The trial was late in its beginning and slow in its proceeding, so that it was not through until 9 p. m. It resulted in the release and acquittal of the defendants. But toward the close of the trial one of the crowd, McMillan by name (others say Wing), inquired of one of the Tabor boys if he could keep a secret. On being assured that he could and would, he handed him a paper which stated that there was game for his party at the house of Joe Foster, two miles away. This hint prompted E. S. Hill and Geo. Hunter to go and take a position in the bush near the house designated, where they could observe what was going on. And here let me say, the ground was covered with snow. The moon had been eclipsed that evening and consequently was at its full. It was a clear, cold, frosty night. There never was a brighter moonlight night than that was. A wagon drawn by four horses was brought out. They saw the slaves brought forth and loaded into the wagon, and watched, until they got fairly started on their way, and marked the road they took, then hastened back to Squire Cramer's to report. They reached the Squire's just as the trial closed, and then as all were released, they piled into two sleds and gave chase. Though behind the wagon miles in distance and hours in time, they soon struck the trail, followed on, and pressed their steeds to do their best, passing down on the west side of the West Nishnabotna to White Cloud, where they stopped to inquire, and learned that the wagon had passed there not long before, and crossed the river. This was the first real assurance that they were on the right track, and greatly encouraged the pursuers. The wagon led on down the river bottom on the east side, and after a time was seen on a distant rise. On pressed the kidnappers - Mr. Cassell on horseback, Jim Gardner driving, W. K. Follett piloting the way, Joe Foster on horseback "three sheets in the wind," Squire Wyatt and Geo. Linville aiders and abettors. The pursuers embraced Ed. T. Sheldon, W. S. Hill, Geo. Hunter, E. Avery, A. C. Gaston, Chas. F. Llawrence, Jas. L. Smith, and Pascal Mason.

On they rushed in hot pursuit, and overhauled the wagon nearly due east of Tabor, in the early dawn of morning. One of the sleds struck out ahead, and doubled up the leaders of the wagon team, and the other closed up behind enforcing obedience to the simultaneous shout, "Halt!" while all except the drivers leaped from the sleds, each drawing a sled stake for want of a better weapon, surrounded the wagon, and, in the attitude of taking aim, demanded a surrender, and surrender they did. All were required to go to Tabor. They came in and stopped at the hotel, then kept by Jesse West, where they warmed up, after an all night's cold ride. Breakfast was soon ready for all the company, but the pro-slavery party objected to eating with niggers - declared they were not use to that, and did not propose to begin now. "Oh, well!" said the landlord, "you needn't. You can sit down and eat and the others can eat afterward." They sat down to breakfast, and by the time they were through, the fugitives were well started on their way to freedom, and the kidnappers saw them no more.

As the fugitives had made their escape, and were gone, there was nothing further to be done but to send the pro-slavery captives to their respective homes. This was accordingly done by escorting such of them to their residences as had no teams of their own to convey them there. O. Cummings, J. K. Gaston, John Hallam, G. B. Gaston, W. M. Brooks and others had been out all night searching through Wabonsie, along the Missouri bottom and miles south of Thurman, from which night they returned, just as the captured party from across the Nishnabotna river entered Tabor. As the fugitives left the hotel without their breakfast, the repaired to L. E. Webb's two miles east of Tabor, for breakfast and rested there through the day. About sundown they set out for Canada, escorted by O. Cummings, D. E. Woods, L. B. Hill, Pascal Mason, and others on horseback.

They started in a sled, but changed to a wagon at Mr. Hill's. Streams were all frozen over, and could be crossed on the ice wherever a team could get down and up the banks. this train therefore took a "bee line" for Lewis and, after striking the divide between Walnut creek and East Nishnabotna, they followed it up to Lewis. Before reaching that station, they sent part of their company ahead to reconnoiter to see that the coast was all clear. The moon was setting in the west, and the sun rising in the east, as the train halted at the O. Mills station for breakfast. This company left Tabor the first time on Friday evening, March 6, 1860, and reached the division station at Lewis on Tuesday morning, the 10th, being three days and nights in making a journey which ordinarily required but twenty-four hours. At Lewis they were placed in the care of other conductors, and the Tabor people returned home again. When we consider the number of days and nights in succession spent by some of these persons in the cold winter, scouring the country in the saddle in search of the slaves, simply to help a fellow mortal to the enjoyment of liberty, we can see the strength of self-denial for others' good, which this philanthropy inspires. Said an actor, in these scenes in my hearing, who had joined our community four or five years before from Ohio, "I aided in a single year in Ohio more than a hundred fugitives to escape." This certainly indicates great activity in this line of business. It seems difficult for some to believe that so much risk and self-denial can be incurred without pecuniary compensation. In Ohio it was reported fifty years ago by the pro-slavery people that abolitionists received $25 a head for every slave they landed in Canada, and some seemed really to believe it true. A man in Nebraska City years ago, who was bitterly cursing the abolitionists, was asked what he meant by an abolitionist, to which he replied, "An abolitionist? Why, an abolitionist is one who steals niggers and runs them off south and sells them and pockets the money." With such abolitionists none of us have ever had any acquaintance.

Two fugitives from slavery were arrested by some persons (who were willing to do their owner a favor, or were eager to get a reward, or perhaps were prompted by both these motives combined) and lodged in the Linden jail for safe keeping. While there the weather was very cold, and they begged of the jailer a pan of live coals to keep them from freezing. When comfortably warm other possible benefits from the fire were suggested. With the pan of coals they managed to burn a hole through the floor large enough to effect their escape. As they proceeded up the Missouri river bottom a furious snow storm overtook them, and nearly perished in the cold. One of them found his way to Tabor, and stayed at Mr. G. G. Gaston's several weeks, hoping that his companion in bonds would make his appearance. Accustomed to active life he dislike to be idle, and asked for work. Mr. Gaston set him to cutting wood in the woods and for weeks he repaired daily to the work after breakfast in the morning, carrying with him a lunch for noon, and returning home in the shadows of the evening. After some week his companion in travel and tribulation came along, and they proceeded on their way to freedom.

Slavery had to foster a race prejudice in order to maintain its haughty and oppressive assumption of lordly power. Anglo-Saxons were created to rule, Africans to serve. This doctrine was so assiduously inculcated that it had its influence in shaping legislation and modifying public sentiment even in the free states. Hence the law which in Iowa discriminates against persons of color and forbids them to locate in the state until they give bonds that they will not become a public charge. But the baneful influence of slavery manifested itself in other ways.

About the year 1860, as John Williamson, Henry Garner, and his sister Maria, were on their way from Percival to Omaha, a covered carriage with two or three men in it overtook them. As the Garners, and Williamson were riding quietly along, not suspecting any danger, the carriage drove up behind them, the men jumped out hastily, and one of them with a stick or club struck Henry a crushing blow on the cheek, not only stunning him but breaking the cheek bone. All three were taken and hurried away into Missouri. but Williamson managed to makehis excape after some days. Henry and Maria were lodged in a slave pen in St. Louis, awaiting the day of sale in the slave market of that city. News of the kidnapping of the Garners no sooner reached Dr. Blanchard than he dropped all else, and made it his business to recover them. Mr. Gaston was informed of the occurrence, and together they spent days in diligent search through northwestern Missouri, and down as far as St. Joe. After obtaining some reliable trace of them and learning that they had been taken to St. Louis, Mr. Gaston returned home and Dr. Blanchard followed on to that place. He succeeded in tracing them to the prison, and stated to the keeper the wrongful manner in which they had been seized, and that they were really free negroes. The keeper proposed to test the truth of the doctor's story by bringing him into their presence and noting the effect of their seeing him. When Dr. Blanchard entered, Henry, suffering severelyyet from the blow he had received, and apparently in utter despair of any relief in the future, did not look up. But Maria no sooner looked up than she jumped up and ran and threw her arms around him, exclaiming, "Oh! Dr. Blanchard! where did you come from?" The testimony was indisputable. After proper legal steps Henry and Maria were set at liberty, and the kidnappers were placed in the custody of proper officers, brought to Council Bluffs, and there imprisoned to await their trial. But before the time for their trial they broke jail and effected their escape.

The principal in this kidnapping was a man by the name of Hurd, who had been in Kansas, and came away in not very good repute. He had been hanging about Dr. Blanchard's for several weeks apparently watching his chance. He was afterward heard of in Kansas, and in a year or two after this kidnapping scrape, it was reported that he was hung for horse stealing. "The way of the transgressor is hard."

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