Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-09-17
Memoir of Lunsford Lane.

system. Lunsford Lane was a slave in RAJ.
leigh, N. c. He was owned by Mr.. Hay
wood, who was a kind master to HIM, and of
whom he purchased himself his wife and his
seven children, paying thirty-fve hundred
dollars for the lot, twenty-one hundred of
which he earned by his own labor, besides
supporting himself and family, and paying
his master hundred dollars Il year for his
time. All me, what shall we do with these
lazy, shiftlesS slaves after we have freed
themD Lane tells his own story simply and
Interestingly. He waited in patience for the
long night to pass away, learning from it
many lesson in its passage; and he hailed
with Joy the morning of freedom, that assured
his manhood, gave him his wife and children
for his own, and brought to him hope for the
future and a motive for which to live
Lunsford Lane has been a resident of this
city for some time. He acted as steward at
Mr.. Wellington's hospital for soldiers while it
was open, and, with his well-known benevo-
lence, Mr.. Wellington has extended to him
helping hand. The kind heart that has given
lavishly not only money but time and strength
and health to the cause of the war has also
warm corner for the slave, the fugitive, the
down-trodden and oppressed. The benevo-
lence in this case seems to be appreciated and
deserved.
We hope the book will be success; it is
published for the benefit of Mr.. Lane. who
offers this simple record of his life to the pub
lie as one more testimony against the barbar-
ism of slavery, that we hope is almost ended;
against that night of death into which already
breaks the morning of freedom.
We give some extracts from the book,
showing how Lunsford had a coat made for
him that was altogether too good fit.
The gospel command, ''take not two coats
for a journey" has always been well
illustrated at the south, where the mob
are ever ready to supply one of tar and
feathers, which has the advantage-of dsad-
vantage, of not being easy to take off
How LunSford tedS furnished tciM q coat that
ttted too Uett, and lcGS not easy to take off.
Mr.. Smith at length came to the prison and
informed me that the examination had been
completed, and although nothing had brvu
found against me, it would not be safe for me
to leave the prison immediately. 1t was
thought best that l should remain in prison
until after nighltall, and then steal secretly
away, being let out by the keeper, and pass
unnoticed to the house of my old and tried
friend, Mr.. Boylan. Accordingly, between
nine and ten O'Clock l was di, charged. |
went by backway leading to Mr.. Boylan's
residence. But had hardly started on my
periious journey, when suddenly a large COM
pany OF men sprang upon me, and before
had time to make any resistance, found my
self completely in their possession. They
conducted me rudcly, at times above the
ground, and sometimes l was dragged along;
but they moved as silently as possible in the
direction of the gailows, which, at the time |
am now speaking, was always kept standing
upon the common, or as it was termed, the
Pine, or the odd Pine Field
Inow expected to be hurried suddenly in
to the world OF spirits. l endeavorcd to calm
myself as much as could in that awful hour.
l tried to pray. % God [ cried in my in
most soul, deliver me from the hands of
these wicked men, At length observed
that those who were carrying Inc changed
their course a little from direct line to the
galiows. hope, a faint glimmering sprang
up "ithih uuI tHeil, as lHey were taxing me
to the woods, thought their intention was to
murder me there. In such place they
would be less likely to be interrupted, than
in a spot so exposed as the field upon which
the gallows stood. Having conducted me to
a little elevation covered with wood, they set
me down.
"'Now,' said they, I'VE want you to tell us
the truth about those abolition lectures you
have been giving at the north.
II thought detected in the tone and man.
ner of this demand that they were not quite
up to the desperate courage of taking my life.
And yet replied as If death was in view.
said that had related truthfully the circum-
stances before the court in the morning, and
that | could only repeat TO them what | then
said.
"'But that was not the truth. Now tell us
the TRUTH
81 replied that any different story would be
false, and if must then die, and whatever
they might think | would say in other circum-
stances, would not pass into the other wo rid
with lie upon my lips. One Of them said
"'Weil, Lunsford, you were always when
you were here, considered a clever fellow,
and did not think you would be engaged in
the mean business of making abolition ad-
dresses at the north.
''Several Others made similar remarks in a
sort OF apology Tor not reSOrtlng to extreme
measures with me- Ireplied to them that the
people of Raleigh had always maintained that
the abolitionsts did not believe in expending
much money in buying slaves, but contended
that their masters should free them without
pay. For myself, my simple object was the
purchase OF my family, and | had labored to
do so without considering the character or the
opinions OF the persons | approached. | had
no time to enter into any league with abol-
honlsts, and from my past conduct thew Ger
tainly could not suppose that wouId Ahar
this and other conversation of like kind thew
became tired of questioning me. They at
length had consultation in a low wb;snor
among themselves. Then bucket was
brought, and set down by my side; but what
its contents or for what object intended
| was unable to divine. But in n mo-
ment, one of the number came forward with n
pillow, and instantly great weight was lifted
from my mind. A flood of light and even ioy
spHAng up within ME. felt now the crisis in
this eventful nights experience had passed.
They commenced stripping me, until every
rag of clothes was removed. Then the buck
ct was brought near, and felt relieved when
l found it contained tar. One man whom |
knew to be journeyman printer of the place.
was the first to dip his hands into tile tar, and
was about passing them over my face Mr..
William Andres of Raleigh, may wish to see
his name in print and SO | record it, Burns,
a blacksmith in the place, arrested his arm,
saying
''Don't put any in his face and eyes,"
''He thereupon desisted. But he, with