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UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
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Our friend W. E—— never succeeded in escaping from prison; he was released at the close of the war, but some escaped, and after several weeks were re-captured and returned to prison. One of them in relating his adventures, said: “We crossed the Saluda River and lay in the woods until dark; then in trying to find the road to Greenville, passing a gate we heard some one call out, ‘Who’s dar?’ Presuming it was a negro, we stopped, and one of the party went to see who it was and inquire the way. It was an old negro woman. When she saw us she said, ‘You’s Yanks, ’scaped from prison. I seen ’em ’fore, and feed ’em, but now I’m gwine to de riber and can’t go back.’ She directed them on the road to Greenville, and said, ‘Go careful, make no noise.’ About three miles farther on we met an old negro who had started to go some ten miles to spend the Sabbath with his wife. I asked him if he had ever heard of the Yankees. ‘Yes,’ said he, ‘we hear bout dem people. Massa G—— tell us bery bad tings bout dem, but can’t tell bout dat ar after all.’ ‘Did you ever see any of them?’ ‘No, widout you is some.’ ‘If I should tell you that we are Yankees, would you believe it, and would you give us something to eat?’‘Ob course I would believe you; go with me.’ He went back with us three miles, and after secreting us in the bushes he went away saying, ‘I return in an hour, then I cough to let you know it’s me. If anybody come and don’t cough, keep bery still, dat ain’t me.’ In about an hour we heard some one coughing as if he were in the last stages of consumption. Presently the old man appeared, loaded with bread, bacon, sweet potatoes, and some salt. He then went two miles with us. Before he left us I asked him if he knew what the Yankees were doing for them. ‘Oh, yes,’ said he, ‘we knows all ’bout dat. You’s our frens. Massa Linkum make us all free by proclamation.’