Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-10-12
THE REPUBLICAN,
A Remarkable Character.


Agate Of the Cincinnati Gazette, who was
with Judge Chase in his recent tour through the
south, describes as follows old negro. whom the
party met at Key West, and concerning whom a
brief paragraph has already been in print. The
character thus graphically sketched might be well
worked up by a capable novelist:
Presently there came hurrvirg up stalvart ne
gro, with the physique Of priZe-ighter; body
round as abarrel, arms knotted with muscles that
might have belonged to a horses leg, chest
broad and deep. with room inside for tie play OF
an Ox's lung. SO magnificent physical develop
rnent have never seen before since. The
head was large, but the broad forehead very
low. Above it rose the crisp, grizzled wool, al
mos perpendicular. fcf height quite "a great as
that OF t,e exposed part of the forehead, and the
bumps above the ears and at the buck of the head
were of a corresponding M gnituac. The face was
upmistaksbly African--glOssy black, and with
widely distended nOStrs, thick lips, and a LIQUID
but cleaning eve This was Landie hiEself-ln
old man-'now In nv sebenty tree yeah, sah,' he
said hlmscif-yet the strongest man on the island
the richest OF the negroes, the best farmer here.
and with history as romantic "a thar OF any In
dian whom song and story have combined to make
famous.
'He was a native of MARYLAND, and bought him
'elf for three thousand two hundred dollars from
his master, and had earned and paid over the mon
ey; had removed to Florida, and been engaged at
work on a railroad, where ne had already accumu-
lated what for him wasa handsome competence,
when his little house burned down agd his free pa
pers were lost in the fire. A gang OF unprincipled
sagsbonds at once determined. there being no
accessible evidence of his freedom to be produced
against them. to seize him, sell him in the New
Orie ans market and pocket the proceeds. He
frustrated their attempt by whipping the whole
party OF six; then hearing that they were to be re-
enforced and we're to try it again, he deliberately
proceeded to the public square, accompanied by his
wife, cut the leaders of his ankle joint, plunged
knife into the hip joint the ether side and then
sinking down on a wheel barrow. finished the work
by chopping off with Ratchet, the fingers of his
lefs hand. Meanwhile, an awe-struck crowd of
white men gathered round. hut made no attempt at
interference. Finally, brandishiny the bloody
knife. Landie shouted to the crowd that if they
persisted in their effort to sell free mn into
slavery after he had once, at extortionate price,
bought himself out of il. his right arm was vet
strong. and he had one blow reserved, after which
they were welcome to sell him for whatever ne
would bring
That the essentials Of this story are true. there
Is UNREASONABLE evidence. The fingers on his
left hand are nutiIated, and the scars on the hip
and ankle are still fearfuily distinct, while besides
thsre are still white eyewitness testify 10 the
m ain facts.
'Landie,s powerful constitution brought him
through; he was confined TO bed 81 months, then
ne began TO hObbe about a little, and at the end
Ofthe year was again able to support himself
'He showed Us through what he proudly called
his plantation. Ripe sapaiiiloes hung from the
trees. and particularly large 'soursoD was point
ed out As specially intended for dinner He
had little patch Of tobacco, green cocoanuts rest
oil at the tops of the palm like stems, and ia
ni7rinds were abundant The African cayenne
pepper berry vas hanging on little bushes, and one
or two OF the party who had been promiscuously
experimenting on Landes fruit. came to grief
when they reached il, and were heard complaining
that their mouths were afre.' Pucking two or
three little berries of another kind, Landie handed
them 10 the Chief Justice. Take dem home and
plant EN- in your garden. and you'll hab your own
coffee aftah awhile But coffee won't grow,
LaEdie, where i've Don't know bout dat sah
OATS jes what dey told rae leah, but You see il
does. didn't know any reason why it shouldn't,
and 50 try. Nov YOU jes try it, too
Finally he asksd for picture OF his guest, and
the Chief Justice handed him one dollar green.
back. The scene that followed was curious. Old
Landie, bareheaded, and with his shirt thrown
loosely back from his brawny bosom, stopped down,
spread the bill ont on knee, and gazed from IL
TO Mr.. Chase aud back to the bill again for some
moments in perfect silence. Now | knows you.
he broke out at last, -yoa's Ole greeHbacS hsself
You mout come heah fifty yeah from and I'd
k1ow you es de same, and tell you all bout .ettin
On dis piazzy heah.'