irty-one years of age, but had experienced a deal of
trouble. He had been married twice, and both wives were believed to be
living. The first one, with their little child, had been sold in the
Baltimore market, about three years before, the mother was sent to
Louisiana, the child to South Carolina. Father, mother, and child,
parted with no hope of ever seeing each other again in this world. After
Owen's wife was sent South, he sent her his likeness and a dress; the
latter was received, and she was greatly delighted with it, but he never
heard of her having received his likeness. He likewise wrote to her, but
he was not sure that she received his letters. Finally, he came to the
conclusion that as she was forever dead to him, he would do well to
marry again. Accordingly he took to himself another partner, the one who
now accompanied him on the Underground Rail Road.

Omitting other interesting incidents, a reference to his handiwork will
suffice to show the ability of Owen. Owen was a born mechanic, and his
master practically tested his skill in various ways; sometimes in the
blacksmith shop--at other times as a wheelwright--again at making
brushes and brooms, and at leisure times he would try his hand in all
these crafts. This Jack-of-all-trades was, of course, very valuable to
his master. Indeed his place was hard to fill.

Henry Fiery, a farmer, "about sixty-four years of age, a stout, crusty
old fellow," was the owner of Owen and his two brothers. Besides slaves,
the old man was in possession of a wife, whose name was Martha, and
seven children, who were pretty well grown up. One of the sons owned
Owen's wife and two children. Owen declared, that they had been worked
hard, while few privileges had been allowed them. Clothing of the
poorest texture was only sparingly furnished. Nothing like Sunday
raiment was ever given them; for these comforts they were compelled to
do over-work of nights. For a long time the idea of escape had been
uppermost in the minds of this party. The first of January, past, was
the time "solemnly" fixed upon to "took out," but for some reason or
other (not found on the record book), their strategical minds did not
see the way altogether clear, and they deferred starting until Easter
Sunday.

On that memorable evening, the men boldly harnessed two of Mr. Fiery's
steeds and placing their wives and children in the carriage, started off
_via_ Hagerstown, in a direct line for Chambersburg, Pennsy