Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1861-04-06
SKETCHES OF SHAREHOLDERS.

SKETCHES OF SHAREHOLDERS.
chapter from Incidents in tae Life Of a SldUe
Girl" edited by L. Maria Child.
There was planter 10 the country, not Tar
rom US, whom will call Mr. Litch. lie was an
ll-bred, uneducated man. but very wealthy. lie
had six hundred slaves, many Of whom he did moi
know by sight. His extensive plantation was
by well-paid overseers. There was
Jail and whipping post on his grounds; and
whatever cruelties were perpetrated there, they
passed without comment. lie so efeetually
screened BY his great wealth that he was called to
no account for his crimes, not even for murder.
Various we're the punishments rcsorted to. A i
favorite one was 20 tie a rope round mans body,
and suspend him from the ground. fire was
piece Of fat pork. As this cooked, the scalding
drops Of fat continually fell on the bare Aesh. On
his own plantation, he required very strict obe-
diencs to the eighth commandment But depre-
dasions on the neightors were allowable, provided
the culprit managed to evade detection or suspi-
cion. If nOighbor brought charge of theft
against any Of his slaves, lie was brcwbeaten by
the master, who assured bin that his slaves had
enough of everything at home, and had no induce
ment to steal. No sooner was the neighbor's
back turned, than the accused was sought out, and
whipped for his lack discretion If slave stole
from him even pound of meat or peck Ct corn.
if detection followed, be was put in chains and
imprisoned, and SO kept till his form was attenu-
ated by hunger and suffering.
b A freehet once bore his wine cellar and meat
house miles away from the plantation. Some
slaves followed, and secured bits of meat and bot
tles Of wine. Two were detected, ham and
some liquor being found in their huts. They were
summoned by their master No words were used,
but a club felled them to the ground. rough
box was their coffin, and their interment was
dogs burial. Nothing was said.
Murder was SO common On his plantation that
he feared to be alone after nightfall. lie might
have believed in ghosts.
His brother, if not equal iu wealth, was at least
equal in cruelty. His bloodhounds were well
trained. Their pen was spacious, and a terror to
the slaves They were let loose on a runaway,
and, if they tracked him, they literally tore the
Aesh from his bones. When this STAKEHOLDER died,
his shrieks and groans so frightful that they
appalled, his own friends. His last words were,
IL am going to hell bury my money with me-"
After his death his eyes remained open. To
press the lids down, silver dollars were laid on
them. These were buried with him. From this
circumstance, rumor went abroad that his coffin
was filed with money. Three times his grave
was opened, and his coffu taken out. The last
time, his body was found on the ground, and
flock of buzSards were pecking at it, lie was
again Inferred and sentinel set over his grave.
The perpetrators were never discovered.
Cruelty is contagious in uncivlized communi-
ties. Mr.. Conant, a neighbor Of Mr.. Litch, re-
turned from town one evening 10 partial state Of
intoxication. His body servant gave him some
offence. He was diyested Of his clothes, except
his Shirt whipped. and tied to large tree in front
Of the house. 1t was stormy night in winter.
The wind blew bitterly cold, and the boughs of
the old tree cracked under falling seet. A mem
Der of the family, fearing he would freeze to DEATH
begged that he might be taken down; but the
master would not relent. He remained there
three hours; and, when he was cut down, he was
more dead than alive. Another slave, who stole
pig from this master, to appease his hunger, was
terribly Aogged. In desperation, he tried to run
away. But at the end of two miles, he was 30
faint with loss of blood he thought he was dying.
He had wife, and lie longed to see her once
more. Too eick to walk, he crept back the long
distance on his hands and knees. When he reach
cd his masters, it was night He had not strength
to rise aud open the gate. He lnoaned, and tried
to call for help. had friend living in the same
family. AT last his cry reached her. She went
out, and found the PROSTATE man at the gate. She
ran back to the house for assistance, and two men
returned with her. They carried him in, and laid
him on the floor. The back of his shirt was one
clot of blood. By means Of lard, my friend loos-
ened il from the raw flesh. She bandaged him,
gave him cool drink. and left him TO rest. The
master said he deserved q hundred more lashes
When his own labor was stolen from him, he had
stolen food to appease his hunger. This was his
crime. sa g a
Another neighbor was q Mrs. Wade. At no
hour Of the day was there cessation of the lash
on her premises. Her labors began with the
dawn. and did not cease till long after nightfall
The barn was her particular place of torture
There she lashed the slaves with the might Of
man. An old slave Of hers once said to me, s'It
is hell in missis's house. Pears can never get
out Day and night prays to die"
The mistress died before the old woman, and,
when dying, entreated her husband not to permit
any one Of her slaves to look on her afier death
A slave who had nursed her children, and had