The Rescue of John Doy

The Rescue of John Doy

Adapted by CherrIe Preut From The NarratIve of John Doy

Illustrated by Maya Amen

SpecIal Vocabulary Underground Railroad-The Underground Railroad was a way of helping enslaved people get to freedom. It had routes and hiding spots. Sometimes those who helped provided the freedom seekers food or clothing. It did not use trains at all but the words used to describe the people and places came from railroad vocabulary. For example, a "conductor" helped show the way for freedom seekers. The word underground meant it had to be secret because it was against the law to help a runaway enslaved person. border ruffian- A person from Missouri who believed in slavery.

These people crossed the border into Kansas to steal supplies, destroy buildings and houses and to scare those who did not want Kansas to be a slave state. These raids occurred between 1854 and 1860 before the Civil War.

abolitionist- a person who wants to stop or abolish slavery.

About the Illustrator Art has always been a huge part of my life. I have anxiety and creating art always seems to help calm me down and feel more like myself.

Hanging out with my two cats also helps.

Throughout my time in school, I enjoyed art classes but none of them went to the next level when it came to technique and thinking outside the box. I got to high school and the teachers taught things that changed the way I approached my work. I learned new ways to deal with problems that might come up and work them into the piece instead of getting frustrated. The art teachers encouraged their students to enter art contests and shows. I’ve won a few, like the Hang12 design contest, the Scholastic Silver Key in painting and the Gold Key with a painting portfolio. I love listening to music and Love Garden Sounds in downtown Lawrence is my favorite place to find good vinyl records. My top genres right now are K-pop, K-Rock/Rock, and Alternative/Indie. I love artists like Tomorrow x Together, Se So Neon, and Declan McKenna.

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We need your help! Friends and family are getting kidnapped by the border ruffians!

In 1858, Lawrence was a fairly new town. Kansas was not even a state yet. During this time period known as "Bleeding Kansas" there were free African Americans living in the town. Border ruffians began kidnapping these people and taking them into Missouri to be sold as slaves. The free African Americans asked white settlers to help them escape on the Underground Railroad. At a town meeting John Doy, a Lawrence citizen, was asked to take a group of people as far as Holton as he knew the route of the Underground Railroad in Kansas Territory. Another group would take them further north.

John Doy and his son, Charles, drove one wagon. Another wagon was driven by a hired man. The group that went with them was made up of eight men, three women and two children. Twelve miles from Lawrence the two wagons were stopped by border ruffians and proslavery Kansans. Doy and his son were taken to Weston, Missouri to be jailed with a charge of "stealing slaves". Once Weston was reached a large mob of people spent an hour throwing insults, jeers and even hit Doy and his son. The free African Americans were taken to Missouri to be sold into slavery. The Doys lived in a cell with no window for close to 2 months.

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During the first trial the jury was unable to decide Doy’s fate. His son was let off on a minor detail and was able to go home. Doy was transferred to a slightly nicer jail at St. Joseph, Missouri. During his time here he was able to see the horrors of the slave trade in Missouri. In July, a second jury found Doy guilty of “transporting slaves”.

You are sentenced to five years hard labor at the Missouri State Prison!

No! This can’t be! The people were not slaves!

Meanwhile, back in Lawrence...

There has to be a way we can help John!

The people who asked John Doy to take the group of free African Americans decided that they must form a plan to rescue him. An appeal had been made and Doy was to be held in St. Joseph for 30 more days while the Supreme Court heard the case. A man named James Abbott agreed to lead a jail break. He started to St. Joseph with nine other Lawrence men to form the plan and start the rescue.

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The men decided to bring a "horse thief" to the jail so they could get in at night. Then they would announce what they really wanted! They sent a man to the jail early to look the place over. He pretended to be carrying a message from Doy's wife. While checking the place out and talking with Doy he was able to pass a secret note to him that the rescue would happen at midnight.

As the men readied themselves, a fierce thunderstorm began around 9:00. The storm continued as the time grew closer to the rescue. Missouri in the 1850's was a dark place at night without city lights. The group decided they would need to hold hands so that no one would get lost on the way to the jail! When they reached the jail Abbott pounded on the door. Boom! Boom! Boom! Would it be heard above the thunder, wind and heavy rain? Soon the jailer yelled from his residence inside the jail. After arguing with the rescue crew for a few minutes about bringing the "horse thief" into the jail, the jailer relented and let them in.

Oh no! It‘s starting to rain!

We‘ll never be able to see in this darkness!

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As the rescuers entered the jail they began to tell the made up story about the “horse thief”. Then they checked to see if Doy was still actually there by pretending to have an interest in his court case. Once they knew he was still in his cell they dropped their acting and told the jailer who they really were. The “horse thief” dropped his pretend bonds. The bonds were actually a weapon made of rope attached to a hard metal ball with metal pointed pieces. He slung the ball end and hit the jailer! When the jailer tried to make a break for it he found himself at the end of a 10 inch pistol. The rescuers threatened him to stay quiet while they took Doy out of the building.

As the men took Doy out of the jail and into the rainy street he fell down. He was weak and diseased from his time in jail. Two men helped him to his feet and they tried to make their way through the rain with only the lightning to show their way. They all headed to the Missouri River where there were small boats hidden for them. Once they found them some men rowed while others bailed out rain water with their hats! Once across the river they were able to get Doy into the wagon they had brought. They made their escape into the dark in the wagon and on horseback. Those on horseback were armed in case any Missourians would follow them.

Keep bailing or we are all going to drown in this river!

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The men traveled 12 miles that first night to make sure they were well away from St. Joseph. After twelve miles they stopped at the house of an abolitionist friend where they were fed breakfast. They left from this house and continued on. As they traveled there was a group of men that followed them most of the day. The rescuers were sure they would be able to protect themselves but sent four of the men to turn back and pursue these followers. They never saw them again.

What has become of our friends who were traveling to freedom?

At last the rescuers made it back to Lawrence. A crowd gathered to congratulate the rescuers and welcome John Doy back to Lawrence. Sadly, the group of people that had started out with him were now enslaved. The fight of the abolitionists would have to continue until all people were free.

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