The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1860-02-07
rot Much Of u Joke.


\ gentleman gave Us the following extract,
from an Alabama paper, a few lays ago, and
assures us upon reliable authority that the cir
cumstanccs narrated are literally true. Names
and places only, have been substituted ED.
JoURN1L:
Down the Alabama river, in n county which
We shall name Derby, lives an enormously rich
and very clever young planter, who sometimes
takes grand frolic, and who, when whiskey Is
in his head, cuts up tricks and capers most fan
tastica that ever were generated by heated
brain. Ills family, when he goes off, invaria-
bly, sends with him trnsty "mustec' servant
stout fellow, who cares rcligiously for his
masters welfare, at times when he can't look
after himself.
A week or two since, our Ecccntric-whom
We shall call Hudgns-attcnded by "Cnb,"
his servant, started OH general frolic, being
equipped with two bottles of the "royal blood
of France" The twain travelled Southwest
wardy, about fifty miles into the county of
Cumberland, (we'll say,) where Hudgins was
unknown. Jogging aIong,, they came to an
overseer sitting on the top rail Of the fence OF
| ~
hands at some sort of work within. To STOP
have chat and treat the oycrsecr, was the
first impulse of the Eccentric; and speedily all
hands were growing merry over the superior
Bourbon, in a corner of the fence, But in an
evil moment an unhappy idea struck lludgns.
He would quiz the overseer by maFing him be-
lievc that he the Eccentric, was zone Of Browns
men," and Cub" a boy that he had stolcn-so
he would lod he did, in most confidential
manner and with many injunctions of secresy,
related such tale to the oversecr, urging him
to "join."
The astoundcd overseer stood a second or
two with distcnded eyes and mouth, pale, 81
lent, statuesquc.
"At length he shouted to one of his "Dri,
vcrs" in the field med, come here and bring
Big Peter and Jake"
"In trice. three stout negroes jumped over
the fence. Said the oversecr-
Harness that Abolitionist y And imme
diatcly upon giving the order, himself took
hold of "Cub" and quickly had his hands tied
behind his back-tllc boy knowing his place
too well to resist.
Hudgins at first was taken by surprise, and
his laugh began to grow wonderfully weak, as
the negroes seized him.
"Hold on, stand of, you FOOLS he said 81
was only "bugging" that squasl-head here"
"T1E HIM n' thuudered the overscer, and
they did tic him, and that in double quick
time.
The ovcrsecr drew a long. breath, rs he sur
); vevcd his captivcs. Eccentric wished to cx
plain the little joke, and told who lie was and
what his object was-just to have some fun
The oversecr dil'nt bcliece one rorl Of it--no
hei
"Oh, said he to Hudgins, now a very pal'
! man-"it's reasonable to spose you'd deny i
when l wouldn't go in with you, you cussc(
, white liyercd scoundrci that wants to make ;
, free ngger6f yourself! But right off yon &c
to Cumberland county jail-Irc been ratchi"t
! taoeuty-ausn days FOR 4 MAN LIKE Iov anc
for fear The town fniis Let Ion slip, inlak!
IfI7'---- stafrt -, :zz4z& .s:sk-.s,S> -S: y
And right then and there, that trusty guar
dian of anothers property strung up Eccentric
and malc one OF the negroes "draw him one
hundred times with keen cracking Drivers
whip. The wells, groans and protcstations OF
Eccentric were awful to hcar--hc sworc he was
"sound on the goose
"Yes." said the ovcr$cer-"Out yoal be a
heao sound.r when we've done yoEdcr at
town"
Mules were brought and the horses of llud-
ains and Cub led away-and themselves mount
cd on the hybrids; and forthwith the rcsolute
oyersccr trottcd them, ten miles to town, Sc
curelv bound and watched by himself and
trusty negro, each armed with double barrel.
Arrived. the Eccentric was safely jailed amid
the cxccrations Of the popuIacc who wanted to
tear !: him to pieces. :. 3 e.
\ few hours only had elapsed, when hnd.
rims. now duly sobercd and ashamed, contrlved
to communicate with a friend in town, who
knew his family; and after il full explanation Of
the affair-and his doing the ovcrsccr the JUS
tice to say, that he had only done his duty
h., and Cub were released from impr'son-
mcnt.
The o,orsccr, on hearing the dr"oHeme"f,
very very fool;shly ran off, fearing vengeance
hut will no doubt return as soon as he gets
over his fright and learns how his conduct Is
viewed.
NoRAL-Ncvcr trnc with so grave sub
cct as tampopfr1g viii SiavCs: = Fz7-,,.-tGal
of the whip, might be the reward of the j"
kcr.