Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, an American Slave, Written by Himself | Page 3

very act.
He confessed his guilt and promised to do better for the future--and on
his making promises of this kind my father was disposed to keep him
still, not wishing to part him from his wife, for whom he professed to
entertain the strongest affection. When the Christmas Holidays came on,
the old man, as is usual in this country, gave his negroes a week
Holiday. Walton, instead of regaling himself by going about visiting his
colored friends, took up his line of march for her Britanic Majesty's
dominions.
He was gone about two years I think, when I heard of him in Cincinnati;
I repaired thither, with some few friends to aid me, and succeeded in
securing him.
He was taken to Louisville, and on the next morning after our arrival
there, he escaped, almost from before our face, while we were on the
street before the Tavern. He succeeded in eluding our pursuit, and again
reached Canada in safety.
Nothing daunted he returned, after a lapse of some twelve or eighteen
months, with the intention, as I have since learned, of conducting off
his wife and eight or ten more slaves to Canada.
I got news of his whereabouts, and succeeded in recapturing him. I took
him to Louisville and together with his wife and child, (she going along
with him at her owner's request,) sold him. He was taken from thence
to New Orleans--and from hence to Red River, Arkansas--and the next
news I had of him he was again wending his way to Canada, and I
suppose now is at or near Detroit.
In relation to his character, it was the general opinion here that he was a
notorious liar, and a rogue. These things I can procure any number of
respectable witnesses to prove.
In proof of it, he says his mother belonged to James Bibb, which is a lie,
there not having been such a man about here, much less brother of
Secretary Bibb. He says that Bibb's daughter married A.G. Sibly, when

the fact is Sibly married Judge David White's daughter, and his mother
belonged to White also and is now here, free.
So you will perceive he is guilty of lying for no effect, and what might
it not be supposed he would do where he could effect anything by it.
I have been more tedious than I should have been, but being anxious to
give you his rascally conduct in full, must be my apology. You are at
liberty to publish this letter, or make any use you see proper of it. If
you do publish it, let me have a paper containing the publication--at
any rate let me hear from you again.
Respectfully yours, &c, SILAS GATEWOOD.
TO C.H. STEWART, ESQ.
* * * * *
[No. 3. An Extract.] CINCINNATI, _March 10, 1845_.
MY DEAR SIR:--Mrs. Path, Nickens and Woodson did not see Bibb
on his first visit, in 1837, when he staid with Job Dundy, but were
subsequently told of it by Bibb. They first saw him in May, 1838. Mrs.
Path remembers this date because it was the month in which she
removed from Broadway to Harrison street, and Bibb assisted her to
remove. Mrs. Path's garden adjoined Dundy's back yard. While
engaged in digging up flowers, she was addressed by Bibb, who was
staying with Dundy, and who offered to dig them up for her. She hired
him to do it. Mrs. Dundy shortly after called over and told Mrs. Path
that he was a slave. After that Mrs. Path took him into her house and
concealed him. While concealed, he astonished his good protectress by
his ingenuity in bottoming chairs with cane. When the furniture was
removed, Bibb insisted on helping, and was, after some remonstrances,
permitted. At the house on Harrison street, he was employed for several
days in digging a cellar, and was so employed when seized on Saturday
afternoon by the constables. He held frequent conversations with Mrs.
Path and others, in which he gave them the same account which he has
given you.
On Saturday afternoon, two noted slave-catching constables, E.V.
Brooks and O'Neil, surprised Bibb as he was digging in the cellar. Bibb
sprang for the fence and gained the top of it, where he was seized and
dragged back. They took him immediately before William Doty, a
Justice of infamous notoriety as an accomplice of kidnappers, proved
property, paid charges and took him away.

His distressed friends were surprised by his re-appearance in a few days
after, the Wednesday following, as they think. He reached the house of
Dr. Woods, (a colored man since deceased,) before day-break, and staid
until dusk. Mrs. Path, John Woodson and others made up about twelve
dollars for him. Woodson accompanied him out of town