History of the Underground Railroad- How Slaves
Were Transported
The transportation of slaves obviously had to be done
under the utmost secret of conditions. The transport worked much
like a railroad. Once a slave escaped and managed to make contact
with sympathizers, he or she became a part of the underground
railroad and would hopefully be transported to freedom.
Similar to an actual railroad, the act of transporting the escaped
slaves incorporated all the terms used during a railroad journey:
- The routes from safe-house to safe-house (houses where fugitive
slaves were kept) were called 'lines'.
- Stopping places were called 'stations'.
- Those who aided fugitive slaves were known as 'conductors'.
- In order to keep terms as clandestine as possible, the fugitive slaves were known as 'packages' or 'freight'.
The average distance needed to be covered by a newly escaped
slave in order to arrive at a 'station' was anywhere from 10 to
15 miles, but the distance shortened considerably the further
north one got. At the 'stations', the weary slaves were given
food, rest, and a change of clothing.