The Underground Railroad, Part 3 of 3

Focus on the Family: Last time on Adventures in Odyssey...
Guest (Male): Have you ever heard of the Underground Railroad?
Whit: Yes. What does that have to do with Wit's End?
Guest (Male): Because your tunnel may have been a hiding place for runaway slaves before the Civil War. It's the story of the Ross family: Henry, his wife Caroline, and William, their 17-year-old son.
Guest (Male): You'll be in soul.
Henry Ross: No, I'm not going. No, don't split up our family. Caroline, get on something warm. We're heading off. They've enacted a new law. Anybody helping slaves can get arrested.
Caroline Ross: We're going to Canada? How are we going to get there?
Guest (Male): It's called the Underground Railroad.
Caroline Ross: But what about our son? He was meeting us here.
Guest (Male): You've just got to hope he makes it too.
William Ross: I got to go to Cabin Creek, see my folks.
Guest (Male): You might as well head to Canada. I have a map for you. I wrote it out on leather because it's durable. This will lead you all the way to Canada.
Caroline Ross: This here is a fake wall. Get inside.
Nathan: I got permission from the Sheriff of this town to search your house. Stay outside. Get your hands off me.
Guest (Male): They just up and took her. We got to get going now.
Henry Ross: We got a problem. We don't know where to go next.
Carl Ross: They wandered around for days, heading north, but not trusting anyone for directions or to give them a place to sleep. But as the wind got colder and the snow piled up around their feet, they knew that they would have to take a chance and knock on a stranger's door.
Henry Ross: Come on, Caroline. There's a house up here. It's next to a church. Just a little further now.
Caroline Ross: Can't do this.
Henry Ross: Come on now. Stay with me. Stand up, Caroline. Okay. I'm going to carry you in. Stay with me. Don't let go, Caroline. We're here. We're going to be fine. Hello in the house!
Andrew Jameson: Oh, my. Come inside. How long have you been traveling?
Henry Ross: A few days.
Andrew Jameson: Bring her over by the fire.
Henry Ross: Think she's going to be okay?
Andrew Jameson: I don't know.
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Carl Ross: Henry stayed with Caroline for two days. He didn't know it at first, but he had stopped at the rectory of a church, the place where the minister lived. The man who helped him was Andrew, the minister. Henry went to the church itself and prayed as hard as he could that Caroline would soon rise from her bed and be ready to move on. She was powerless, barely able to speak. Reverend Andrew called a doctor to see what he could do.
Henry Ross: She's going to be okay. I know it. She's been through worse than this.
Andrew Jameson: Just keep praying, Henry. Oh, doctor, how is she?
Doctor: Well, Reverend, she has a very high fever. I'm afraid it looks like pneumonia.
Henry Ross: What's that? Is it bad?
Doctor: It's very dangerous.
Henry Ross: Dangerous? What do you mean, dangerous? Tell me the truth.
Andrew Jameson: Henry, Henry. Is there anything that can be done?
Doctor: Well, we need to keep her as cool as possible and bring that fever down. Cold cloths on the forehead, that type of thing. I've got an herb mixture I could give her, and it seems to work sometimes.
Henry Ross: You're going to give it to her now?
Doctor: No, not yet. I'll need to get some and bring it back, but in the meantime, just stay close to her.
Andrew Jameson: Thank you, doctor.
Doctor: You're welcome. And I'll be back as soon as I can with those herbs.
Andrew Jameson: Are you okay, Henry?
Henry Ross: I think I just want to be alone with her.
Carl Ross: Henry stayed by Caroline's side every second. She was awake and alert, but the fever continued to rise. Little by little, the life was drained out of her.
Caroline Ross: Henry, could you get me some more water?
Henry Ross: Right here. It's right beside you.
Caroline Ross: Oh, thank you.
Henry Ross: Let me tell you about what I planned. When we get to Canada, I'm going to build you a nice house. We'll have a yard and a garden.
Caroline Ross: Oh, yeah.
Henry Ross: You can plant beans and tomatoes and...
Caroline Ross: Go on, Henry. Go on.
Henry Ross: I don't want to do it alone. You got to get well.
Caroline Ross: I don't have the strength, Henry.
Henry Ross: Oh, Caroline, don't even talk that way.
Caroline Ross: It's okay. I'm not scared.
Henry Ross: I am. I want you to come home, Caroline.
Caroline Ross: I'm going home. It ain't Canada, and it ain't in Tennessee. It's with Jesus. Go on, Henry. Go on to Canada and build you a house. Have yourself a garden and save a room for William when he gets there. And Henry, make sure he marry a nice girl, not some crabby old woman like me. Tell him I'm up there keeping an eye on him. And every time you wake up in the morning from now till the day you die, I want you to remember how very much I love you.
Henry Ross: Oh, Caroline.
Caroline Ross: Do me a favor.
Henry Ross: Yes.
Caroline Ross: Tell me some more about the garden. You're going to have flowers?
Henry Ross: Oh, yeah. Lots of flowers. Some tulips and petunias.
Caroline Ross: Oh, nice.
Henry Ross: And a big old magnolia tree, if they grow them up there.
Carl Ross: That very same night, Caroline died. Reverend Andrew and Henry buried her the next day. Henry put her in the dress that he got her in Cabin Creek. They both said a prayer, sang a hymn, and went back into the church. Henry knew as soon as it was over that he had to move on. He got his things together and started off for Canada alone. Later that night, Reverend Andrew was paid a visit by an unwanted visitor.
Andrew Jameson: Hello?
Nathan: Reverend, my name is Nathan. I have a couple of questions for you.
Andrew Jameson: Okay, go ahead.
Nathan: I'm looking for some runaway slaves. You wouldn't happen to have seen any, would you?
Andrew Jameson: Slaves? No, only men who are free.
Nathan: And how do you explain the fresh grave in the back, the one with the cross saying Caroline? You know, I happen to be looking for a couple of slaves, one named Caroline.
Andrew Jameson: Well, sir, even if I had them in here, which I don't, I wouldn't let you in anyway. Frankly, I find what you're doing despicable.
Nathan: What, retrieving my property?
Andrew Jameson: They are not property. They are people, not horses or plows or bags of cotton. People!
Nathan: Well, thanks for the sermon.
Andrew Jameson: How you can do this is beyond my imagination.
Nathan: Reverend, I don't really care for what you're doing either. You're helping fugitives from the law, and you're going to jail for it.
Andrew Jameson: I'd rather be locked in jail with a conscience than be free without one.
Nathan: I guess you never been in jail before. I'll be seeing you.
Andrew Jameson: Are you sure you don't want to come in and search the place?
Nathan: No, Reverend, if you say there ain't nobody in there, I believe you, which means he's already left, and you'll be wanting to stall me so I can't catch him. Thanks for your help.
Andrew Jameson: Oh, Lord, help Henry right now. Quicken his steps, Father.
Henry Ross: Oh, dear Lord, help me. Give me strength, Lord. There he is! Oh, no! He's running! Cut him off, John! Derek! Oh, God, help me! Well, Henry. Good to see you again. Tie him up. We got a long trip back to Tennessee.
Carl Ross: By now, William was slowly making his way northwest. Running alone was much different than running with someone. There was no one to urge him on when the snow got deep and he felt he couldn't walk another step. And worse than that, it was very doubtful that his family would even be there at the end of the journey. On this night, he was told by his last contact to head east around the next town. Look for the church steeple and a patch of woods. There he'd find a tunnel that led into the church rectory.
Andrew Jameson: Come on in, son. Glad you found the tunnel. It's the safest way. I've built one that goes over to the basement of the church too. Oh, are you hurt?
William Ross: All I got's a scratch on my arm. Got caught in some thorns.
Andrew Jameson: Fairly deep. I've got some salve I can put on it. I'm Reverend Andrew. Welcome to my humble home. Well, the basement of it, anyway. What's your name?
William Ross: William.
Andrew Jameson: Okay, William. I have a room for you and... what is it? Why are you looking at me so strange? You're William?
William Ross: Yes, sir.
Andrew Jameson: Are your parents heading north too?
William Ross: Not sure. Haven't seen them in a long time.
Andrew Jameson: Is your father's name Henry?
William Ross: Yeah.
Andrew Jameson: Your mother's name is Caroline?
William Ross: Yeah. How'd you know?
Andrew Jameson: They came through here.
William Ross: My folks made it out?
Andrew Jameson: Your father just left here six or seven hours ago.
William Ross: I got to find them. Which way did they go?
Andrew Jameson: You can't leave now. It's almost daylight. You might as well head back to Tennessee if you're going to do that.
William Ross: But I got to see them.
Andrew Jameson: After dark. Right now you have to rest.
William Ross: How do you think I'm going to rest? My family's out there.
Andrew Jameson: William, I need to tell you something.
William Ross: What?
Andrew Jameson: It's about your mother.
William Ross: Mama? What about her?
Andrew Jameson: I'm sorry, but she passed away.
William Ross: How?
Andrew Jameson: She was very ill with pneumonia. Do you know what that is?
William Ross: I heard of it. Mama...
Andrew Jameson: I'm sorry, William. Mama...
Andrew Jameson: Do you want any more soup?
William Ross: No, thank you.
Andrew Jameson: How's your arm?
William Ross: It's good. What was that you put on it?
Andrew Jameson: It's a salve. The Indians around here showed me how to make it from some herbs and, strangely enough, a mineral we found down in the tunnel.
William Ross: So this is your house?
Andrew Jameson: It belongs to the church. It's called the rectory. If you want to catch up to your father, you should leave as soon as it gets dark.
William Ross: Thank you.
Andrew Jameson: For now, take your time. If I were you, I'd try to sleep.
William Ross: Uh-oh. Who is it?
Andrew Jameson: I don't know, but you better get out of sight.
William Ross: Where?
Andrew Jameson: Go back down to the church tunnel and shut the door. Just stay down there until I come and get you.
William Ross: All right.
Nathan: Reverend Jameson!
Andrew Jameson: Coming! Hello, Sheriff. What can I do for you?
Sheriff: Well, I need to ask you some questions.
Andrew Jameson: Go ahead.
Sheriff: You see this man behind us?
Andrew Jameson: Yes, and I see the slave trader holding him too.
Sheriff: Right. Well, his name's Henry Ross. You know him?
Andrew Jameson: Henry Ross...
Nathan: He's not going to tell us anything.
Sheriff: Let him speak.
Andrew Jameson: Sheriff, we have a growing congregation. Every Sunday we get more and more people. For all I know, he might be a new member that I haven't been able to meet yet. Why don't you unchain him and bring him inside?
Nathan: I told you.
Sheriff: Reverend, look, Andrew. I know your views on slavery, but I refuse to believe you'd go so far as to hide runaway slaves. But I know you'll tell me the truth. So whatever you say right now, I'll believe.
Nathan: Are you out of your mind?
Sheriff: Quiet! Reverend, have you been hiding slaves?
Andrew Jameson: Are you asking me as a sheriff or as a friend? If you're asking me as a sheriff, then I won't answer you on my rights as a citizen. If you're asking me as a friend, well, a friend wouldn't ask.
Nathan: It's a lot of hogwash! Arrest him!
Sheriff: I'm sorry, Reverend. I've got no choice. Come on.
Andrew Jameson: On what charges?
Sheriff: Suspicion of harboring fugitive slaves.
Andrew Jameson: You can arrest a man on suspicion of something?
Sheriff: Well, just until these slave owners get what they want and leave. All right, come on.
Nathan: And take the other one too.
Sheriff: You mean Henry?
Nathan: Yeah, throw them both in jail. I'll get him later. We got work to do. Come on in here, John.
Andrew Jameson: Wait! Why is he going into my home? Let me go! He can't do that!
Sheriff: Come on, Reverend. It'll all be over soon. Just come on.
Andrew Jameson: That's my home! Let me go!
Nathan: Okay, John, you ready?
John: Ready for what?
Nathan: Let's search the place.
John: Why? We got the one we wanted, and the other one's dead.
Nathan: There's awfully nice rewards for people bringing slaves back.
John: What makes you think anybody's here?
Nathan: Somebody's here. Look.
John: What?
Nathan: Two bowls of soup on the table. Still hot. The Reverend sure don't seem like he'd have that kind of an appetite to eat two bowls. You think?
John: You're right.
Nathan: Somebody's in here, and I ain't leaving till I find them.
Andrew Jameson: Sheriff, you've got to let me go back to my house.
Sheriff: Reverend, you can have this cell.
Andrew Jameson: Please! Look, what's wrong with you? They'll look around and leave. Now settle down! But this man's son is in there!
Henry Ross: My son?
Sheriff: So you are hiding slaves. I wish you hadn't told me that.
Henry Ross: My son's in your house?
Andrew Jameson: Yes, Henry. William came through last night.
Henry Ross: Oh, praise God! We got to get him out of there!
Andrew Jameson: Exactly. Sheriff!
Sheriff: Can't help you.
Andrew Jameson: Why not?
Sheriff: It's the law, Reverend.
Andrew Jameson: It's a bad law, and you know it!
Sheriff: Doesn't matter. This man just lost a wife, and now he may lose his son. It's my job, Reverend. I'm upholding the law, good or bad, because that's what I'm paid to do.
Andrew Jameson: You're letting your job keep you from doing what's right?
Sheriff: It's the only job I've got.
Andrew Jameson: A man's life is at stake! You can't stand there and act like your job is more important than he is! These are human beings, Sheriff, people created in the image of God, His most precious creation!
Sheriff: You don't have to preach to me. I go to church, Reverend.
Andrew Jameson: And so I appeal to you in the name of Christ, your Master, to help us! Please, help us!
John: Anything?
Nathan: Nothing. I looked every which way. There's got to be a fake wall or something around here.
John: Well, maybe whoever it is went on already.
Nathan: No, somebody's here. This fireplace here, did you check that?
John: The fireplace?
Nathan: Somebody might be stuck up in the chimney.
John: Are you joking us?
Nathan: No. If there was somebody up there, I sure would enjoy a nice fire about now.
John: Wait a minute. I got an idea. Go get some firewood.
Nathan: You're going to build a fire now?
John: I'm going to start one and then close the flue so the smoke fills the place. We'll smoke them out. That's a dandy idea. Go get the wood.
Carl Ross: Nathan built a big fire, and just as he planned, the smoke rose and filled the church. Unfortunately, after a while, the fire grew out of control, and sparks flew out, catching the rug on fire.
Nathan: The fire! Get some water! It's caught the rug! Okay, here I go!
Carl Ross: Before Nathan knew what was going on, it was a blazing inferno, thick with smoke and raging flames. William was still in the basement tunnel, hearing Nathan shouting above him. He panicked and knew that he was probably going to be captured. He quickly took the leather map out and hid it behind a beam in the wall of the tunnel. He thought that if he was going to be captured, at least Nathan wouldn't have the map of the railroad as well. He decided then to investigate the commotion and opened the door of the basement. The smoke had already filled the room. Smoke poured into the tunnel and it engulfed William. He staggered around trying to find his way out, but he was confused and disoriented. He fell down, overwhelmed by the smoke. Nathan and John were outside watching the rectory go up in flames, unable to stop it.
Nathan: It's too much, John! It's all going up! We better get somebody!
Andrew Jameson: The house! William! What'd you do, Nathan? Somebody get some water!
Nathan: It was an accident! What are they doing out?
Henry Ross: My son! Did anybody come out of there?
Nathan: No.
Andrew Jameson: Come on, Henry! Stop it, Sheriff! Be quiet and grab a bucket!
Henry Ross: William's still in there!
Andrew Jameson: Where?
Henry Ross: The tunnel!
Andrew Jameson: Wait! No, I got to get him! The flames are too high! Let's go through the church!
Carl Ross: Andrew and Henry ran to the church and went into the basement tunnel, trying to meet up with William from the other side.
Andrew Jameson: Stay low, Henry! William! This way! William! There he is! Up ahead! William! He's unconscious. Put him on my back. All right. Let's go!
Carl Ross: They pulled William back through the tunnel and out of the church, just as the flames and smoke spread through it.
Andrew Jameson: He's coming to, thank God! William! Son! You're here! It's a miracle! Praise God! Oh, William, thank God you're alive!
Carl Ross: The house burned down completely that day, and it even damaged part of the church. Nathan went to jail for destroying property. The Sheriff let Reverend Andrew go, ignoring the protests by Nathan, who vowed to get him fired from his job. The Sheriff didn't seem to care. Henry and William left quickly for Canada, but not before stopping at Caroline's grave.
William Ross: Goodbye, Mama. Sorry I didn't make it sooner. I guess we'll just have to wait a little bit before we're together again. Oh, Mama, I bet you're the prettiest one up there. Don't you worry about me and Papa. We got plans. I talked about them today. I'll make you proud, and I'll work real hard and try not to lose my temper so much. I'm going to miss you.
Henry Ross: Come on, son. We need to get moving.
William Ross: Yes, sir. Goodbye, Mama. I love you.
Henry Ross: Goodbye, Caroline.
Carl Ross: And a few weeks later, they made it to Canada and stayed there for the rest of their lives. But it was never an easy life. Work was hard to find. Henry never got to build that home like he planned. He never had a backyard or a garden of his own or a big magnolia tree. But he did have his son, and he was free.
Whit: What an incredible story.
Carl Ross: Yes, it is.
Whit: So what does Wit's End have to do with all of this?
Carl Ross: Well, my research leads me to believe that this is the town where it all took place.
Whit: Odyssey?
Carl Ross: Yes. And Reverend Andrew ran the Underground Railroad right from here. I was thinking that this was the tunnel where William hid when the place burned down.
Whit: Unbelievable.
Carl Ross: The problem is I can't find anything here to back that up.
Whit: But wait a minute. Didn't you say that William hid in a tunnel going from the rectory to the church?
Carl Ross: Yeah. But this tunnel would have gone from the rectory back into the woods. The church would have been on the other side.
Carl Ross: Then there must be another tunnel.
Whit: There'd have to be.
Carl Ross: But why haven't I seen any...
Whit: What is it?
Carl Ross: Right there. I knew there was something strange about these wooden beams.
Whit: What about them?
Carl Ross: Look, they're going in a different direction than the rest of the frame. They disappear into the dirt.
Whit: What does that mean? You got a shovel?
Carl Ross: More than one.
Whit: Get them.
Carl Ross: I'm breaking through. Here, look. Take my flashlight.
Whit: Thanks. It is another tunnel! I'm going in. You?
Carl Ross: Wouldn't miss it. Mind your head, though. This must be it.
Whit: What are you doing?
Carl Ross: Checking behind these beams.
Whit: Why?
Carl Ross: The rocks are loose. This has to be the one. Could you hand me your shovel? Sure. This is it. This is it. Whit, I found it.
Whit: What?
Carl Ross: The map. Here it is. The map of the Underground Railroad.
Whit: You mean William's map?
Carl Ross: Yes! It happened here! This is the proof! William was right here! You're not really here for just the museum, are you?
Carl Ross: No. This isn't going to the museum.
Whit: I didn't think so.
Carl Ross: No, sir. I'm keeping it. I never told you my last name. It's Ross. You see, William was my great-great-grandfather. Really? So many stories have been told about him in my family, stories handed down so many generations, but this is the first real proof I have that they're all true. Whit, thank you. Thank you for everything.
Whit: Oh, you're welcome. And thank you, Carl.
Carl Ross: Why?
Whit: It's an honor for me to be a part of a place that was involved in something so important and to meet a man from such a brave family.
Focus on the Family: The men, women, and children who ran from slavery were some of the most courageous people who ever lived. They were willing to risk their lives in order to gain their freedom. But the slave era was a troubling time in American history. The idea of slavery goes against many of the things that Jesus taught. He taught us about how precious life is and how we should love others, like when He spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus knew that many people hated Samaritans, but He also knew that she was a person who was created and loved by God. Or when Jesus ate dinner with the tax collectors and sinners. He knew He would be criticized for it, but He also knew that they were people who needed salvation. Time and time again, Jesus preached against hate and told us to love our neighbor, no matter who or what race our neighbor is. Well, that's all for now. If you ever want to write to us, we'd love to hear from you. Just send your card or letter to Adventures in Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80995. Or in Canada, write to Box 9800, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4G3. And don't forget to ask how you can get a copy of today's episode. It's called The Underground Railroad. Adventures in Odyssey is a presentation of Focus on the Family. The Underground Railroad was written and directed by Marshall Younger. Our production engineer was Mark Drury, and music by John Campbell. And I'm Chris, hoping you'll join us again next time for more Adventures in Odyssey.