Itwasanambitiousplan.SailsouthonthePotomacRiver,thennorthtoNewJersey.Itwasajourneyofsome36 kilometers(225 miles).

ThePearlhadnotsailedfarbeforethewindsdieddown.Hersailswentflat.Theshipdroppedanchortoavoidbeingpushedbackbythetide.Therewasnothingtodobut wait.

Meanwhile,theslaveownersrealizedthattheir“property”wasgone.Theyformedanarmedposseandbegantosearch.Theyboardedafast‑movingsteamboat.Itsoonfoundthe Pearl.

Theslaveswerecapturedandtakentoajailin Washington,D.C.Anangrymobprotestedtheescape.LoudvoicesintheU.S.CongressspokeoutagainstthePearlescape.But,afewothercongressmencalledfortheendofslaveryinthenation’s capital.

Atthejail,slavetraderspurchasedmostoftheescapedslavesfromtheirowners.Thetraderstookthem southtosellthemforahigh profit.

ThePearlescapemadepeopleawareoftheevilsofslavery.ItalsoinfluencedCongresstoendtheslavetradeinWashington,D.C.,in1850.Then,somehow,thestoryofthePearldisappeared.Iwantedtofindit again.

Washington, D.C.

Maryland

Virginia

Pearl Captured here

Chesapeake
Bay

St
Mary’s 
County

Potomac River

IwasresearchingthehistoryofWashington,D.C.,whenIfoundanaccountofthePearl.Ilearnedthatthereweretwoteenagesistersonboard,MaryandEmilyEdmonson.Fouroftheirbrotherswerealsothere.IwantedtolearnallIcouldabout them.

IstartedmyhuntforinformationattheHistoricalSocietyofWashington, D.C.