Narrative of William W. Brown, a Fugitive Slave

“Though slavery is thought, by some, to be mild in Missouri, when compared with the cotton, sugar and rice growing States, yet no part of our slave-holding country, is more noted for the barbarity of its inhabitants, than St. Louis. It””

— William Wells Brown

“The thought of death was nothing frightful to me””

— William Wells Brown

“After selling out this cargo of human flesh””

— William Wells Brown

“I would think of Victoria's domain, And in a moment I seemed to be there! But the fear of being taken again, Soon hurried me back to despair.””

— William Wells Brown

“A few weeks after, on our downward passage, the boat took on board, at Hannibal, a drove of slaves, bound for the New Orleans market. They numbered from fifty to sixty, consisting of men and women from eighteen to forty years of age. A drove of slaves on a southern steamboat, bound for the cotton or sugar regions, is an occurrence so common, that no one, not even the passengers, appear to notice it, though they clank their chains at every step. There””

— William Wells Brown

“He was a regular Yankee from New England. The Yankees are noted for making the most cruel overseers.””

— William Wells Brown

“The American Union sanctions the deed. The Constitution shields the criminals. American””

— William Wells Brown