Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-01-25
4 State Library
VOL. XVI.
A slave with an Iron COllar-Beauties Of

Il
A slave with aa Iron OOIlar-BeHutles Of
ss1 s.. s Slavery.
Especial Correspondence Chicago Tribune)
ST. LOUIS Jan. l6.
A few days since, while Company o of
the Iowa Sd, under command Of Lieutenant
Lehingwell, Was In the occupancy Of Flor
enee, guarding the Noith Missouri Railroad
at that point, . negro came dashing towards
the camp about eleven O'Clock At night,
mounted upon 3 high spirited horse. He
was about 70 pass the guard, who sprsng
forward and caught the bridle-rein of his
horse and stopped him. The negro imme-
diately threw himself from the animal, and
in a oringing, obsequious manner observed:
"Massa soger, please let me 20 in camp and
see the Hlinoy soger." The guard informed
him that they were Iowa soldiers, and de-
sired to know what be wanted. He hung
down his head for q moment seemingly
musing over some disappointment and then
on.inued-HMassa soger look at dis collar;
Use good niger. Please let me go in."-
The guard now discovered that he was ironed,
and Immediately called the officer of the
guard who took HIM 10 the guard house.
In the morning be was taken before Lieut..
LefingRen around whose quarters theentire
command had already assembled: and never
did men look up0nA scene more degrading
and humiliating than that which was pre-
scented to him in the person Of this slave
Around his neek.Wa bapdo iron half an
inch thick and heafly one and a half inches
vide, not locked but securely riDsted. Three |
iron prongs OF lightning-rod size were weld
ed to this band, at equal distances apart and !
arose above his head aboutnine inches, With |
an outward inclination.
The iron had lacerated his neck, and the |
wounds had partially healed under the pro-
lection he had given to them by holding |
up The band with bis hands during |
the preceding days that he was concealed |
in corn-6eld, but while riding the |
horse be could not hold it up, and it had |
opened the wound, from which there was a
bloody, mattery ooze triekling down upon |
his broad shoulders. The men stood around, /
gazing upon the scene before them in mute |
and it was not until the negro
had repeated his petition two or three times
that they could realize the fact that the
cruelty Of the scene before them was the
act of 8 slREe-master, living but short
distance from St Lonis the enlightened en-
porium of Missouri. The negro Observed
aPlease masss soger take dis collar of my
neck. Ise a good niger; Il do any ting
you want me- de IIlInOy sOgers cut de
collar of 'sr Benz The Lieutenant imme-
iistely ordered it to be stricken of, when
an old file was procured, which could
not be msde to work upon the band only
in q sianting manner. After a labor
Of over three hours it was removed,
the men taking turn about - two
holding the band while one used the fle.-
The band is now in possession of Lieutenant
LefingRell, who holds il as one of the troph-
les Of the Sd Iowa, and the negro is now
officiating in bis quarters as a servant. vi
The master of this contrabsnd resides about
ten miles from Florence. 1t appears that the
negro had carried this iron band upon his
neck nearly three months, as a punishment
for assisting his wife to make her escape
into Illinois. Gen. Halleck, or seme other
prudent commander, may order his band to
be re-riveted upon his neck, and the "prop-
srty" surrendered to his master; but from
whatI have seen of the Iowa soldiers, be-
isze that blood would drip from the end of
heir bsyonets before they would dit The
always gives lhe Missouri
troopS wide berth, and generally makes for
he Illinois regiments, under whose broad
lhield Of bayonets he feels secure.
- ..4la-a- A4FIALDs