Conditions on the underground railroad
The Underground Railroad was very dangerous. Fugitives had to travel a great distance, most often on foot. They had little to eat and slave catchers were always a threat. There were often rewards for missing slaves, which made slave catchers even more motivated and more dangerous for the slaves.
Traveling was also dangerous because of the natural environment. Fugitives could encounter severe weather, rushing water, and wild animals. Food was scarce. They mostly traveled through forests to avoid being caught. Sometimes fugitives wanted to give up and return to slavery because the routes were so difficult. If your conductor was anything like Harriet Tubman, this wouldn't happen. She threatened her passengers with a gun if they tried to turn back, because this posed a threat to her and the others. The slave owner would likely torture the returned slave until they gave away information about conductors and passengers, jeopardizing the whole system.
The Fugitive Slave Law was yet another problem. It meant that slaves weren't free until they left America, even in the free states. The free states usually ignored the law, because they were sympathetic to slaves, but it was still liable to be acted upon.
Slaves had to be a little creative sometimes in order to escape. Henry "Box" Brown shipped himself in a box from Richmond, Virginia to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is said he came out of the box singing.
Traveling was also dangerous because of the natural environment. Fugitives could encounter severe weather, rushing water, and wild animals. Food was scarce. They mostly traveled through forests to avoid being caught. Sometimes fugitives wanted to give up and return to slavery because the routes were so difficult. If your conductor was anything like Harriet Tubman, this wouldn't happen. She threatened her passengers with a gun if they tried to turn back, because this posed a threat to her and the others. The slave owner would likely torture the returned slave until they gave away information about conductors and passengers, jeopardizing the whole system.
The Fugitive Slave Law was yet another problem. It meant that slaves weren't free until they left America, even in the free states. The free states usually ignored the law, because they were sympathetic to slaves, but it was still liable to be acted upon.
Slaves had to be a little creative sometimes in order to escape. Henry "Box" Brown shipped himself in a box from Richmond, Virginia to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is said he came out of the box singing.