Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division

Harper's Weekly, February 15, 1862

Even fugitives who had been caught and were still wearing the instruments that were supposed to prevent them from absconding again were among the runaways. These contraptions were designed and used to torture fugitives and break their spirits, making them more submissive to white rule. However, the cruel and unusual punishments many times persuaded them to abscond.