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A REMINISCENCE or SLAVERY.The Slave Mother, Margaret Garner.4 HER TRA«TC SACRIFICE OF A CHILD IN THIS CITY.INTERVIEW WITH HER HUSBANDSubsequent History of the Family.It ran not bare passed frqpi the mind of any re«ler who lived in this city fifteen years ago. that one morning early in February, 1956, a great sensation stirred the whole Community, as it had scarcely ever been stirred before. Th« river was Amen over solid, and the old “Mason and Dixon line between freedom and slavery was for the time almost as much obliterated as it is* now ; so much so, at least, that there were frequent^ stampedes of the “sleek and well-fed” slaves, so poetically described by one of the great champions of the peculiar institution. In consequence of this -facility for escape, United States Marshals and Defective Police were vigilant, their “itching paltna” stimulating to duty, as the scent ef blood incites the hound to the chase.Among those who improved the opportunity, and, like too many others, fell wofully short of realising their fond expectations, were a family of Garnera, the old father and mother about fifty years ef age each, and a son. Robert Garner, his wife Margaret, and feur children—two boys and two girls. The old people and Margaret belonged to James Marshall, of Boone county.^Ky..while the wife and children of the latter belonged to Archibald K.Oaiaet, of the aa« neighborhood, the husband, of course, having no control over, or duties In regard to them. But his desire to egerciae such rights and privileges led him to hitch up two of bia master's horses to a sleigh in the dead hour of night, and, putting hia old fether and mother and his own family tberatn, drive rapidly to the river.Leaving the team on shore, opposite the feot of Western Bdw, they all crossed on the lee, and were met on this side by a colored into named Elijah Kite, son of “old Joe Kite,” ’of notorious reputation, who had been notified to assist them fo the “underground railroad. lie conducted them to a tenement, occupied by himself; a few squares below. Mill Creek bridge. Hera he.left them until, he went out to arrange for their departure to Canada. He was to be back before day, according to IbfT injunction of Robert Garner, but did not come uniij between nine and ten o'clock, when be was aeon followed by a posse of ofltcera, accompanied by tbe masters of the slaves.that followed was described by the news-of that day, as obtained from the white persons present, all of whom had interests in conflict with those of the unfortunate negroes, and was colored accordingly.ISTKKVIKW WITH ROBERT r.itXKIt.We yesterday learned that Robt. Garner, the principal mover in this affair, and whose wife was the tragic heroine in its bloody termination, was now residing in our eity. We met him at the law office of Cot. F. M. Moore, with whom he is Instituting suit for damages against the steamer Robert Burns, for damages sustained in having his ribs broken in while engaged in the performance of his duty on tbe boat, aad by the carelessness of the boat's deck-hands. He is now a man of about forty-flve years of age, and much more Intelligent than the average of hia race. We improved the opportunity to convene with him about the shocking scene of his attempted escape, and the subsequent history of his family.Mr. Garner says that Elijah Kite was tm own cousin of bis wife’*, find was, therefore, advised of their coming, and requested to assist In their escape; but instead of assisting them, he now be-lievcs, and then suspected him, of being guilty of treacherously selling his kinfolk back into the hands of their masters. HU long absence, while professing to be making arrangements for their continued flight, which should- have britjj ready beforehand, and his neglect to return before day to secrete them, is strong justification oftb^raapicioa.When the ofltlceA and masters arrived fit the door and demanded admission, Robert drew a pistol with which he had provided himself aad said the first man who attempted to enter he would shoot dead. At the same time his wife, Margaret, seised a butcher-kaife that was fying on the table, and declared she would kill every child she had before she would see them carried back Into slavery. While some of the outsiders were banging at the door, another, a Mr. Patterson, of the Fourth Ward, raised a window aad wan about to enter, when Robert shot him in tbe mouth. He foil beck, but was not killed. On turning round, Robert saw that his wife had cut the threat of her girl Mary, three years old, from ear to ear, who was weltering in her felood an the floor, and was making a dash at his boy Samuel. He sprang to hia rescue, calling on hor to desist, and received part of the blew himself, the remainder taking effect on the child. Then the door .was broken open, and he fired two or three shots at the intruder, who, by the way, was Clinton Buta, the present well-known Marshal ef Covington. They were then overpowered, and with an Immense mob at their heels, carried off toOf the hearing ef the earn before U. S. atoner Pendery, which lasted about two weeks, and in which they weee voluntarily defended by that tver-rrady legal friend of the slave, Mr. John Jolliffe, assisted by Mr. GitcheH, we need not now write. It ended wall such ewes did in these daya, in remanding the whole party hack to their masters-svmKqusMT dteTOBT up run oarpbb pamujlt.Robert, his wife and children, were speedily sent off to the South—the fearful purgatory of K or thorn slaves. Clinton Butte conducted them as for as Louisville, where they were shipped to a brother of one of their old masters, LeGrand Gaines, a cotton broker ef Mew Orleans. On their way down, their boat Was ran into by another, aad sunk, and among the Uvea tost was the intent child of the unhappy slaves. ,It waa reported that the mother drowned her child, bo accordance with her frenzied declaration, under fesrfttl excitement, that she would kill all her children rather than see them go back Into slavery. But the father protests that such was not the case, and that hie wife never attempted to injure her children afterward, although she frequently repeated her conviction that it would be better for them to be put out of the world than live In slavery.In Mew Orleans, Robert hired hia awn time, aad that ef his wife, aad supported hia family, by hard work and In great destitution,Tennessee Landing, Miss., where they were forced to labor on the plantation. Hera Margaret Garner lt;in 1858, of typhoid fover. Her last words to her devoted husband were, never to marry again in slavery, hut to live la hope of freedom, which she believed would soon 111 *Robert heeded her injunction; remained at Tennessee Landing till the war brake out, when he made his way to the Union lines, entered the gunboat service, was In the siege of Vicksburg, and was in active service until tbe close-of the war, when he received an honorable discharge. He subsequently married, and is now living in this city. His two boys, Thomas aad Renuel, are living on a term opposite Vicksburg, in Mississippi.We conclude this hasty sketch by hoping that Robt. Garner, suffering from premature age, as well as almost tetal injury, may succeed in obtaining proper damages from the steamer Robert Burns, and that his declining years may receive the kind charity of ail who know his painfully-checkered history.
Newspaper Details
Cincinnati Daily Chronicle
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Fri, Mar 11, 1870
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Cincinnati A.
OH, USA 02 Mar 2025
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