The Underground Railroad, Part 1

by William STILL (1821 - 1902)

08 - Wesley Harris and the Matterson Brothers

The Underground Railroad, Part 1

”It was my good fortune to lend a helping hand to the weary travelers flying from the land of bondage.” William Still. "Dear Sir:—For most of the years I have lived, the escape of fugitives from slavery, and their efforts to baffle the human and other bloodhounds who tracked them, formed the romance of American History. That romance is now ended, and our grandchildren will hardly believe its leading incidents except on irresistible testimony. I rejoice that you are collecting and presenting that testimony, and heartily wish you a great success." Horace Greeley. William Still is often called the Father of the Underground Railroad. Over 14 years, he helped hundreds of slaves escape to freedom in Canada. Still was committed to preserving the stories of the bondmen and he kept careful records of the many escaped slaves who passed through the Philadelphia “station”. The Underground Railroad was published in 1871 from Still’s records and diaries. In bringing you these stories, Librivox volunteers are reading from the 1878 edition. (Summary by MaryAnn) Complete list of recordings comprising this book: The Underground Railroad, Part 1, The Underground Railroad, Part 2, The Underground Railroad, Part 3, The Underground Railroad, Part 4, The Underground Railroad, Part 5.


Listen next episodes of The Underground Railroad, Part 1:
09 - Death of Romulus Hall , 10 - James Mercer, William H. Gilliam and John Clayton , 11 - Clarissa Davis , 12 - Anthony Blow; Perry Johnson , 13 - Isaac Forman, William Davis and Willis Redick, Joseph Henry Camp , 14 - Sheridan Ford; Joseph Kneeland , 15 - Ex-President Tyler's Household Loses An Aristocratic "Article"; Edward Morgan, Henry Johnson, James and Stephen Butler , 16 - Henry Predo; Daniel Hughes, Thomas Elliott , 17 - Mary Epps; Joseph and Robert Robinson , 18 - George Solomon, Daniel Neall, Benjamin R. Fletcher and Maria Dorsey , 19 - Henry Box Brown , 20 - Trial of the Emancipators of Colonel J.H. Wheeler's Slaves, Jane Johnson and Her Two Little Boys - Part 1 , 21 - Trial of the Emancipators of Colonel J.H. Wheeler's Slaves, Jane Johnson and Her Two Little Boys - Part 2 , 22 - The Arrivals of a Single Month - Part 1 , 23 - The Arrivals of a Single Month - Part 2 , 24 - The Arrivals of a Single Month - Part 3 , 25 - The Arrivals of a Single Month - Part 4 , 26 - The Arrivals of a Single Month - Part 5 , 27 - A Slave Girl's Narrative - Cordelia Lonely , 28 - Arrival of Jackson, Isaac and Edmondson Turner from Petersburg , 29 - Robert Brown; Anthony Lonely and Cornelius Scott; Samuel Williams , 30 - Barnaby and Mary Elizabeth Grigby, Frand Wazner, Emily Foster , 31 - William Jordan , 32 - Joseph Grant and John Speaks , 33 - William Taylor; Louisa Brown, Jacob Waters and Alfred Goulden; Arrival from Baltimore