The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-10-26
A Remarkable Character.


"Agate," of the Cincinnati Gazette
who was with Judge Chase in his recent
tour through the South, describes as fol-
, lows an old negro whom the party met at
, Key West, and concerning whom brief
paragraph has already been in print
The character thus graphically sketched
might be well worked up by capable
novelist:
presently there came hurrying up a
, stalwart negro, with the physique of a
prize fig liter; body as round as a barrel,
arms knotted with muscles that might
have belonged to race horses leg, chest
broad and deep, with room inside for the
play of an ox's lung. So magnificent a
physical development | have never seen
before or since. The head was large, but
the broad forehead was very low. Above
it rose the crisp, grizzed wool, almost per-
pendicular for height quite as great as
that Of the exposed part of the forehead;
and the bumps above the ears and at the
back of the head were of corresponding
magnitude. The face was unmistakably
Afrcan-glossy black, with widely dis
tendid nostrils, thick lips, and liquid
but cleaning eye. This was Landie
himself-an old man-'now in my seben-
ty-tree yeah, sah,' he said, himself-yet
the strongest man on the island, the rich
est of the negroes, the best farmer here,
and with a history as romantic as that of
any Indian whom song and story have
combined to make famous.
"He was a native of Maryland; had
bought himself for three thousand two
hundred dollars from his master, and had
earned and paid over the money had re-
moved to Florida, and been engaged at
work on a railroad, where he had already
accumulated what for him was hand
some competence, when his little house
burned down, and his free papers were
lost in the fire. A gang of unprincipled
vagabonds at once determined, there be-
ing no accessible evidence Of his freedom
to be produced against them, to seize him
in the New Orleans 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 were to try it again, he deliberately
proceeded to the public square, accompa-
MED by his wife, cut the leaders Of his an
kle joint, plunged knife into his hip
joint, on the other side, and then sinking
down on wheelbarrow, finished the
work by chopping off with hatchet the
fingers Of his left hand Meanwhile an
awestruck crowd of white men gathered
around, but made no attempt at interfer-
ence. Finally, brandishing the bloody
knife, Landie shouted to the crowd that
if they persisted in their effort to sell a
freeman into slavery after he had once; at
an extortionate price, bought himself out
of it, his right arm was yet strong, and
he had one blow reserved, after which
they were welcome to sell him for what
ever he would bring.
''That the essentials of this story is
true, there is unquestionable evidence
The fingers Of his left hand are mutilated
and the scars on the hip and ankle are
still fearfuIly distinct, while besides there
are still white eye-witnesses to testify to
the main facts
"LaDdie's powerful constitution brought
him through; he was confined to bed six
months; then he began to hobble about
a little, and at the end Of the year was a
gain able to support himself
"He showed us through what he proud
ly called his plantation. Ripe sapadillos
hung from the trees; and a particularly
large 'soursop' was pointed out as special
ly intended for our dinner He had a
little patch of tobacco; green cccoanuts
. rested at the top Of the palm-like stems
and tamarinds were abundant; the Afri-
can ceyenne pepper berry was hanging on
little bushes, and one or two of the party
who had been promiscuously experiment.
ing on Landie's fruit came to grief when
E they reached it, and were heard complain.
f ing that their mouths were aire.'-
Plucking two or three little berries of an
other kind, Landie handed them to the
!; Chief Justice. Take dem home and plant
'em in yur garden, and you'll hab your
, own coffee aftah while But coffee won t
grow, Landie, where I live.' 'Don't
know bout dat, sab. OATS uss what dey
+ told me heah but you see it does didn't
, know de reason why it shouldn't, and sc
| try. Now you juss try too?
7 "Finally he asked for picture of his
guest, and the Chief Justice handed hin
j one dollar greenback. The scene tha
0 followed was curious Old Landie, bare
q headed and with his shirt thrown loose J.
: back from his brawny bosom, stopped
e down, spread the bill out on one knee, anc
: eazed from it to Mr.. Chase and back, tt
. the bill again for some moments in per
e feet silence. Now | knows you, h
5 broke out at last, 'you'se Ole Greenbacl
hisself. You mout come heah fifty veal
: from now and I'd know you juss de same
5 and tell you all about sittin' in dis veal
I boa ~