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The Civil War, beside the drive to join the military, provided another pressure, another influence that many chose to ignore. Movements for the abolition of slavery came to life in the mid 19th century and continue growth until emancipation in 1861. Before this proclamation, many tried to aid fugitive black slaves' escape to freedom, through smuggling many of them into northern states.
Harriet Tubman was known as a prominent organizer of smuggling blacks to freedom. She connected with abolitionists, who desired to fight for her cause and aid in any way they can. Many of these abolitionists housed, fed, clothed and often paid for fugitive smuggling. Among them (perhaps most prominent) is [[Thomas Garrett.]] He stationed many black fugitives in his home, taking care of their many needs, before sending them off to the north. Because of his well known services of stationing many blacks as a midpoint to freedom, he became known today as an infamous "station master..."
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Garrett was born on August 21, 1789 in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, where he grew up and lived until after he wed.
[[Learn more.]] or [[Start game.]]
Garret was known for helping fugitive slaves who passed through the Susquehanna River, which flew under the Wilmington Bridge, a very important path for smuggling fugitives. For many, passing this bridge meant completion of the final leg to freedom.
[[Start game.]]
Upper Darby, Pennsylvania: 1813
Penny, a free black servant who works for your family has been captured by slave traders.
[[Send the housekeeper after him.]]
[[Run after him.]]
The slave traders are adamant and will not set him free.
[[Run after him.]]
Success! you have been able to retrieve your Penny!
[[Feeling self pride.]]
In order to better help the abolition movement, you will need to move to a location that can help blacks free to the North.
[[Move to Wilmington, Delaware's northernmost city]]
Your parents are pushing you to [[find a wife]].
Spring, 1822
Your move has been successful! A friend has helped you start your own shoe business!
Upon settling home, you've had the chance to meet Harriet Tubman, an escaped refugee who you've heard has assisted many black fugitives and slaves. She thinks you may be an asset to her cause and has gained an instant trust in you. Quite an opportunity for an abolitionist like yourself! You're shoe business can benefit many fugitives who may need new shoes after many years of wearing torn shoes.
Before you [[agree to help]] in any way you can, Tubman warns you to beware, as you are agreeing to take upon yourself the dangers that will come with your new role.
The slaves have successfully crossed. The local police guard knows of your recent agreement with Tubman.
[[bear more caution as you continue.]]
Five fugitives hear of your extended help and have come asking for clothes and food. You only have ninety dollars to spear. Without proper food and clothing, they may not survive across the Market Street Bridge.
[[Pay each $18 dollars for food and clothes]]
or
[[Food will be sufficient.]] You're shoe business has only started blooming.
Congratulations! You’re dedication in abolitionary has earned you the title "station master!" With your new reputation, you’ve been able to afford to open an iron and hardware store. This will be a great help for your cause, as you can use your store to hide or help fugitives pass through Wilmington without being seen. More opportunities to fight for your cause are yet to come...
[[Next.]]
Harriet Tubman expresses her thanks! She was not expecting more than she had asked. With a satisfied heart, she returns home.
[[Let the night take over, you had a long day.]] [[Two weeks later.]]
You are out tending to business when an enraged slave owner approaches you, angered by his knowledge of your helping fugitive slaves. Before you can respond, he pulls out a revolver and threatens to shoot you!
[[Stand your ground and respond "Here I am, thee can shoot me if thee likes!"]]
or
[[run]]
You've managed to run to a close and secretive distance and the slave owner’s anger has subsided.
[[escape the scene before he changes his mind.]]
Startled by your bravery, the slave owner let's you free.
You [[escape the scene before he changes his mind.]]
You've arrived home safely. Before you can sit there is a knock on the door
[[open the door]]
It is Peter, a free black who is also a friend of Harriet Tubman
Peter, out of breath and with fear written on his face, pants that Harriet Tubman sent a message saying she is stuck on the other side of the Street Market Bridge! She tried helping fugitives across and upon her return, discovered that watch guards have been placed all across the bridge, in search of Harriet Tubman! Now, both she and the fugitives remain on the other side, unsure of how to continue across.
[[Advise a plan]]
You must call for a wagon to retrieve her, but the way back will be tricky. The only way to ensure a safe return is by fooling the bridge watchmen. A friend of yours allowed you to higher his bricklayers as carriage drivers. They can ride across the bridge, acting marry and jubilant. Once across the bridge, Tubman and other fugitives can hide underneath sacks and straw as they ride back across. Since the watchmen will have already seen the wagon drivers, they will assume them to be merely on their way back from work, and may not thoroughly search them upon their return.
The Street Market Bridge, however, is under tighter surveillance, due to the outburst of runaway slaves. What may seem like a trip across the bridge may end up being another arrest on your hands...
[[Send them across anyway.]]
or
[[Wait a few days, with the hopes that the bridge security will reside.]]
Your reputation is spreading fast! You've successfully aided many slaves. Rumor has it those slave owners often times give up chase when they learn that their slaves fell in your hands!
Unfortunately, because of this, your safety may be even more vulnerable. A partner in the Underground Railroad has informed you that a large sum of six thousand dollars has been offered to anyone that can secure you in a Maryland prison! You must [[bear more caution as you continue.]]
Burton Folsom. 2005. “Thomas Garrett and the Underground Railroad.” The Freeman, February.
Gara, Larry. 1961. “The Underground Railroad: Legend or Reality?” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society Vol. 105 (3).
McGowan, James A. 2005. Station Master on the Underground Railroad: The Life and Letters of Thomas Garrett. Revised.
Parker, Mariah. n.d. “Thomas Garrett.” Swarthmore College. http://trilogy.haverford.edu/speccoll/quakersandslavery/commentary/people/garrett.php.
"Thomas Garrett: Accomplice Ot Slave Fight, Queen Anne’s County, Maryland, 1845.” 2012. Arichives of Maryland (Biographical Series).
You will play Thomas Garrett. You will begin with the first sparks of interest in the abolitionist movement and continue exploring, as you meet new faces, fugitives, and threats on your path.
[[Begin.]]
June 1, 1820
Rescuing Penny has inspired you to become an anti-slavery petitioner. You recently hear about the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting Abolition of Slavery. If you [[join]], many opportunities will come your way...
or
I need to [[find a wife]] first.
Congratulations on your marriage with Mary Sharpless!
[[More about Mary.]] or...
Great! Back to business, now that you can join the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting Abolition of Slavery, you must move to a location that can better assist fugitives escaping to the north. You decide to [[Move to Wilmington, Delaware's northernmost city]]
Mary Sharpless was born and raised in your hometown, Pennsylvania. She may be a great asset for your views on slavery abolition.
Once married, you can join the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery and [[Move to Wilmington, Delaware's northernmost city]] in order to better serve this cause by living in a location close to the northern border.
Just days later, a group of exhausted fugitive black slaves appear at your new estate. They tell you that they've been sent to you to aid them in crossing the Wilmington Bridge. You notice that their feet are blistered and their shoes torn apart. They cannot possibly continue their journey without [[new pairs of shoes and a hearty meal]].
or [[Call a carriage for their leave.]]
Tubman expresses her thanks "May god be with you" and returns home.
[[Let the night take over, you had a long day.]]
November, 1845
You've received word from John Hunn, a partner with anti slavery. He has sent you a letter informing you of a family in need of assistance.
Samuel Hawkins, a free black man, has been trying to buy the freedom of his wife and children, who are currently owned by Charles Glanding and Elizabeth Turner. Hawkins has been rejected yet again by the courts and is exhausted from years of seeing his family in slavery. They will need to be [[smuggled in]] from Queen Anne's County MD into Wilmington, where they can then proceed up to Pennsylvania.
You have found a contact of yours, Samuel D. Burris, who can lead the family into Delaware. He is joined by four other fugitive blacks, and together, they will be able to reach Middletown Delaware near the homes of Hunn or his cousin John Alston.
[[Send them to Alston's.]]
or
[[Send them to John Hunn, one who you know and trust.]]
After a torturous twenty seven mile journey, the men and the Hawkins family arrive at Alston's estate, exhausted and nearly frozen from snow. Hunn invites them in, where they are fed, properly clothed and sent to sleep in the barn.
[[next]]
The men and the Hawkins family arrive at Hunn's estate, exhausted and nearly frozen from snow. Hunn invites them in, where they are fed, properly clothed and sent to sleep in the barn.
[[next]]
You hear that Hawkins is being held in custody in New Castle. A federal aid will come in handy. Luckily, the sheriff of New Castle is anti-slavery himself, and can accompany you, if need be.
[[Go with the sheriff to New Castle and try to smuggle Hawkin's out.]]
You've heard that the slave hunters have left town to retrieve an important document to prove Hawkins lack of freedom! The Sheriff freed Hawkins from his sell, but he must gain legitimate release. You immediately send for U.S senator John Wales to assist you in freeing Hawkins. Wales agrees to accompany you to Judge Booth, the Chief justice of Delaware at the time. Offering to take Hawkins to the Chief Justice without you, Wales warns you to avoid actual contact with Hawkins, as it may be used against you in court.
[[Leave and allow Judge booth to attain Hawkins’ release.]]
or
[[Insist to go with them, you want to ensure that Hawkins is set to freedom personally, regardless of the dangers it may cause.]]
You've waited a long week and finally heard back from the Sherriff. Hawkins has successfully escaped to the North. You can now continue working on building up your hardware store.
[[Six weeks later.]]
After presenting the case to Judge booth in private, you have succeeded! Judge booth signed for Hawkins' release by writ of habeas corpus. The slave hunters completetly missed your plan and Hawkins is set free with his family!
[[Feel a lot of self pride.]] or
[[Strike another tally mark to note yet another fugitive slave aided.]]
You received note that a neighbor has discovered the Hawkins' hiding! Constable Richard C. Hays was notified and arrived with slave hunters who almost attacked and arrested Hawkins. The family is still safe. You must wait for [[notice]] so that you can advise a proper plan to release him.
[[Six weeks later.]]
[[Six weeks later.]]
Blast! A law suit, incited by James A. Bayard, has been posed against you! The court has summoned you for a violation of the Fugitive Slave Act. Your court hearing will be led in New Castle Delaware under the judgment of Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney.
The following allegations and consequences that have been made by the prosecutors appear on the summon document:
Charles Glanding -for debt caused to his property: $1,000
And
-for trespass on his property: $2,500
Elizabeth N. Turner- for debt caused to her assets: $2,000
And
- for trespass on her property: $5,000
[[Proceed to court]]
or
[[Can this get any worse?]]
You have been presented well. The case however, does not seem to go in your favor, as the Jury is filled with pro-slavery petitioners.
In addition, Judge Taney has denounced your behavior and warned that he hopes to never find you involved in abolitionary.
[[Reveal court results]]
Do not fear! Luckily, U.S Senator John Wales will represent your defense!
[[Proceed to court]]
Good News! You've been ordered to pay half of what was charged against you! However, $5,000 will still put you into a small degree of debt. How will you continue?
[[I must move on, fugitives need me.]]
or
[[Back to the iron and hardware store.]] I'll need to pay off this debt.
Harriet Tubman pays you a surprise visit in your iron and hardware store.
[[What a surprise! It has been quite a while!]]
While working hard to manage your store and help fugitives sent to you by John Hunn and William Still, another partner in the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman pays you an unexpected visit.
[[What a surprise! It has been quite a while!]]"god has sent me to you for money" she says.
"Thee know I have a great many calls for money from the coloured people and thee cannot expect much money from me"
"You can give me what I need for now...god never fools me. I need twenty dollars for two passengers who are escaping to Pennsylvania." She replies.
[[Refuse to pay, you haven’t any money.]]
or
[[You cannot push her away, she is too convincing.]]
You just remembered that you were given a five pound donation (worth twenty seven dollars at the time) for the anti slavery cause. You can...
[[Give Harriet all five pounds.]]
or
[[Only give her the twenty dollars she needed.]] you could use the spear cash after your court loss.
You just remembered that you were given a five pound donation (worth twenty seven dollars at the time) for the anti slavery cause. You can [[Give Harriet all five pounds.]]
or
[[Only give her the twenty dollars she needed.]] you could use the spear cash after your court loss.
Success!! Tubman has been rescued!
[[End]] Your fears have pushed you to wait too long. You receive word that the fugitives have been sold back south.
Tubman will still be able to make it back after the security resides, but the opportunity to save the fugitives have been lost.
[[End]]
Thomas Garrett died in 1871 at the age of 81. His record has shown that he aided over 2,700 fugitive black slaves in his lifetime. He lived to see emancipation, but not to see the end of unequal segragation. His memory is worth visiting, and playing.
[[Bibliography]]
Blast! A law suit, incited by James A. Bayard, has been posed against you! The court has summoned you for a violation of the Fugitive Slave Act. Your court hearing will be led in New Castle Delaware under the judgment of Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney.
The following allegations and consequences that have been made by the prosecutors appear on the summon document:
Charles Glanding -for debt caused to his property: $1,000
And
-for trespass on his property: $2,500
Elizabeth N. Turner- for debt caused to her assets: $2,000
And
- for trespass on her property: $5,000
[[proceed to court, you have high hopes]]
or
[[Can this possibly get any worse?]]
Success! Because you did not interact with Hawkins while helping him escape as the Sheriff advised, the court cannot charge you for violation of the Fugitive Slave Act. All charges posed against you are void! Close call!
What will you do next?
[[I must move on, fugitives need me.]]
or
[[Back to the iron and hardware store.]]Do not fear! Luckily, U.S Senator John Wales will represent your defense!
[[proceed to court, you have high hopes]]
As a committer to this cause, you must make an effort to be a bit more selfless. Thankfully, you have been able to raise more money, in your efforts to save, and have opened an iron and hardware store. This can help you further house fugitive slaves or allow them a safe area to pass through.
[[Next.]]