Joel, see my post in thread 81241, 17 May 05, 08:54PM- Drinkin' Gourd
(posted as Guest when Mudcat was severely ill).

In the over 75 years since Parks published his story and song in 1928, no one has found any evidence of the pegleg conductor. There are no citations other than those based on Parks article.
The story is dubious, since the underground railway operated by word of mouth in getting the escapee to the 'first station,' a safe location or house. A 'conductor' would supervise from then on.
Also, as noted in this thread, 13 Apr 05, going north solo was almost a sure way to get caught, since the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 applied in ALL states; if found anywhere, the slave by law was returned to his owners.
The story has been embroidered by singers like Campbell and Seeger (the one in the DT, for example) and in a book for children that I have seen.

I wrote Parks 'repeats' in a mixed-up post written from my poor memory before I checked my copy of the Folk-Lore Society publication; I attributed the story to the editor of the volume (Dobie) and not to the author of the paper (Parks). I had to apologise and correct that error. Parks did not 'repeat;' the only citation is in his paper.