Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-07-23
IFrOn the NeH York Timesl
FNsLAYEMENT OF A BRITISH SUB.
.JECT.

Forty fps Years in BOndags-.Rs Remarkable and
Interesting NaratiVs --PTSeperiag Struggle
for freedom Single AppropriatiOa ofa U
S. Prisoner Of War.
The history of Solomon Nortbup-.a free
citizen of New York, who spent many years in
southern Slayery-is fresh in the memory of our
readers We yesterday heard narrated another
slave history rivaling in its interest, though in
many respects Of very different character. The
subject Of it is venerable and intelligent native
African, recently arrived here from Savannah
Georgia, where he was known as Demock Charl-
ton aud served more than forty years as the slave
of various parties, while he claims to be British
subject, and entitled to British protection. The
mans face is an honest one, and bis integrity and
reliability are so well vouched for that 1t would be
found difficult to doubt or discredit his story In.
deed, he tells It in So straightforward, frank and
simple manner as to carry conviction with it,
Although utterly uneducate1, unable even to
read or write, he displays degree Of intelligence
and an amount of sagacity, sound sense and ua.
tive shrewdness which would do no dscredit TO
bis former masters, however great their opportu.
mites for mental culture, We propose to give his
history as received from lis own lips, trusting
that it will not only interest the reader, but that it
may stimulate efforts among the philanthropic to
crown with well deserved happiness the declining
years Otthis dark.skiuned hero, by restoring to
freedom those of his family who are still held in
sewitule.
Or subject is now, as near as he can Judge, 81
or SO years of age, native of KisSee, peopled by
a tribe of the same name, settled on one Of the
great rivers in the interior of Afrca-or as he ex
pressed it, "away up on the fresh water. His
name was TalIen at that time. When about
twelve years of age. war was declared against his
tribe by the Madinges, who captured Kissee, and
took its inhabitants prisoners of war. Taen, with
six other boys about the same age. were a
mile or SO from the town at the time of the bat
tie, but were pursued ard taken prisoners. This,
as well as be can calculate was in 1911 or 1912,
The prisoners of which there were large num-
ber. were all sent down TO the coast, sold to a
slave dealer, and slowed away with hundreds of
other unfonunates on board Spanish SLAYER
The distance they travelled in reaching the sea
shore may be estimated from the fact that the
journey occupied about four weeks.
The SLAYER put to sea- with the human cargo,
who began to suffer the horrors of middle passage
many of them d. ing for want of fresh air and ex-
ercse during the three weeks they slowed away
in her sofocating "between decks" AT the end
of this time the SLAYER was chased and captured by
an English war-brig but Tallen does not remem.
Der the name of either of the vessels. The prize
and her cargo were taken to England, where the
africans generally were sent ashore until they
could be properly disposed of. Tallcn, however
who had meantime been christened John Bulp'
on board the British vessel was sent to the Brit.
tish brig Peacock, to serve as cabin boy, Sever
al of the Spanish sailors were also transferred TO
that vessel. At this time the war between the
United States and Great Britain was in progress,
and some time afterward the Peacock was en-
gagged in action by the little american schooner
Hornet, commanded by the gallant Captain Law
renee, which, as will be remembered, speedily
put her in sinking condition, and forced her
crew to surrender This was on the gath Of Feb
ruary 1918.
Subsequently our hero was sent to Savannah
Ga, in charge of Lieut.. VIM. Henry Harrison
from whence the latter was to take him to Wash
tingon, Judge Charlton, of savannah, proposedto
Harrison to leave Tallen, or "John Bull" with
him, promising that he would raise him for Har-
risou. The latter declined relating the particu
lars of his history, ahd saying that he must take
the boy as prisoner of war to Washington, and
let Congress decide what should be done with him
adding, as his own supposition, that he would
follow the the fortunes of lbe other prisoners in al
respects. Judge Charlton then proposed to keeT
the boy with him until be should be wanted al
Washington, promising Lieut. Harrison that he
would send him on whenever he should write fol
him.
With this understanding Harrison left the boy
with Judge Charlton. Two months afterwards
Harrison sent for "John Bull,'' and Charlton re
Piled thatthe boy had ded-wbich of course end
ed the Lieutenaut's interest in and care for him
The authority for this statement was Judge
Cartons waiting man or body-servant, an old
man named Isaac, of whom John speaks in high
} terms About the time this word was sent tc
Washington, Charlton called all bis servants to-
eaber and forbade them strictly over to call Tai
len John Boil again, but ordered them to call bin
Demock Charlton, after himself-by which name
he has since been known. The very next dsy
after this occurrence, Charlton sold him to