Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-04-14
The Original Dred Scott a Resident of ST.
LOuis-Sketeh of His Histarx
from the st, Loui, Neus A

from the st. Louis News, April 81
The distinguished colored individual who has
E Ilaae such noise in the world in the case OF
Scott Us. Sanford, and who has become 40 tanUled
up with the Missouri Compromise and other great
snblects-Dred Scott-is a resident, not a citizen
OF St Louis: He is we'll known to many of our
along Third street. He is an old inhabitant'
having come TO this city thirty years ago.
Dred scott was born In Virginia, where he be-
Ionged to Capt. Peter Blow, the father of Henry
v. BLOW and Taylor Blow, of this city He was
Drought by his master to ST. Louis about thirty
years ago, and In the course of time became the
property OF DIR. Emerson, a surgeon in the army,
Whom he accompanied on that trip to Rock Island
ana fort smelling on the ground of which he
Dased his claim to freedom. The wife of DR.
Emerson was formerly Miss Sanford, and IS now
Mrs. ohahee, wife of Hon. Mr. Chaffee, Of Mas
sachusetts. He has been married twice his first
wife, by whom he had no children having been
sold from him. He has had four children by his
present wife-two boys, both dead and two girls,
both living. Dred was at Corpus Christi at the
breaking out of the Mexican war, as the servant
OF Captain Bainbridge, whom he speaks of as a
On his return from Mexico he applied to his
mistress. Mrs. Emerson, then living near 81
Louis, for the purchase Of himself and family,
Offering to pay part Of the money down. and give
an eminent citizen of St. Louis an officer i'm the
army, as security for the payment of the remain
der. His mistress refused his proposition, and
Dred, being informed that he was entitled to his
freedom by the operation of the law regulating
the Northwest Territory, forthwith brought suit
Tor IT, The suit was commenced about ten years
ago, and has cost DTed $500 in cash besides labor
to nearly equal amount. Ii has given him a
: heap q trouble" he says and if he had known
that = il was gwine To last so long," he would
not have brought il. The suit was defended bv
Mr. John Sanford as executor of DR.. Emerson's
will
Dred does not appear at all discouraged by the
issue OF the celebrated case, although ID dOoms
him TO slavery. He talks about the affair with
the case OF veteran litigant though not in tech
ncal language, and Is hugely tickled at the idea
cf finding himself parsonage of 80 much i'm
portance. He does not take on airs, however but
langhs heartily when talking Of de fuss dey
H2de daT In Washington bout de ole nigger" o."
He IL about fifty five wears old We shOuId think
though he does not know his own are He is
OF unmxed AT ican blood and as black as
piece Of charcoal. For two or three wears past he
has been running at large, no one exercising own
ership over him, putting any restraint upon his
movements. If he were disposed TO make the
attempt, he could gain his freedom at a much less
cost than even one tenth of the expense Of the IA
nous suit. He will not do so, however, insisting
on abiding by the principles involved in the de-
cision of that suit. He declares that he will
slick TO his mistress as long as he lives His
daughters, Eliza and Lucy less conscientious
about the matter, took advantage of the absence
OF restraint on their movements, year or two
since, 10 disappear, and their whereabouts remain
a mystery.
Dred, though illiterate, is not ignorant He has
Travelled considerably, and has improved his
strong stock of common sense by much informa-
tlon picked up in his journeyings. He is anxious
10 Know who owns him. being ignorant whether
he is the property of Mrs. Chaffee, or Mr. san
ford: though we presume, there is no doubt that
the former Is his legal owner. He seems tired of
running about, with no one TO look after him
while at the same time he is slave He saws
gTinninglv, that he could make thousands of dol
lars, if allowed, by travelling over the country
and telling who he is.