Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-02-02
THERoMANcE OF SLAVE LIFE.

! to the editors knowledge q week or two ago.
The names of the parties interested are sup
pressed for obvious reasons. The following IL
| the account given by the Journal:
Near Louisville, Kentucky, lives planter
| of wealth and standing. He was the posses
sor of hundred negroes, and he was noted
for his thrifty, money-making disposition.
He had never been married, and was an fncor-
rigible bachelor Of fifty. His house was man
aged by q young lady Of about twenty, his
daughter by quadroon, whose complexion
was lighter by half than his, and In whom the
negro blood was scarcely visible. The moth
rr died ten years ago, leaving her daughter
with the fathers solemn promise that she
should be educated, and should live as q free
woman, rather than as q slave, and that she
should pass as his daughter, which she was.
The planter gave his promise, because he had
been really attached to the dying woman, and
was also very fond of his beautiful child. And
so she grew up, radiantly beautiful, receiving
a reasonable education-aa that her father
could gye-and in time took the management
of the household. She never knew that there
was any negro blood in her veins, and never
dreamed that she was slave.
Last fall series of misfortunes overlook
the planter. His house was burned down, and
with it the notes, bonds and papers that COM
posed large portion of his fortune. His
crops failed to great degree, and some heavy
speculations in which he engaged resulted dis
vily at play-the besetting sin of Southern
gentlcmen-and had completely exhausted all
his ready means, and found himself in the ter
rible situation of having more money to pay
than he could possibly raise in a given time.
He applied to his attorney for counsel in
his extremity. The attorney, after examining
the situation of his affairs, advised him to sell
of portion of his negroes. The planter re-
sisted strenuously, first objecting 10 the sale
of negroes, and alleging that his force vas
hardly sufficient to work his plantation. But
after full deliberation, he found this to be tho
only alternative, and sorrowfully consented.
A list was made out and every head that could
be possibly spared was put down. After all
was done, aud the most favorable prices OBJ
tanned for them, the aggregate fell five thous-
and dollars short of the sum required.
The attorney remarked quietly that he had
not included all that could be spared.
81 have put down all that l can dispense
with," replied the planter.
al do not see Mary, the houseKeeper's
name, in the list," replied the lawyer. s.If
offered to the right person, she wonld make
up the deficiency. l would give that for her,
myself.''
At any other time, the planter would have
taken the suggestion as an insult; but Neces-
sity is hard master, and he graSped at the
idea, and before an hour the transaction was
closed. Ittroubied him not little to disclose
the matter to her, but the fear of bankruptcy
horror and distress may be imagined. She
had known nothing bat happiness, and now
was TO be plunged into tie deepest and most
hopeless misery. She hsd been sold, and was
then the property, soul and body, of one who
purchased her merely for the qualification of
his sensual lusts. The idea was too horrible,
and she swooned, remaining almost delirious
for several days.
There was another upon whom the iintelli-
gence came with crushing weight. A junior
partner in produce house in Louisville had
frequently visited the planters house on busi-
ness, and, struck with the beauty and intelIi-
gence of the supposed daughter, had become
enamored, and after prosecuting his suit
proper time, had declared his passion, and
unknown to the father, the two had betrothed
themselves. As soon possible, after her
father had told her of her fate, she dispatched
messenger to her lover, stating the facts, and
imploring him to save her from the doom that
awaited her. Though thunderstruck az the
intelligence that his affianced bride was q
slave, and had been sold to fate worse than
death, like true man lie determined to res
cue her. That night he saw her, and plan
was formed for flight.
The day she was transferred to the posses
sion of her new owner, the lovers fed, and, in
due time, arrived at Cincinnati, where they
were married. Our hero obtained an inter-
view with one Of the agents of the Under
ground Railroad, located in that city, who i'm
mediately telegrapaed instructions to the diff.
ferent agents along the line to keep strict
watch, and if womaa-catchers were on the a-
lert, at any point, TO telegraph back, and give
the fugitiyes timely notice, that they might
leave the train. Accordingly they started,
purchasing tickets for Crestline.
In the meantime the purchaser, as soon as
he discovered his loss, had commenced active
measures to recover it. He had no difficulty
in tracing them to Cincinnati, and none what
ever IN ascertaining that their destination was
Crestllne. But having arrived several hours
after their departure, he was obliged to con-
tent himself with telegraphing to the proper
officers to arrest them at that place. But un-
fortunately for his prospects, the intended ar
rest got wind, and when the train got to Cali
on, two citizens of that place stepped into tho
car, and conversation of few moments en-
sued in the lowest kind of whispers, at the
close of which the four left the car. A car
rage was in waiting, and in two hours the fair
fugitive and her husband were domiciled in
the house of one of our whole -souled farmers.
near Rucyrus, who has long taken pleasure in
helping fugitives on their way to the Canadi-
an Canaan.
When the train on which they embarked
reached Crestline, the officials were unuttera-
bly, chagrined at not finding the fugitive. and
more when they learned that she had been
within four miles of them.
Alter lapse of two weeks they yentursd a
move, and went to Detroit, by the way of Sam
dusky city, and without accident reached the
Canadian shore. They are now residing in
Toronto. - -
The Schwartz Democrats of Berks have or
ganized themselves into disfincf party, and
IA "a roe xa1 a. -. -