Htet Lin

Professor Sachtjen
History 7A
13 April 2016
Document Interpretation #4
Around the time of the 1820s, a secret network was developed which contained a series
of secret routes and safe houses for fugitive slaves. This special network was termed the
famous Underground Railroad. The principal purpose of this Underground Railroad was to aid in
the escape of fugitive slaves and to ultimately guide them to freedom into the free states and
even Canada. This secret networks success rested upon on the coalition between former fugitive
slaves, blacks who were born free, black abolitionists, and even white abolitionists. In fact, one
of the Underground Railroads most fundamental leaders happen to Levi Coffin (a white
abolitionist) and his wife who have been said to have helped over a hundred fugitive slaves
escape to freedom in the state of Cincinnati.
Coincidentally, in the year 1850, Levi Coffin began composing a series of journal entries
which documented him and his wifes experience with the Underground Railroad as well as their
many assisted trips to help fugitive slaves escape. According to his journal entries, in order for
their trips to go unnoticed by the officials, he and his wife made sure to take every precaution
actively. Beginning in their homes, the Coffins made sure that the fugitive slaves were concealed
in the upper chambers for weeks at a timeor until there were drivers available to transfer
them to other depots. Mrs. Coffins was said to have used several tactics that would lull their
visitors so that they were not suspicious of any activity going on. Additionally, since the slaves
were unable to dine in Coffins kitchen, food was brought up into the chambers for them by Mrs.
Coffins in the form of a basket. To ensure that no one was suspicious of a basket of food being
brought into the chambers, Mrs. Coffin placed iron garments on top. When the slaves were ready
to be transferred to other depots by horse drivers, the Coffins made sure that the drivers were
colored individuals who had nothing to lose if they were to be caught. Therefore, if officials were
to catch up to the horse drivers that were transporting the slaves, the Coffins secrets were safe.
The most significant precaution that the Coffins did take was to only trust a few individuals with
the knowledge about their network. Not only that, but disclosing the whereabouts of the slaves to
only a couple of individuals helped the Coffins remained concealed as well.
In one of Mr. Coffins journal entries, he briefly describes the plight of fugitive slaves
who have escaped to Cincinnati in search of his aid. He states that these slaves arrive in a very
destitute condition, frightened and in desperate need of care. He takes notice of their lack of
suitable clothing and immediately begins to think about how he can help them. Mr. Coffin
describes this plight to Cincinnati with a bit of sympathy and a readiness to help the slaves. In his

journal entry, he does not complain about the additional slaves nor does he complain about how
much more work he is going to have to put into getting them to freedom. Instead, he begins to
almost calculate how much more money he needs to spend and how many more horse drivers he
is going to need for these slaves.
Coffin and his wife were able to be such successful conductors of the Underground
Railroad because of the precautions that they took to ensure that the fugitive slaves were
completely concealed. Mrs. Coffin was able to compose herself in such a way that would not
make her visitors or family member suspicious of any wrongdoing on their partmost
individuals would either cave in to fear or guilt. Mr. Coffin was able to correctly give his trust to
only a certain number of individuals so that their network would be safe. More importantly, he
was willing to help the fugitive slaves escapedespite the consequences that the Coffins would
have to face if they were to get caught by the officials.