty.

In the political struggles, the hopes of the race have been sadly
disappointed. From this direction no great advantage is likely to arise
very soon.

Only as desert can be proved by the acquisition of knowledge and the
exhibition of high moral character, in examples of economy and a
disposition to encourage industrial enterprises, conducted by men of
their own ranks, will it be possible to make political progress in the
face of the present public sentiment.

Here, therefore, in my judgment is the best possible reason for
vigorously pushing the circulation of this humble volume--that it may
testify for thousands and tens of thousands, as no other work can do.

WILLIAM STILL, Author.

September, 1878. Philadelphia, Pa.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

THE AUTHOR

PETER STILL--"THE KIDNAPPED AND THE RANSOMED"

CHARITY STILL TWICE ESCAPED FROM SLAVERY

DESPERATE CONFLICT IN A BARN

DEATH OF ROMULUS HALL

RESURRECTION OF HENRY BOX BROWN

RESCUE OF JANE JOHNSON AND HER CHILDREN

PASSMORE WILLIAMSON

JANE JOHNSON

ESCAPING FROM PORTSMOUTH, VA

TWENTY-EIGHT FUGITIVES ESCAPING FROM EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND

ESCAPING FROM ALABAMA ON TOP OF A CAR

CROSSING THE RIVER ON HORSEBACK IN THE NIGHT

A BOLD STROKE FOR FREEDOM--CONTEST WITH FIRE-ARMS

ABRAM GALLOWA