Story of how a Black slave sent himself out of slavery as a mail in 1849 told
- Henry Brown, a Black slave who was on the Virginia plantation managed to escape slavery by mailing himself out in 1849
- The Black genius was helped by a kind accomplice he knew from church and a White storekeeper
- The risky journey took 27 hours for Brown to reach his destination and he nearly died on the way
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On Friday, March 23, 1849, a Black slave by the name Henry Brown started a very risky plot of escaping from slavery by sending himself as a mail in a wooded box away from a Virginia plantation.
A news report by Face2FaceAfrica.com indicates that the Black genius slave who was an active church member was helped by a church colleague named James Caesar Anthony Smith and a white storekeeper to escape.
It is reported that Henry Brown became highly uncomfortable staying at the Virginia plantation after his wife and child were taken away from him and sold to a plantation in North Carolina.
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Henry's accomplices helped construct a wooden box which was just big enough to contain him. It was labelled "dry goods" and "this way up" so that Henry does not get turned upside down.
The box also consisted of holes that allowed for air to enter so Henry does not suffocate.
On the fateful day, Brown began that dangerous journey. He climbed into the box, carrying with him some water and a few crackers.
After 27 hours, the box arrived at the headquarters of the Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society after a harrowing experience. Unfortunately for the genius, the box was overturned during the transit and he nearly lost his life.
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He later said:
“I felt my eyes swelling as if they would burst from their sockets, and the veins on my temples were dreadfully distended with the pressure of blood upon my head. In this position, I attempted to lift my hand to my face but I had no power to move it; I felt a cold sweat coming over me which seemed to be a warning that death was about to terminate my earthly miseries".
In other news, a beautiful young lady's boyfriend has given her the surprise of her life as her man decided to make a money-stacked birthday cake for her.
In a viral video sighted by YEN.com.gh on social media, the young lady was at a birthday party with some of her friends.
Projecting from the cake was a large ring which appeared to bear the tag 'happy birthday'.
When it was time to eat the cake, she had to take out the ring. That was when her eyes started to pop as the ring was attached to a long chain of money.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
