Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-03-21
an gntsrssting storp.
From Parsons inside View orslavery.
POOR DREAD;
.Ofk-
THE HEROIC SLAVE.

to me by one of the neighbors as a
man of superior strength, both Of
body and mind. being nearly seven
feet In height. There were forty
slaves at work on the plantation OF. B.
s.. before Dread was added to the
number; and this name was given him
by the newmaster. on account of his
uncommon physical strength.
The next year Dread was made
oyerseer Of the gang. and the manage
ment Of the plantation was wholly left
TO his care. The farm was well con-
Quoted rnder his supervision, and ev-
erything went on smoothly and pros
perously for seneral years. The task
Of every hand was always we'll and
seasonably performed, without whip
ping. II a feeble woman was sick. or
unable to accomplish her task alone.
her brother was allowed to assist her.
Or If weak. feeble man could not
keep up with the gang his friends
were permitted to help him. This is
a privilege not customarIly granted to
slaves.
The fields of B. g. were now so
much more productive than those OF
others around him. that the neighbor-
ing planters frequently sought advice
Of bis colored oyerseer. in relation to
the management Of their farms; thus
deferring to his opinion. and admitting
that he possessed more practical
knowledge of agricultural matters
than either themselves or their over.
seers.
A gentleman, well acquainted with
Dread. told me that he regarded him
not only as much the stoulest. but the
mostintellectua man he ever saw.
"Dread had the largest head" he
remarked. 81 have ever seen.--arA>
have seen Daniel Webster; and his
natural abilities were not inferior 10
those Of that statesman"
Placed In condition less than most
slaves. be had never appeared so me-
nial and timid. He felt and acted
more like free man. He did not al
ways take off his cap. and putt under
his arm whenever he met a white man
In the street. or enter his dwelling.
1t was natural that the white over
seers on the surrounding plantations
shouldbe jealous Of his suscess. And
soon it began to be whispered around
the neighborhood that he might be-
come leader in an insurrection.
The shareholders held conference,
and decided that it was necessary for
B. S. to make an experiment to test
the manhood Of the giant slave,
and ascertain whether he could be
made es submissive rs all slaves
should made. ...be to insure the safetylo
the masters Among the plans that
were suggested to B. S.. one was &c
obtain anotlieroverseer, and put Dread
to work under him in the gang: aud
il he expressed the least objection tc
the change, to whip him severely. and
"5reak him in."
A large. tall. stout Yankee wa:
secured for Driver. and Dread was
ordered to take his hoe. and perform
his task with the other hands. With
out expressing the least surprise or re.
gret at the loss Of his place. or even
presuming to inquire why he was to
be no longer overseer. he went tc
work with as apparent cheerfulness as
usual.
This was so unexpected, that the
masters were greatly perplexed. -
They could really 6nd no fault in the
slave on which 10 predicate charge
and infct punishment. His noble
fearles hearing, and stately step, were
unmistalable signs that he felt ALDO
gether too manly and indepenpent fol
q humble slave; how to develop hi
feelings and prove the fact, was th'
difficult question. There was nothing
in his character or conduct that de
served the slightest reproof, much les
a punishment sufficiently severe /,
crush his manhood and break his inc
vincible spirit. S,il. all agreed tha
something must be done.
i Finally. they concluded to prefe
false charges against him, and punisl
him il he complained Of sulferin.
wrongfully. The master treated hin
with unusual severity. One. anon,
numerous complaints brought agsins
him. was. that he did not hoe his corr
as well as the other hands. To re
move this. Dread performed a doubl
task k.-hoeing two rows to each of tn
others one. Tom, who hoed next 3
} dread, told me that Dread removes
every weed. hoed it as neat as gan
den, determined to remove ever
cause for complaint; for he saw that
: terrible storm was rising upon him.
Dread and Tom occupied the sam
> hut alter the new overseer had come
and they had always been mutu'
friends.
!. master s." said Tom, who rela
ted the story 10 me, "came into ou
hut one evening. soon after we ha
finished work. looking so pale that h
frightened me. and he said:-
"Dreadl | say you don't hoe YOU
corn so well AS the other hands"
"How do you know that. master
replied the intrepid slave. rising n
respectfully from his low stool, an
6 looking the master calmly in tho eye
: "Now l knew" said Tom, .sthl
masters. had not been in the Gel
= that day. Nor had he seen the owe
seer, as his quarters were beyond OF
D hut, and fur her from the house. b,
sides. had he consulted the osersee
4 he would have been informed that. il
stead OF not doing bis work "as well,
> Dread had done this work better, an
twice IS much. as either Of the 9th,
hands. But the moment he quel
toned his masters knowledge, l
had exceeded the prerogatiye Of