The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-12-17
GREAT CRY AND LITE WOOL.

/ GREAT CRY AND LITE WOOL.
| Throughout all the slaveholding, States
! soon after the Southampton lnsurrec;ion-
in 1892 beileye-there was much excite
ment and Tread of general negro out
break in Kentucky. Even old Kentucoy
took a fright smart scare, and adopted
in many localities what was deemed efficient
measures for promptly putting down any
/ ugly demonstration of Sambo.
Frankfort, the capital of the above State,
feeling the alarm, organized he's young men
into company of guards, and appointed Il
strong body of patrols. Every night during
the panic, with old fashioned, flint lock, :,
hard knocking U. S. muskets, the young
soldiers Of Frankfort stood guard over the
threatened city. Many poor darky was
arrested, dragged to the guard house and
failed for being without pass. 1t was no
excuse for Sambo to say that he had "iust
bin down dar to see Dinah," or that he
was 4" jus gwine down to his wife's house,"
The patroller--not the guard, for they
were gentlemen-took his toll out of every
darky heicaught without a pass, by few
stinging cuts with his cow hide, and Sam
bo went back to his den discontented and
angry not at all comprehending what it was
ali for. but now feeling more like a rebel.
lioD than ever before in his life.
It was natural result that when the ne
groes were watched and looked upon with
unvarying suspicion Dy the whites in Frank
fort or any other like community ty-where
they had generally been treated with great
kindness and forbearance, that they should
as they did, begin to wear suspicious look,
thereby adding to the gloominess of hour.
Every now and then, too, some poor old
doughtace negro,-like some # our free
State democrats thinking by telling some
h-ll of a lie might please his master-gave
out mysterious hints about nightly gather
ings Of the negroes, and told of all manner
of plots, counter-slgns and signals to be
given when the day Of sluugter should come.
Frankfort was in stew, but alive to the
dangers of the crisis. 1t was in vain that
her beautiful maidens appealed to her cbv-
ilry for defense. No-the b-hoys were thar,
and might be depended upon at that.
Frankfort. you know, is romantic town
The beautiful! kentucky river runs through
it; and there are many lofty cliffs, shady
nooks, and sunny hills all around it; but
the sweetest, quletous, most poetic spot is
the "Lover's Retreat,," just around the
corner near the rivers bank, where large
spring of cold, pure water gusees forth. =
This was an enchanted spOt-the Lovers
Retreat and it has its own history, yea, ma
ny histories of tho heart, besides the one
now TO be related.
At the tine Of our story there was an old
negro man living at Frankfort, who was
permitted by bis master to hire his own
time and live in his own little cabin, which
he had erected near the big spring in ''Lov-
cr's Retreat.' There the old man his wife
and children lived. Whether this was
lovers retreat to them this deponent saith
not.
One very dark night during the excite
mcnt about negro rising, some one of the
guard having discovered an unusual stir IN
the Lovers Retreat" ard noting the fact
that several colored individuals were pass
ing o.aDd fro in a rather mysterious man
ner, reported to the captain what they had
seen. So it was resolved that the whole
force Of the guard should proceed, duly
armed and equipped, to the spot. They did
so.
Arriving about midnight, they surround
c | the negro cabin. fearing that some of
those within should escape. a dim light
was burning, the rays of which, penetrated
through the chinks, while noise wh ch
could be plainly heard indicated that its n-
dicate -that It's inmates were still up and
stirring at that late hour. Things looked
suspicious, every musket was freshly prim-
ed all was ready. The captain of the
guard, a brave and firm man, approached
the door and thumped on it heavily with his
muskrt. y prompt response came from
within, and the following dialogue ensued.
Col. Gent, from within. Who dar p
What you want?
Capt, from without. Never mind, who
. is here. Open the door instantly.
Col. Gent. For gorry mighty's sake.
massa, don't come in heah Or
Captain. Open the dor, tell you, or I'll
break it down. Open the door this instant,
you old black rascal.
The door was slowly opened, and the
Captain of the Guard. followed by few of
the soldiers, entered the cabin, in which
there were discovered several negro women
among whom was one with very knowing
look. She was by rude bed in one cor
ner, and in which lay the quivering form of
a negro woman, the expression of whose
face indicated the worst agony of fear
Standing tor few moments to survey the
objects around him, the noble Captain, ears
were suddenly saluted by such squal as
all the human species, white, red or black,
invariably make when they first find them
selves in this world of trouble. The truth
dashed through the Captains wool; there
was sort of "nigger" disturban e, but
not the sort the guards had expected to
find. 1t is needless to say that they left,
having by accident turned up the lef; bow
er.-PreSS and Tr5.