Identifier: historyofundergr00smed_0 (find matches)
Title: History of the Underground railroad in Chester and the neighboring counties of Pennsylvania
Year: 1883 (1880s)
Authors: Smedley, R. C. (Robert Clemens), 1832-1883
Subjects: Underground Railroad African Americans
Publisher: Lancaster, Pa., Office of the Journal
Contributing Library: Wellesley College Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries

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ess secretly. If circumstances rendered it inconvenient or danger-ous for any one of these families to accommodate thefugitives at that time, they were taken to another. This trip was, fortunately, rather an eventful one, andthe impressions made by this initiary lesson were themore valuable. Nathan had not been accustomed totaking fugitives to the anti-slavery ofiice. On thisoccasion he wished to go there. It chanced to be at atime when no one was in, and he would not risk waiting,but proceeded to one of his usual stations. Here, asthey were about to unload, they observed an inquisitivelooking man walking around as if intent upon watchingtheir actions. They judged that he suspected theirbusiness, and deeming it unsafe to leave the passengersthere, drove one-and-a-half miles to another place, wherethey unloaded in safety. They remained in the city overnight, and next morning learned that the house at whichthey first stopped had been searched about daylight, butno fugitives found in it.
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JAMES BANNAKER. UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. 347 James T. Dannaker then felt the importance of havingseveral places to call at in case danger should be lurkingaround any one of them. In addition to the families hehad been introduced to, he subsequently, through hisfriends, became acquainted with others. He made thearrangement with them that when he arrived with pas-sengers he would announce it by three distinct raps atthe door. The family understanding the meaning ofthis, would know what precautions to take before goingto the door, especially if strangers were in the house.When he had two or more wagon loads, he precededthem a square or two, carrying a white handkerchief inhis hand, by which to direct their movements. If theycould not be taken in at one place, he went to another,until he found accommodations for all. James Lewiss house now became a prominent station,and Dannaker an efficient conductor ; never being de-tected, although he frequently made two trips a week. At one time Friend E

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