U. G. R. R. The Captain had been educated to believe in the so-called Democratic doctrine, “that slavery is the chief corner-stone of free institutions,” but if I were to tell his experience in running his first train on this road, you would agree with me that the secrets of our officers would be safe in his hands. I may do so some time.
Dan had been forwarded from Corning to Dunkirk on a freight car, and on his arrival in the evening, the agent to whom he was consigned bought his ticket to Buffalo, and seated him behind the door at the rear end of the car. Just as it was starting two men came in and took seats near the other end of the car, their backs toward him. One of them was his master, and the other a celebrated slave hunter. When the conductor came for his ticket, Dan said to him, “Master, will you please stop and let me get off?” Conductor said, “are you afraid of those fellows with the red whiskers?” “Yes,” said Dan, “I know ’em.” “ Do they know you are here?” “Guess not,” said Dan. “Well, follow me, said the conductor. Taking Dan into another car, he told him to step off as soon as the train stopped, and go behind a woodpile, and the depot agent would find him as soon as the train started, and tell him where to go. The conductor told the agent, at Silver Creek, who found him as soon as the train started, so scared that he could hardly stand or speak, and sent a boy with him to a Democratic Deacon, Andrews, and he, without knowing it, put him again on the line of the U. G. R. R. in Arkwright, by giving him in charge of a colored man, John Little. The next night the wide-awake conductor, farmer Cranston, near Forestville, arrived at our station near 12 o’clock, as above stated.
Dan was warmed and fed, and secreted in the old house until it was deemed safe for him to go on, supposing the
