JIM GRAY’S ESCAPE TO FREEDOM

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JIM GRAY'S ESCAPE TO FREEDOM

IN 1859, JIM GRAY, A SLAVE WHO ESCAPED FROM MISSOURI, WAS APPREHENDED IN ILLINOIS BY SLAVE HUNTERS. GRAY WAS TAKEN TO OTTAWA FOR A HEARING BEFORE JUSTICE JOHN DEAN CATON OF THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT’S NORTHERN DIVISION.

ON OCTOBER 19, WITH A CROWD WAITING AT THE OTTAWA RAILROAD STATION ON EAST MARQUETTE STREET, GRAY ARRIVED. HIS LEGS WERE CHAINED, HIS ARMS PINIONED AND HE WAS LED BY A ROPE AROUND HIS NECK. ABOLITIONIST JOHN HOSSACK, AN OTTAWA GRAIN AND LUMBER MERCHANT BORN IN SCOTLAND, CALLED OUT “WHAT CRIME HAS HE COMMITTED? HAS HE DONE ANYTHING BUT WANT TO BE FREE?”

THE NEXT DAY, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GATHERED AT THE OTTAWA COURTHOUSE. CATON RULED GRAY FREE OF STATE CHARGES, BUT ORDERED GRAY’S CAPTORS TO TAKE GRAY BEFORE THE UNITED STATES COMMISSIONER AT SPRINGFIELD FOR A HEARING UNDER THE FEDERAL FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW. A LIKELY OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN GRAY’S RETURN TO MISSOURI AND ENSLAVEMENT.

BUT THE ABOLITIONISTS WERE READY. THE U.S. MARSHAL LEAVING THE OTTAWA COURTHOUSE WITH GRAY WAS RESTRAINED BY SEVERAL MEN. HOSSACK GRABBED GRAY BY THE ARM SAYING “IF YOU WANT YOUR LIBERTY, COME!” GRAY WAS ESCORTED OUTSIDE, WHERE HE JUMPED A FENCE AND LEAPT INTO A WAITING CARRIAGE.

THE CARRIAGE SPED NORTH ON LA SALLE STREET, THEN EAST ON SUPERIOR STREET BEFORE CROSSING THE ILLINOIS & MICHIGAN CANAL AQUEDUCT BRIDGE OVER THE FOX RIVER AND HEADING ONWARD TOWARD CANADA.

HOSSACK AND SEVERAL OTHER ABOLITIONISTS WERE ARRESTED BY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES AND TAKEN TO JAIL IN CHICAGO FOR TRIAL. DURING THE TRIAL, CHICAGO RESIDENTS TREATED THE OTTAWA MEN AS CELEBRITIES FOR HELPING IN GRAY’S ESCAPE.

SPONSERED BY

THE OTTAWA HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION, THE LA SALLE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
THE WILLIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION, AND THE ILLINOIS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
2022

Illinois state historical marker for Jim Gray.