Underground Railroad

prior to the Civil War, a name given to a more or less systematic plan for the escape of slaves. Throughout the territory extending from the Ohio River to Canada there were many slave sympathizers who concealed slaves during the daytime and conveyed them in the night to someone farther on, who, in turn, performed a like service. Instead of forming a line direct from Kentucky to Ontario these self-appointed agents who maintained stations for the underground railway formed a sort of network. It was impossible to foretell in what direction Farmer A would send his passengers. Sometimes, to avoid pursuers who made a business of catching runaway slaves for a reward, he would send a passenger back toward Kentucky, or take him across country and leave him in another line of communication. These agents became very skillful and persistent. Once a runaway slave succeeded in reaching the haymow of an agent of the underground railway he was fairly sure of making his escape. Mrs. Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin gives an account of one of these conductors.