New marker notes Sandusky's role in Underground Railroad

For the third consecutive year, a site in Sandusky nominated for listing on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom by the Erie County Historical Society has been accepted. In 2015 the Sandusky Maritime Museum also applied for and received acceptance for the museum, bringing the city's current total to four. There are now 593 sites in the country. With 72 sites, Ohio ranks second after recently jumping New York, and only trails leader Maryland which has 81.The 2016 site is the "The Underground Railroad/Abolition Boats Provide an Escape to Freedom" historic marker in Shoreline Park. This marker serves as the northern most terminus along the "River to Freedom Trail," originating in Portsmouth. The trail was established in 2004 in a collaborative effort between the Friends of Freedom Society and the Ohio Department of Transportation. It is the only historical marker in Sandusky not placed by the Erie County Historical Society or The Ohio History Connection (formerly the Ohio Historical Society).Geographic location, sympathetic citizenry, and an evolving transportation system all contributed to Sandusky's prominence on the Underground Railroad. This article will focus primarily on abolition boats.The first documented case of a fugitive slave passing through Sandusky occurred in 1820 when a Kentucky slaveholder tracked his escaped slave to Sandusky. Black hostler John Dunker secluded the fugitive in the Marsh Tavern, current location of Civista Bank's main office. Believing his slave had been concealed on the Walk-in-the-Water, the slaveholder, James Riley, also boarded. While Riley sailed to Detroit his slave traveled to Canada on a much smaller vessel piloted by Captain Shepherd. Unaware of the captain's sympathies, Riley had earlier offered Shepherd $300 to assist in the apprehension of the fugitive.There are probably as many towns claiming ties to the naming of the Underground Railroad as there are beds in which George Washington once slept. Sandusky's claim originated in 1831 when freedom seeker Tice Davids crossed the Ohio River with slave catchers in close pursuit. Davids managed to vanish in the streets of Ripley, with one of the trackers allegedly staring into the darkness scratching his head, saying, "It's as if he vanished on some road underground," leading to the term 'Underground Railroad'. We claim a part of that version because Tice Davids reached Canada via Sandusky.Two leading characters in Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" are believed to be modeled after two incidents involving flights to freedom through Sandusky. In 1830, through the assistance of Captain John Burnham, Josiah Henson and his family boarded the Commerce west of the city in their successful quest for freedom. Henson would return to Sandusky on numerous occasions to lead fugitives to freedom. Many believed that Mrs. Stowe used Henson's kind, Christian character in development of her 'Tom.'One of the more dramatic scenes of the novel chronicles a young mother with babe in arms racing across a partially frozen Ohio River. Horrified at the thought of capture and terrified by the danger of drowning in the frigid water, Eliza Harris did reach the Ripley shoreline. After recuperating she journeyed to Sandusky. There she cut her hair and dressed in male clothing while disguising her son as a little girl in order to safely board the Arrow for Canada. Primary sources mention this adventure occurring prior to Mrs. Stowe's visit to Sandusky and subsequent writing of the story.The Arrow was also the ship from which seven freedom seekers were removed, which led to a melee leading to their escape aboard a different boat, orchestrated in large part by young attorney Rush Sloane. Sloane's conviction two years later in 1854 was one of the first Ohio convictions for breaking the 1850 Federal Fugitive Slave Act.The Arrow's captain and part owner, Sylvester Atwood, was convicted in a different incident for releasing fugitives at Fort Malden, Canada, across the river from Detroit. Atwood was reputed to have piloted fifteen other lake vessels, including the Bay City, said to have links with the Underground Railroad. He also captained the Philo Parsons, the Civil War steamship commandeered by Confederate operatives in their failed attempt to free 2500 prisoners from Johnson's Island in 1864.One of the more memorable events occurred after twenty fugitives boarded the United States on a Sunday, a day when writs could not be served. The slaveholders, concerned that the freedom seekers would disembark before reaching Detroit, agreed to pay the captain $50 for not landing in Canada. Much to their chagrin, near Detroit a small boat was lowered over the side allowing the fugitives to reach Canada and the captain to technically keep his word. According to legend the captain received his $50.Because racially blended maritime crews traversing the world were somewhat commonplace, it was not unusual to find black crewmen on heavily traveled river and Great Lakes vessels, many of whom were inclined to assist fugitives. One such man, George DeBaptiste, worked as a steward aboard The Arrow under Captain Atwood. Settling in Detroit, DeBaptiste purchased the T Whitney, believed to have been active on the Underground Railroad. Interestingly, although a black man could own a ship he could not captain it. Not to be deterred, DeBaptiste hired Atwood, the man whom he once worked under, to pilot his vessel.Smaller vessels also played a role as earlier mentioned in the 1820 escape. In the 1850's, Captain George Sweigels carried fugitives to Canada aboard his Sharpee, a small sailboat used for fishing.The arrival of winter did not deter travel from Sandusky to Canada. While a number of hardy souls attempted the journey on foot, those more fortunate managed to hire livery operator James Wright to pull his sleigh across to Point Pelee.A number of potential sites remain undesignated due to several obstacles. First of all, hearsay or just one documented source does not suffice to apply. A strong body of research to support the application must be submitted to comply with the high standards set by the National Park Service's National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom in order to maintain the credibility of the program.Secondly, all sites require the owner's permission to apply, which understandably occasionally meets resistance for privately owned sites. Once the owner realizes there are no stipulations on how the property is used; no limitations to modifications to the property; and most importantly to many, that the site is not required to be open to the public, permission is usually granted.The Historical Society looks forward to continuing our efforts to provide insight into this intriguing era in Sandusky's history. In the meantime, visit the Erie County Historical Society's website at www.ErieCountyOhioHistory.com, to learn more about the Underground Railroad in Sandusky and the three newly developed walking tours including our Underground Railroad tour.Randy Koch is a local author and currently Vice-President of the Erie County Historical Society.A new marker tells the story of the Underground Railroad in Sandusky. The other side of the new marker, located at Shoreline Park.