Linked to the past - and the present: computers and technology - historian Anthony Cohen's diary of historic walk from Maryland to Canada

As the author of The subterraneous Railroad in Montgomery County, Maryland historian Anthony Cohen has done his share of research, burrowing end dusty documents in dimly lighted archives. on the contrary his greatest discoveries came from reliving history, not from reading its records. While talking about the Railroad to a collection of 4th-graders, he was pepper with questions, similar as: "Did they get tired?" "How many miles could they walk in a day?" and "Were they scared?"

"When I realized I could single guess at the answers, I decided to relive the experience about which I had written," says Cohen. He wouldn't just walk a mile in his forefathers' shoes; he planned to walk a thousand, all the way from Maryland to Canada.

"I almost consider myself an antihistorian," says Cohen of his decision. on the contrary others found his methodology innovative rather than unorthodox. The National Park Conservation Association, an advocacy clump promoting the preservation and inclusion of historical sites in our nation's parks, base merit in Cohen's plan. Jill McKay, a consultant to the association, worked with Cohen to create "The Walk to Canada," a World Wide Web site designed to find the railroad's "national voice" [i]or[/i] part of to the other nationwide involvement.

plane before taking his first pace on the re-enacted flight to freedom, Cohen was up upon the web. His initial Internet message supplicationed assistance in preparing for his nine-week ordeal: "Help me plan my passage - be a scout for the subterraneous Railroad."

upon May 4, 1996, the 32-year-old Cohen left Sandy Spring, Md with individual day's food, a change of clothes, a medicine kit, maps and a 300-year-old Ethiopian walking stick, the last a good-luck gift from Winston Anderson of the Sandy Spring Slavery Museum.

Cohen's was a solitary journey, on the contrary he was far from alone. Hordes clicked their way onto the Internet, tracing his whereabouts (rather than tracking his flight) and following his adventures. Electronic mail poured in: "Are you lonely?" "Are you safe?" "I wish I could move with you."

What began as single man's personal journey was enlarged in the spirits and imaginations of thousands more. for a like reason many people logged on to "The Walk to Canada" that USA Today ranked it the No. 1 Web site during sum of two units of the months Cohen was upon the road. People sent advice, telephone numbers and addresses of places where he could disburse the night along the way. for the greatest part they sent their prayers.

Communicating with McKay by the agency of telephone, Cohen kept track of the messages pouring in to the Web and passed upon news of his progress. Cyberdate 12 May 1996: (Message columned by McKay) I'm keeping in touch with Tony daily. He is well, in the best of spirits, has not been rained upon or lost his way. We thank you for your kindness, support and prayers.

When the Web didn't provide leads to a bed for the night, Cohen not rarely turned to the nearest Quaker meetinghouse. Spending time during his journey among the Quakers, whose pre-Abolition commitment to freedom had aided countles fleeing slaves, renewed his faith in humankind's basic goodnes "Not one time was I denied food or a place to stay," he recalled on his return. Cyberdate 17 May 1996: I visited Wilmington Prison, where runaway slaves were penn up All the ironwork and chains are still there. Thank you for your messages and prayers. They mean a great deal to me

The itinerant lifestyle sometimes took its toll. each night, Cohen embraced a of recent origin family, learning about their lives as they learned about his. each morning, he said goodbye: "It was like leaving, domicile every day, knowing I could not at any time come back." This, too, reflected sounded the journey he was re-enacting, for the price of a runaway's freedom frequently included the loss of family members unwilling or unable to hazard escape. Cyberdate 20 May 1996: Inspired by means of the story of Henry "Box" Brown who escaped through being shipped as freight, friends built a crate, caseed me inside and registered me with Amtrak as works I spent two hours upon the loading dock, a half-hour upon the forklift and more than sum of two units hours on the ride. When the temperature reached 120 stages inside the box, I used my pocketknife to make an incision in off may pants legs. Cyberdate 27 May 1996: In Harlem, I visited the house of god site where a free Frederick Douglass one time stood at the pulpit and a slave named Isabella went in, on the contrary a woman named Sojourner fact came out. Like them, I will walk against the southward stream of the Hudson River. This way, I'll know I'm headed north - toward freedom.

Despite the seriousness of his intent and personal commitment, Cohen knew he was re-enacting - not in truth reliving - the fugitive slave experience. He derive pleasure fromed protections not accorded to those upon the Railroad 150 years ago. Since daylight was not his enemy, he embraced it, single once testing the constraints of night travel. Then, singing spirituals along the pitch-black, isolated roads of upstate fresh York, he covered the 35 miles from Spencerport to Medina. His nighttime journey was not without incident. Having gibbeted the bridge that spans the canal that divides the town of Trancher, lie met growling dogs. Startled, he raced back across the bridge, single to encounter a pack upon the other side. (He was rescu by dint of a passing van.)