Hi my name is Ranger Shawn with the National Parks of Boston.
One of the essential leaders of Boston's Maritime Underground Railroad was Austin
Bearse. Born in Barnstable Massachusetts as a young man Austin Bearse found
employment as a mate on ships that traded throughout the East Coast. Part of
this trade involved transporting enslaved individuals giving Austin Bearse
first-hand experience with the evils of slavery. As he wrote in his memoir
Reminiscence of the Fugitive Slave Law Days, "it used to be my business to pull
open the hatches and tell the slaves that it was time to separate and the
shrieks and cries heard at this time were enough to make anybody's heart ache...
Because I no longer think it right to witness these things in silence I trade
no more south of Mason and Dixon's line." By the 1830's Austin Bearse had become an
ardent abolitionist, subscriber to the Liberator newspaper, and would utilize
his maritime skills to assist freedom seekers. No longer trading with the South
Austin Bearse still found employment in the maritime industry.
He owned a boat called the Moby Dick which Bostonian's could hire for day long
fishing excursions or harbor cruises. By night though
Austin Bearse used the Moby Dick to help stowaways gain their freedom from
southern ships. For example in September of 1854 abolitionists learned that the
Sally Anne, a ship dock near Castle Island, had a stowaway on board.
Austin Bearse took the Moby Dick alongside the Sally Anne in hopes of
rescuing the fugitive. However, the captain of the Sally Anne came on deck
and immediately threatened violence telling Bearse that if he tried to board
his ship he would, and I quote "send you into eternity damned quick." Retreating to
Long Wharf Austin Bearse went looking for reinforcements but could not find
any so he had to take bold action. As he recalled, "knowing that it was daylight
soon I had to lay a plot. I took a dozen old hats and coats and fastened them to
the railing of my yacht giving me the appearance of having so many men. I then
went back alongside the schooner and told the captain that I had come
prepared and he'd better give up the fugitive and save bloodshed.
After parlaying a little the captain agreed to put the slave in my boat."
Thanks to the quick thinking and cunning efforts of Austin Bierce that freedom
seeker was able to make his way to Canada
safely.