next, author c.r. gibbs outlines the underground railroad network in washington, d.c.discusses members of congress and other political figures' involvement in and stance on helping escaped slaves and points out some underground railroad locations in the district of columbia. the d.c. public library hosted this 90-minute event. mr. gibbs: good evening. my name is c.r. gibbs. the topic is the underground railroad in the district of columbia. in the catalog of human endeavors, there are few chapters more grand than the story of the underground railroad. the organized effort to have people make the great trek from slavery to freedom is one that strikes a resonance in our hearts and minds that rings from the time we will chronicle down to the 21st century. what we will also see is that it's not simply a matter of evading the beasts that you can see, but also the ones you really can't. if you look closely at this painting called "the hunted slaves" from 1861, the dogs, t

my name is c.r. gibbs. the topic is the underground railroad in the district of columbia. in the catalog of human endeavors, there are few chapters more grand than the story of the underground railroad. the organized effort to have people make the great trek from slavery to freedom is one that strikes a resonance in our hearts and minds that rings from the time we will chronicle down to the 21st century. what we will also see is that it's not simply a matter of evading the beasts that you can see, but also the ones you really can't. if you look closely at this painting called "the hunted slaves" from 1861, the dogs, the slobbering hounds that the man is so ferociously resisting with his axe. he has already slain one. these are simply, if you will, ideas or symbols for the slave power, the slave owners. there are also something else. other dangers. we have the wilds, going into unfamiliar territory. it will be difficult to see on the tree log, just about here. let's just say we will call this creature -- sir arthur conan doyle called it the speckled band. it is a symbol of