Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-04-01


the Red Sea to the Egyptians!
INTENDED to attend the Mayors Court,
but when reached the hall his honor had
not yet arrived.
On the outer door of the hall, was
posted a manuscript advertisement, of
which 1 have preserved a verbatim copy.
Here it is:
SHERIFF'S SALE.
Will be sold, to the Highest Bidder,
on the ID Monday of April, next, at the
City Hall, commencing at 2 o'clock noon
a Negro Boy, named Willis, to satisfy
two Executions, in my hands, against
Aaron T. Burton"
PH1L1P BLoMsToN, S. D."
After transcribing this atrocious adver-
tisement, 1 walked to the auction rooms
in Wall street and that vicinity.
A SLAVE SALE.
The first apartment that entered was
an old, long, low, whitewashed, damp
looking room, of which the ceiling was
supported by three wooden pillars
There were between thirty and forty
white persons present. Seven or eight
living chatteIs were on sale, for cash, to
AZ L;rba-+ b;dJar0
The sale commenced almost immedi-
ately after made my appearance in the
shambles. The first Article offered was
a girl twelve years Of age. She was
dressed in small-checked tartan frock,
a white apron and light-colored hand
kerchief. She was mounted with the
auctioneer on a wooden stand, four steps
high. The audience was standing or
sitting on forms in different parts Of the
room.
The auctioneer was a middle-aged, fair
complexloned man, with light-blue, lazy
looking eyes, who drawled out, rather
than uttered his words, and chewed ar
enormous quid of tobacco with a patient
and persevering industry that was wor.
thy of a nobler cause.
Gentlemen said the body-seller
here's girl twelve years old, warranted
sound and strong-what dye bid to star
her"
For at least ten minutes, notwithstand
ing all the lazily-uttered laudations c
the auctioneer, the gentlemen who com
posed the audience did not bid singh
cent TO start her.
Come here said dark-complexion
ed man of thirty, whose face mirrOred
hard, grasping, unsympathetic nature
come here, GAL
Get down, drawled the auctioneer
The girl descended and went to th
dark man, who was sitting with his fac
towards the back of his chair.
How old are your said the fellow
as be felt beneath the young girls Chi
and pinched her arms, for the purpos
probably of ascertaining for himse
whether she was as sound aud strong e
she was warranted to be.
I don't know how old Tm,' reple
she chattel.
Can you count your fingers" d.
ERanded the dark man.
YES returned the chattel, as 81
took hold, first of her thumb, then
her fore6nger, and lastly of her ring I'll
ger, one-three-two-fve.
You're wrong! Tut. Take care
interposed mulatto, the slave or serva
of the auctioneer, as he accompanied b
hand from finger TO finger. Now, II
gin-one-two'-
'one,' began the girl, two-three-
four-fve.'
She'll do-she'l do said the da
man, who appeared perfectly satlsh
with her educational attainments.
Gentlemen win none o We make
bid to start this gal 2 asked the auctio
eer, in an indolently imploring tone.
'Four-ffty,' said the dark man.
'Four-fhy's bid, gentlemen, for Il
gal-four-ffty-four hundred and FL
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
four-ffty-four hundred and ffty-fo
hundred end fifty dollars-four hundr
and fifty dollars bid-going at four hu
dred end fifty dollars
Sixty said dirty-foOkiug, unshaF
man, with narrow -brimmed hat on, W
looked so tan and slim as to induce :
belief shat he must be the celebrated S