Today as I make my way home I was able to visit the Underground Railroad Museum in Niagara Falls New York. It sits adjacent to the Amtrak station. I had spotted it on my way to Canada and I was hopeful that I would have enough time to visit there before catching the train. Fortunately I was able to do so.
The Underground Railroad was an unofficial route from slavery to freedom. An unmarked yet highly efficient system to assist slaves from the US as they traveled at great peril to freedom in Canada.
There were many routes to freedom using the Underground Railroad. As many routes as there were there were also many manifestations of its existence. The journey through Niagara Falls, New York was one such stopping point or stations along the railroad. The stop here in Niagara Falls was not the end of the line, for still remaining was to cross the great river.
Crossing the river was dangerous in itself, on top of the many dangers already endured. Until the suspension train Bridge was constructed the crossing had to be made by boat. Since these were fugitive slaves they of course could not travel in luxury and so took passage on small boats and made the crossing often times at night.
Having, myself just come from viewing the Niagara Falls and the river I can attest to the fact that it is rapid and turbulent waters. I myself would be sorely challenged to make such a crossing in some small wooden boat. Heck, I wouldn’t even do it on the large passenger steamboats which currently ply the waters of the river.
Fugitive slaves seeking freedom had no such luxury or much choice except to take what was available. Even boarding the boat was hazardous. Besides the rickety wooden stairs down the cliff side to the river, there was the constant threat of bounty hunters seeking to recapture these fleeing humans.
Here in Niagara Falls there was a posh restaurant catering to wealthy whites called the Cataract House. Here while the wealthy white customers were served by neatly dressed, well practiced servants, behind the scenes these black servants provided aid, comfort, and directions as well as support to the fleeing slaves.
The owners of Cataract House apparently turned a blind eye towards these subversive activities, thereby colluding with their free servants in assisting the fugitives.
I am reminded of the incident when the son of the wealthy merchant is first approached by retainers of the merchant who was the poor man’s son. When it occurred we are told that the poor son, not knowing the intentions of the retainers feared that he would be put into slavery. We know of course that the fear was unfounded.
For the fugitive slaves capture meant one thing, the resumption of their enslavement. That is of course if they were not killed in the course of their capture. Since slaves were viewed as property capture was the preferred outcome, thpugh it idd not prohibit overzealous bounty hunters from the murder of their prey. While they wouldn’t get as much money for their efforts they did receive some financial compensation.
We take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, let us never be afraid. When we consider the gifts we have received I hope that we do not take for granted the benefits we have obtained and ignore the suffering of those in society who have not found the refuge of the Three Jewels. Our own benefits are incomplete without all beings in our environment also benefiting. There is no peace and security without it being available equally to all beings.
